Sophomores Set To Star In Matron
Four rich Matron Stakes for three-year-olds will highlight a giant Thursday, Nov. 10 program at Dover Downs.
In the $160,200 sophomore pace, Tom Hill’s Breeders Crown champion Racing Hill, already a winner of $1.6-million this year, will starts from post seven amidst a field of eight with regular reinsman Brett Miller listed to drive. The Tony Alagna-trained colt has seven wins and has been in-the-money in 14 of 15 races this season. His formidable rivals include Monument Circle champion Check Six (Yannick Gingras) from post one for trainer/co-owner Ron Burke and Peter Blood and Rick Berks’ Boston Red Rocks (post two) teamed with Tim Tetrick. Lyons Snyder (post six), the favourite in the Breeders Crown who led after the opening quarter but finished out of the money, will be driven by David Miller for owners Jeff Snyder and Geoffrey Lyons Mound. Stolen Glimpse (Brian Sears, post four), a winner of his last start in October taking the Tattersalls Stake in 1:49.2 at The Red Mile, is another of four Ron Burke Stable contenders.
Diamond Creek Racing’s $1-million winner Pure Country (post two), handled by Brett Miller for trainer Jimmy Takter, is the one to beat in the $148,400 Matron Filly Pace. Already a nine-time winner this season in 20 races, she faces L A Delight (John Campbell), second in the Breeders Crown but starting from outside post eight this time for Robert McIntosh, CSX stables and Al McIntosh Holdings. Newborn Sassy (Tim Tetrick, post four) is enjoying an excellent season with seven wins and 14 of 19 in the first three for JoAnn Looney-King and CC Racing.
The richest of the Matron foursome is the $178,650 colt and gelding trot. Lagerfeld, owned by Christina Takter, Herb Liverman and John & Jim Fielding, was fourth in the Breeders Crown after a tough trip and will start from post two with David Miller in the sulky. Yannick Gingras will drive Dayson (post three) for Burke Racing Stable, Our Horse Cents Stables, J And T Silva Stables, and Rossie Smith. The sharp Sutton (Andy Miller), trained by Julie Miller for owners Jason & Doug Allen and Andy Miller Stables, and local contestant Iron Mine Bucky (George Dennis), trained by Greg Haverstick for Iron Mine Branch, drew the outside post positions.
Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld’s homebred All The Time (Yannick Gingras) has drawn post five in the $149,000 Matron Filly Trot. The hard-hitting Southwind Hope and Andy Miller will leave from the rail for Larry Dumain, Little E and Andy Miller Stable while Tom Hill's Caprice Hill will start from post two with Brian Sears picking up the catch-drive. Flowers N Song (Corey Callahan, post four), bred and owned by Bob Key, has won 11 races already and nearly a half-million in purses.
Four Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) second leg divisions for two-year-old pacers will also be featured on the undercard.
Post time for the first race is 4:30 p.m.
(With files from Dover Downs)