George Teague Jr. continues as unofficial ambassador of harness racing. He was bestowed the sport's second highest honor recently 'The Proximity Award.' Teague. last Saturday (3/25), helped honor last year's stars from the Nova Scotia racing industry. The sport's distinguished horseman served as the special guest speaker for the Truro Harness Horse Owners Association's annual banquet and awards gala honoring some of the best from the province's 2016 racing season.

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Coming up: the 2nd and final $20,000 preliminary round of the 2017 3-Year-Old Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund Stakes (DSBF) divisions for colt and filly pacers and trotters. This Monday features male trotters, Tuesdays filly pacers, Wednesdays filly trotters and Thursday, male pacers setting the stage for the final week of the Dover Downs meet, April 10-13 with four $100,000 DSBF finals.

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The DSBF Three-Year-Old $20,000 Male preliminaries got underway on Monday (3/27) with Master Clave (201.1) and Moonshine Lavec (2:01) posting 3-year-old trotting wins. Corey Callahan had four wins, Ross Wolfenden and Tony Morgan notched driving doubles.

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On Tuesday (3/28)Logan's Girl (1:53.1) and Spanish Dream (1:54.1), both trained by Jim King, owned by his wife JoAnn Looney King, and driven by Vic Kirby, along with Bad Mama (1:53.2) and Diva Demands (1:55.2) won DSBF 1st leg Three-Year-Old $20,000 preliminaries. Tim Tetrick drove five winners, Vic Kirby, four, and Jim and JoAnn King enjoyed a three-win day.

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Wednesday, Spoonful (2:00.1), came from behind, and Luv Is Blind (2:00) wire-to-wire, won 1st leg victories in Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) Three-Year-Old $20,000 preliminaries on Wednesday, March 29 at Dover Downs. Tough Mac used the passing lane to win the $20,000 Open trot.Tim Tetrick, again won five races.

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George Teague started seven Delaware-breds in the four $20,000 1st leg Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) Three-Year-Old Male pace divisions, Thursday, and came away with the two fastest preliminary winners, Henry The Drago (1:52) and Daiymir (1:52.4). River Crest (1:53.2) and Automatic Dragon (1:53.1) beat two other Teague trainees. Major Uptrend (1:49.3) won the $30,000 Preferred Handicap for the third time. Corey Callahan, who became a father for the third time last Friday, finished with four wins. Montrell Teague won three. Tony Morgan and Vic Kirby had doubles.

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As a racehorse Somebeachsomewhere was a champion pacer named Horse of the Year. Now as a stallion, he has been outstanding, too. His yearlings are usually top price at the sales. Thursday (3/30) at Dover Downs, three sons of Somebeachsomewhere were in the 3rd race, and they finished in a near 1:51 dead heat. The winner was 42-1 longshot Fashionbythebeach, driven by Vince Copeland. Second in the photo finish was Sonny At The Beach with Vic Kirby and Somewhereonthebeach and Yannick Gingras, was a up close in third.

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Season ending day, April 13, The Dover Downs Horse of the meet will be recognized. The Delaware Valley Chapter U.S. Harness Writers Association members are the voters. Among the leaders for 2016-2017 season honors are Major Uptrend with six wins this meet, Emeritus Maximum with three impressive $30,000 Delaware Special Handicap wins, and Blazing Bobby Sox, winner of two the last three; Among females Enhance Your Mind, a dominant force in the Mares Open paces and Barbara's Shadow a seven-time winner. Tough Mac and Frost Free Hanover, have been multiple winners in the week's top trots.

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Current streaking horses at the track include Highalator and Donttellmeagain with four-in-a-row. While Iam Bonasera and Lyons Johnny have won three straight. Among the losers, DSBF freshman champion Bags To Riches' four win streak, All The Cookies and 11-year-old trotter Commander K three win streak ended during the week.

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Heather Vitale is busier-than-ever nowadays. Heather, whose 'Post Time' harness racing fun-show is a popular weekly feature Sunday and again on Monday on WBOC TV. She is from a harness racing family which dates back several generations. Her mother, JoAnn Looney and sister, Susan, drove horses, her grandfather, Elmer Looney, was a successful trainer. Heather, also has been a horse owner. Now, she becomes a big-time owner, as a partner in a noted Down-Under pacer, New Zealand superstar, Christen Me. The pacer has settled into the Jo Ann Looney-King and Jim King Jr. stable in Harrington, Del. The 2015 New Zealand Horse of the Year, is a winner of $2.5 million. Ms. Vitale purchased the pacer with the King Stable's major supporter, owner Richard Poillucci. Christen Me became available when he came up with a breathing problem. Since Lasix is not permitted in New Zealand/Australia racing, The pacer can use it for racing in the U.S. and Canada.

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In the Leading Driver derby, defending champion Corey Callahan, after a slow start has a comfortable 14 win advantage, 157-133 over runner-up, early season leader, Vic Kirby. In statistics, Tony Morgan has moved into third with 119 winners, Yannick Gingras is fourth with 114 wins. each. Tim Tetrick, 88, is fifth.

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The leading trainer title has become a battleground. Defending champion Dylan Davis has come on strong recently and is the current leader, with 68 winners. Jim King, who is having his finest season has haltered 67 winners, Leigh Raymen is in third place, with 40 wins, the most ever for a female trainer at the track. Joe Hundertpfund, fourth, at 37, with Josh Green, fifth with 35 winners.

Marv Bachrad