Dover: "Beach Boys" are a hit in Progress Pace elims

Beach Glass and Pebble Beach didn't disappoint in their respective $35,000 Progress Pace eliminations for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Thursday night at Bally's Dover Casino Resort, with both of them posting decisive victories.

Pebble Beach (Todd McCarthy) racked up his fifth straight victory in his elimination and won the faster of the two splits, stopping the clock in 1:49 3/5. Away second from post four, McCarthy moved Pebble Beach to the outside to take command from Birthday (David Miller) past the 26 3/5 opening quarter. Pebble Beach remained in front from there, reeling off middle-half stations of 55 and 1:22 1/5 before sealing his 2 1/4 length win with a 27 2/5 kicker. He downed a first-over Mad Max Hanover (Tim Tetrick), Birthday, and Energetic Hanover (Dexter Dunn), who all moved on to next Wednesday's rich final.

A Downbytheseaside colt who will make the last start of his career in the final, Pebble Beach was bred by Brittany Farms and is trained by Noel Daley for owners Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Country Club Acres Inc., and Laexpressfoderadeovolente. This was his 17th win from 28 career starts, he has now pocketed $1,703,299, and he paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

Beach Glass (Yannick Gingras), making his first pari-mutuel appearance since throat surgery following a fourth-place result in his Bluegrass Series division on October 1 at The Red Mile, tallied in 1:50. He led the way through stations of 26 3/5, 55 1/5, and 1:22 2/5 and prevailed by 2 3/4 lengths. Fourever Boy (Dunn) and I Did It Myway (Andy McCarthy) were both bothered by breaking pocket-sitter Captain Cowboy (Tim Tetrick) on the final bend but were able to get by him to finish second and third, respectively. Captain Cowboy crossed the wire fourth and was deemed to not have violated any breaking rules, allowing him to advance to the final.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Brent MacGrath trains Beach Glass, a colt by Somebeachsomewhere, for owner/breeder Schooner II Stable. Beach Glass has a record of 11-4-0 from 17 attempts, boosted his bankroll to $985,544, and returned $3.20 to win as the 3-5 choice.

The Progress final will be only the third time Pebble Beach and Beach Glass have met this year. Pebble Beach won the North America Cup and Beach Glass was second, and Beach Glass was second and Pebble Beach third in the Adios.