Crazed, In Focus and Native Bride score as favorites at Dover

Only the trotters Crazed and In Focus and the filly pacer Native Bride posted favored wins on a giant Progress Pace and Matron Stakes Eliminations program on Sunday at Dover Downs. Several of the Dover-area horses and owners came through with longshot winners.

Dali pulled a 10-1 surprise in one of the $35,000 Progress Pace eliminations. Luc Ouellette, a three-time Dover Downs driving champion, move at the half to speed past the odds-on favorite, Badlands Nitro (Brian Sears), on the backstretch and then held a two length advantage through a :28 final panel for a lifetime fastest 1:50.1 victory. The Real Artist-Armbro Tea brown colt is trained by Duane Marfisi for Uncirculated Stable of Branford, Ont. Badlands Nitro, a 1-5 public choice, was a strong second. Bettor Sweet (Cat Manzi) nipped Moon Beam (Yannick Gingras) for third.

The first $35,000 Progress Pace elimination had a local flavor as the 10-1 shot Proper Respect, a McArdle-She Has The Look colt owned by Lou Tomczak of Dover, Del., with Ron Pierce driving for trainer Carlo Poliseno, caught Rudy Rednose (Sears), Delaware-owned by Elmer Fannin and Teague Inc., in the final steps for a 1:52.1 victory. Dragon King (Tim Tetrick) finished third, in front of Riggins (Ray Schnittker), the four qualified for next Sunday's $390,000 Progress Pace final.

Last year's Matron Pace final winner, Stylish Artist (Artsplace-Honey Bunny), trained by Jeff Smith, who had four seconds and four third in her last eight stakes, broke through at 7-1 for David Miller in a 1:52.1 score in her $38,013 division. Hannah Isabel (Gingras) set a fast early pace before getting tired turning for home before an assault of flying fillies in the stretch. Stylish Artist got through to win with Tug River Princess and John Campbell forced to race two and three wide for the mile, rocking home to finish second, beaten a short head. Cheyenne Trish (Jim Meittinis) hustled home to take third.

Native Bride won the second $38,013 section when Sears sent the Allamerican Native-Nova filly four wide around the final turn and rolled on for a 1:52.3 victory her 14th in 18 races this year. Owned by Jay Sears and TH Stable, Native Bide is trained by Noel Daley. Cartniverous (Eric Goodell) won the battle for second over the front-pacing Pasta Lavista (Campbell) and Artimittateslife (Stephane Bouchard), third and fourth, respectively.

In the first of two $43,213 Matron Stakes colt trot divisions, the Frank Antonacci-conditioned Crazed, staring in the second tier, roared down the lane for Tetrick to overtake Napoleon (Bouchard), who had taken a two-length lead on the final turn, while holding-off a fast-charging Holiday Credit (Pierce) at the wire in 1:55.4. Napoleon held on for third in front of Kajan Kooker (Mikel Lachance). Ellen and Sam Hoffman, Bob Rudolph and Lindy Racing Stable own Crazed (Credit Winner-Mary Lou Hall).

Dave Palone rushed In Focus out of fifth at the start and was never trouble, fashioning a 1:54.2 triumph in the second Matron Colt section. The win was the 10th of the season in 15 starts for the S J's Photo-Beverly Crusher gelding trained by Jimmy Takter for owners Christina Takter and John and Jim Fielding. Spam Spade (Andy Miller) sat second behind the winner and edged Shutter Boy, rolling along the inside for George Dennis to finish third. Race favorite Celebrity Secret (Campbell) took a shot at In Focus at the half and raced outside the rest of the way to gamely finish fourth, qualifying for next week's final.

In $37,957 Matron filly trot eliminations, Creamy Mimi, the wealthiest among 10 starters was overlooked at 9-1 by the public. Trond Smedshammer guided the Conway Hall-Cream Puff daughter he trains for prominent Ontario owners Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld to a 1:56.4 victory, coming from sixth at the half and fourth at the three-quarters to a 1 3/4-length decision.

Stage Show (Broadway Hall-Flirtin My Way) was a 10-1 winner for Palone in a second filly trot, The Jim Campbell trainee, owned by Alene and Jules Siegel, won for the eighth time this season in 13 starts, negotiating the five-eighths mile track in 1:56, coming from four-wide on the last turn to victory. Morguns Sweetheart (George Brennan), a 53-1 shot, led until late and finished second. The favorite, Lantern Kronos (Takter), closed with a rush to finish third. Poster Pin Up (Smedshammer) took the final qualifying spot.

The top eight finishers from the lucrative eliminations will return on Sunday, Nov. 9 for the $390,000 Progress Pace and three Matron Stakes finals for 3 year olds. The filly pace will go for $253,075, the filly trot pays $252,738, and the colt trot will feature a $259,275 purse. (Dover Downs)

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