Dover: Fortify prevails at 10-1 in Progress Pace

The Grand Circuit season for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers concluded on Wednesday night at Dover Downs with the $325,000 Progress Pace, and 10-1 shot Fortify pulled the upset, rallying from second-over to win in 1:48 2/5 for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Nancy Takter.

Tattoo Artist (Yannick Gingras) blasted out from post six and cleared Captain Kirk (Andrew McCarthy) before the 25 2/5 opening quarter went on the board. No Lou Zing (Dexter Dunn), the 3-2 favorite, pressed on two-wide after leaving from post seven, while 2-1 second choice Cattlewash (David Miller), who started from the outside post eight, was able to duck into an available four-hole coming off the first turn.

No Lou Zing finally forged his way by Tattoo Artist going to the half, but had to pay the price to do so, as that station rang up in 53 seconds flat. Cattlewash commenced a first-over move at that point, and Fortify readily accepted and latched on to the cover. Cattlewash moved up into second in the backstretch, but his advance stalled out prior to the 1:20 2/5 three-quarters, and Tetrick had to go three-wide midway through the last turn with Fortify. Meanwhile, No Lou Zing tried to get a bit of separation on the field at the same time, but Fortify was clearly moving well and eroding the gap as they turned for home.

In the lane No Lou Zing dug in gamely when called on by Dunn, and it looked like for a bit that he might be able to hang on, but Fortify was able to finally wear him down late in the going on his way to the win by half a length. Catch The Fire (Mike Wilder) got up for third, followed by Captain Barbossa (Joe Bongiorno) and Cattlewash.

"That was an exciting way to wrap up an amazing year. Both boys raced super and fought all the way to the wire," said Takter. "They put the stable over $8 million, and on the eve of Thanksgiving, I'm so incredibly thankful for my staff that have all contributed to the stable's unbelievable year."

Fortify is a Sweet Lou colt trained by Takter for Diamond Creek Racing. Diamond Creek also bred Fortify, who now has a record of 5-5-6 from 23 career appearances, and he has now pocketed $372,447. He paid $22.40 to win.