Charlie May heads Progress Pace elimination

Charlie May, fresh off his impressive 1:49.2 triumph in the $164,750 Matron Stakes last week, headlines a field of ten three-year-old pacing colts and geldings in the lone $35,000 elimination dash at Dover Downs on Wednesday.

The first eight official finishers in the 12th race feature will return on Matron victory at Dover Downs, returns again on Wednesday, Nov. 24, for the $300,000 final.

Despite having to start in the second tier from post 10, Charlie May has been installed as the 5/2 morning line favorite. Driver Brett Miller is back in the sulky with Charlie May as the son of McArdle seeks his 11th win of the year for trainer Steve Carter and owner Don Tiger of Canonsburg, PA.

Seven of the nine rivals for Charlie May were in his race last week when he wired the field, holding off Lou’s Pearlman (post 4 Wednesday) and Abuckabett Hanover (post 7 Wednesday) in the Matron.

The two new rivals in the field are Hellabalou (post 3), the Adios Pace winner, who just won an overnight event at Dover Downs in 1:51.4. The son of Sweet Lou will be driven by Tim Tetrick. Virgo (post 5) makes the long journey from Indiana for the Progress Pace. The son of Always A Virgin comes into the race with a record mile this year in 1:48.3 for trainer Dylan Davis.

Listed below is the complete field for Wednesday’s elimination:

$35,000 Progress Pace Elimination (horse, sire, driver, trainer, odds
1. Chase H Hanover (Captaintreacherous) Art Stafford, Jr – Scott Cox  15-1
2. Southwind Gendry (Always B Miki) David Miller – Ron Burke  8-1
3. Hellabalou (Sweet Lou) Tim Tetrick – Josh Green   9/2
4. Lou’s Pearlman (Sweet Lou) Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke 7/2
5. Virgo (Always A Virgin) Corey Callahan – Dylan Davis  15-1
6. Rockyroad Hanover(Captaintreacherous) Dexter Dunn – Tony Alagna  10-1
7. Abuckabett Hanover (Betting Line) Andrew McCarthy – Tony Alagna 6-1
8. Ill Drink To That (American Ideal) Montrell Teague – Chris Ryder  25-1
9. Whichwaytothebeach (Somebeachsomewhere) Todd McCarthy – Brett Pelling 20-1
10. Charlie May (McArdle) Brett Miller – Steve Carter  5/2

Post time Wednesday is 4:30 pm

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink