Dover: Camilleri's Dancin Lou set to rumble in Progress Pace

It’s the last major stakes race of the season and trainer Tahnee Camilleri is hoping her Breeders Crown champion Dancin Lou can end his season on a high note in the $335,000 Hap Hansen Progress Pace at Dover Downs on Wednesday.

“I’ll say one thing. I wouldn’t trade him with anybody in the field,” said Camilleri with a touch of confidence in the sophomore by Sweet Lou.

North America Cup winner Captain Crunch made a statement of sorts when he captured the single elimination for the Progress last week in a track-record setting 1:47 3/5 mile, but Camilleri was more than pleased with Dancin Lou’s fourth-place finish in that event.

“The week before he was parked the entire mile in the Matron,” Camilleri said of Dancin Lou’s impossible Matron trip. “I spoke with Andy (McCarthy) before the elimination and we both agreed that we just wanted to have him get away without incident from the rail.” Dancin Lou did in fact get away cleanly from the inside post but he also got away fifth in the field and that made him a non-factor as Captain Crunch cut the pace and scored by open lengths.

“I was very happy with the way he went,” said Camilleri. ”He came his last half in 53, so I would say he’s very sharp right now.”

Dancin Lou will have to be at the top of his game to capture the Progress given he’s drawn post six in the field of eight. The good news for the 3-1 second choice in the morning line is that favorite Captain Crunch drew post eight.

Prior to his two races at Dover Downs this fall, Dancin Lou scored impressive victories in a division of the Tattersalls at The Red Mile on October 6 and then followed that up with victories in the Breeders Crown elimination and final at Woodbine Mohawk Park. In the final he surprised division leader Bettor’s Wish with a solid late kick that put him a head to the good in a 1:50 2/5 mile over an off surface.

With but one win in 10 starts as a juvenile, it was hard to see Dancin Lou in the position he’s in on Wednesday, but Camilleri said she saw indications early this year that the colt had grown up in a big way during his sophomore season.

“There was a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes race back in May that he showed me something,” said Camilleri. “He was up on the bit and challenging in a 1:21 4/5 three quarters.” While Dancin Lou would fade and eventually finish fifth to Workin Ona Mystery in that mile, the colt would show up two months later with a vicious mile at Yonkers. “When he won in 1:51 1/5 at Yonkers I knew he was a top colt,” said Camilleri.

Wedneday’s field will certainly be a serious test with leading trainer Ron Burke dominating the inside draw from posts one to three. De Los Cielos Deo (post 3) is likely the sharpest of the group, with a victory in November in the Monument Circle at Hoosier Park followed by a pair of credible miles with no reasonable chance at Dover in his last two starts. Matt Kakaley will guide De Los Cielos Deo. Semi Tough and Pyro drew posts one and two, respectively, with both needing to pick up their game to be competitive.

Trainer Chris Oakes has a pair of sophomores who have collectively won over $1 million this year. Shake The House drew post five with Tim Tetrick to drive. The son of American Ideal was an upset winner in the $500,000 Max Hempt back in June. Messenger Stakes winner American Mercury (post 7) has won eight of his 17 starts this year and finished third behind Captain Crunch in the elimination. Tyler Buter once again has the driving assignment behind American Mercury.

The well-bred U S Captain has emerged late in the season for trainer Tony Alagna and the Captaintreacherous-sired colt landed a nice spot (post 4) with Dexter Dunn set to drive. U S Captain was a solid second in last week’s elimination.

Captain Crunch made a statement in his $35,000 elimination victory and will look to close out his career (standing at Diamond Creek Pennsylvania in 2020) with a victory. Yannick Gingras drives Captain Crunch for trainer Nancy Johansson.

Post time for Dover's Wednesday card is 4:30 PM. The Progress Pace is scheduled for approximately 8:10 PM in race 12. Complete entries are available here.