Vertical Horizon upsets in Progress Pace

Vertical Horizon, the second half of an entry won the $350,000 Progress Pace, while Showherthemoney set a track record in the Matron final for 3-year-old filly pacers on a clear Sunday night at Dover Downs.

 

In the Progress Pace, the track’s signature $350,000 event, driver Jim Morrill Jr., trainer Tracy Brainard and owner Bulletproof Enterprises made it to the winner’s circle for the second time, as Vertical Horizon, considered the lesser part of an entry, found room late in the stretch to score a lifetime-fastest clocking of 1:50.4.

 

Go Go Solano, after taking the early lead, raced third along the inside until deep stretch and got up second for driver George Brennan. The favorite, Vintage Master, closed strongly but could manage only a third in a busy photo finish.

 

A son of Western Ideal-Summer Mystery, the win was the fifth of the year for Vertical Horizon, now a winner of $550,214 this year.

 

Earlier, in the $167,250 Matron Stakes 3-year-old filly pace, the same connections were responsible for a world record when Showherthemoney smashed the former track record shared with Rainbow Blue with a 1:49.2 performance, keeping her consecutive win streak of a perfect fall season alive.

 

Ginger And Fred finished a game second for driver Dave Palone, while West Of LA took third for Ron Pierce. (Dover Downs)