Lis Deo, Dali, Duneside Perch aim for Metro

Twenty-one 2-year-old colt pacers have drawn into three eliminations Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack for the $1 million Metro Pace, led by Lis Deo, Duneside Perch and Dali, who share speed-badge honors in the division.

Lis Deo, who stretched his unbeaten streak to three with a national season’s best 1:50.2 win in a Review division at Springfield Aug. 13, has drawn post one in the first of the three elims. The half brother to world-champion Lis Mara, is trained by Erv Miller and will be driven by Andy Miller.

Also drawing into the first Metro elim is $415,000 Woodrow Wilson runner-up Moon Beam. The George Teague Jr. trainee has not raced since that Aug. 3 contest at the Meadowlands. Brian Sears gets the drive from post five.

Santanna Blue Chip drew post six in the first elim. Trained by Carl Jamieson and driven by Jody Jamieson, Santanna Blue Chip is coming off a 1:53.4 victory in the Dream Maker final at Mohawk. Another contender in the first elim is Fox Stake winner Lonestar Legend, who has drawn post seven for trainer Don Swick and driver David Miller coming off that 13-length, 1:52.3 romp at the Indianapolis fairgrounds.

Drawing post two in the second elim, Duneside Perch, who also has a season-best 1:50.2 victory to his credit, has won three times in four starts. He has not raced since finishing a disappointing fourth in the Wilson final, but qualified at Mohawk Aug. 17 with a 1:55.3 victory with trainer Teague driving.

A likely contender in that second Metro elim is Deuce Seelster, undefeated in five starts including two Ontario Sire Stakes Gold finals. His latest victory came Aug. 19 at Flamboro Downs, winning the rich Gold final in 1:54.1. Trainer Darren McCall has named Paul MacDonell to drive from post four.

Wilson winner Dali has drawn post four in the third elim for trainer Duane Marfisi and driver Luc Ouellette. Dali won that rich Wilson final in 1:50.2 to earn a share of the season’s fastest mile by a freshman colt pacer. Overall he has won three of four career starts.

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