Progress, Matron elims Sun.

The sport's top 3 year olds now racing take center stage at Dover Downs on Sunday, Nov. 5. The outstanding program features two $35,000 Progress Pace eliminations and five Matron Stakes elims. Several Breeders Crown champions and major stakes winners with the sport's leading trainers and drivers vying to make next Sunday's lucrative finals. First post is 5:30 p.m. ET.

Major stakeswinners galore take part in two select Progress Pace elims. Total Truth, owned by Only Money and Teague Inc., winner of the $1.5-million North America Cup and Cane Pace, heads one division while Mr. Feelgood, the Little Brown Jug winner, and Breeders Crown champion Shark Gesture lead the other Progress Pace elim.

Six exceptional sophomores start in the 8th race, with red-hot Shark Gesture and George Brennan fresh from success in the $610,000 Breeders Crown sporting five wins in his last six races for the Smiley brothers. Mr. Feelgood, owned by Canamerica Capital Corp. and Diversity Stable, will be leaving from the rail with Canada's leading dash win driver Mark McDonald in the sulky.

Carrying local colors is Western Ace, racing for Kovach Stables of Milford, Del. and Teague Inc. of Houston, Del. The only gelding in the contest starts from the outside post with Hall of Famer Ron Pierce driving. The rest of the field is made up by Three Point Acres' New Jersey Sire Stakes winner Livestrong and Steve Smith driving, John and John Como Jr.'s Tyrant Hanover with Mike Lachance handling the lines, and Arlene and Jules Siegel's Western Cyclone, reined by Brian Sears.

In the other Progress Pace elim, Total Truth is the highest money-earning pacer in the sport this season totaling $1,240,976 in purses. The Jenna's Beach Boy-sired colt finished second in a Little Brown Jug elim and second, placed third, in the Breeders Crown elim. Ron Pierce is regular driver for trainer George Teague. Armbro Deuce, driven by George Brennan for trainer Blair Burgess and owners Bob Burgess and Karen Burgess, won the $452,120 Confederation Cup and Simcoe Stake. Texas Shootout won a "Jug" elim and the $274,225 James B. Dancer. Yannick Gingras drives for the sport's leading trainer Mickey Burke and owner Randy Ringer of Washington, Pa.

Bluegrass Stakes winner Perfect Union, owned by Marvin Rounick of Narberth, Pa. is a half-brother to top mare pacer Glowing Report. Veteran Jerry Silverman is conditioner with David Miller reinsman. He other starters are Ed Mullinas' Up Front Peyton, four-for-four this year, with Mark McDonald driving for trainer Bill Robinson and Western Guy with Brian Sears steering for trainer Jake Huff and owners Father And Son and Stable 45. Alastor Hanover, owned by Martin Scharf and Vicki Fair, was an outstanding freshman last season and seeks to return to form now.

The Sunday card also features the Matron Stakes Filly trot and pace and Colt trot elims. Some of the noteable starters include Breeders Crown winner Susie's Magic, Buck I St Pat, Emantee and Queen Serene in $28,362 filly trot elims. My Little Dragon, Pacific Philly and Ireneonthemove in a $52,150 filly pace while Here Comes Herbie, Algiers Hall, Make You Mine and RC Royalty engage in $34,875 colt trot elims.

The top four finishers in each division return on Nov. 12 in the $348,000 Progress Pace Final and all lucrative Matron Finals with purses in excess of $200,000 in each of the four championship events.

Saturday and Sunday post time is 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday racing starts at 4:30 p.m. No live racing on Fridays. There is no charge for admission or parking at Dover Downs. Reservations are suggested for the Winner's Circle Restaurant. Call 302-674-4600.

(Dover release)

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