Dover Downs: Hap Hansen Progress Pace goes to This Is The Plan

This Is The Plan had to share the victory in the Matron at Dover Downs two weeks ago as he dead-heated with The Downtown Bus, but he got all the spotlight in Thursday night's $260,000 Hap Hansen Progress Pace at the same oval, coming through with a 1:50 2/5 triumph to cap the stakes schedule for 3-year-old male pacers.

Driven by Tim Tetrick, This Is The Plan got away quickly from post three and led on the opening turn, but he would yield the lead to elimination winner Jimmy Freight (Scott Zeron) passing the 26-second opening quarter. Zeron then backed down the pace nicely in the second quarter, getting to the half in just 55 seconds. Dorsoduro Hanover (Matt Kakaley), who had found a four-hole tuck from post eight, was out and moving first-up at that point, with Thinkbig Dreambig (Yannick Gingras) following the cover.

Jimmy Freight was able to resist Dorsoduro Hanover's bid to the 1:22 3/5 three-quarters, around the far turn, and into the lane, but Tetrick guided This Is The Plan into the passing lane in the stretch, and he came through with pace, getting up for the victory by a head. Jimmy Freight had to settle for second, and Dorosduro Hanover wound up third. The top five was completed by Thinkbig Dreambig and Shnitzledosomethin (David Miller).

This Is The Plan, a Somebeachsomewhere gelding, is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., Silva Purnel And Libby, and Larry Karr. This Is The Plan, who was the 8-5 second choice and returned $5.40 to win, made his seventh appearance in the winner's circle and pushed his earnings to $642,540.

On the undercard there were four $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Fund finals for 2-year-olds held. Disco Soliel (CR Commando) won the filly trot in 2:01 4/5 for breeder/owner/driver Rod Allen and trainer Carlo Poliseno, Embrace The Grind (Keystone Activator) bagged the male trot in 2:00 2/5 for driver Jonathan Roberts, and owner/trainer Bobby Glassmeyer, Roddys At It Again (Roddy's Bags Again) took the filly pace in 1:56 for driver Art Stafford Jr., trainer Timothy Torbert, and owner Katie Killen, and Chillaxin Away (Roddy's Bags Again) grabbed the male pace in 1:54 2/5 for Tetrick, trainer Jim King Jr., and owner/breeder Jo Ann Looney-King.