Pat Matters dominated the Open Trot at Dover Downs on Tuesday night (Jan. 19).
At the start of the race, Warrior One and Scirocco Rob left for early position nearing the quarter. Pat Matters and driver Andrew McCarthy settled in third at the start, then launched a quick brush and took control of the race to a :27.1 opening quarter. Pat Matters continued unchallenged and trotted to the half in :55.4.
Scirocco Rob and driver Tim Tetrick pulled off the pylons from third and went into attack mode moving to three-quarters in 1:23.4. At the top of the stretch, Pat Matters appeared to taunt her male counterparts and left them in her dust.
Pat Matters won in 1:51.4, with a last quarter in :28 and a last half in :56. She won by two lengths and paid $8.40 to win after finishing fourth at this class last week.
When asked, driver Andrew McCarthy said “last week I was unkind to her and roughed her up a bit. I wanted to sit behind JL Cruze last week but he was not good. This week I was easier on her and she responded."
Pat Matters is owned by Patricia Stable. Richard "Nifty" Norman is her trainer.
Warrior One, sat the pocket for trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras. They finished second. Scirocco Rob, the favourite, was third. Mark Silva is the trainer.
On Thursday (Jan. 21), Dover Downs will offer a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-5 wager with a 15 percent takeout.
Racing resumes on Wednesday (Jan. 20) with a 4:30 p.m. (EST) post time.
(Dover Downs)