Favourites came through in the Matron Stakes Trot finals won by Lucky Chucky and Costa Rica but 9-1 All Heart Gal came on to win the filly pace, on Saturday, November 14 at Dover Downs
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Lucky Chucky made another step in quest of seasonal honours when John Campbell took the son of Windsongs Legacy-Aerobics right to the front and cut all the fractions of :29.3, :59.4 and 1:27.3 on the way to a 1:56.2 victory in the $166,800 Matron Colt Trot. Break The Bank K with Ron Pierce driving stalked the winner from the start but made an unexpected break in deep stretch. Baximum, third from the start was moved up to second with Break The Bank K third. Scent Of Oil (Jeff Fout) and Caviar DeVie (Tony Morgan) were the fourth and fifth pace finishers.
"I was a bit concerned because [Break The Bank K] beat me in the stretch last week," said winning driver Campbell, "but my horse was strong and finished well."
Lucky Chucky is owned by Amy Stoltzfus, Neal Goldman and trainer Chuck Sylvester. "He's had a great year and that's it for this year," Sylvester reported. "He'll be turned out and probably be back around June.
In the $157,800 Matron Two-Year-Old Filly Trot, Costa Rica recorded her 10th win of the season bringing earnings for owners Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding to $969,161, second highest for a freshman filly trotter with a 1:58.1 victory. Ron Pierce piloted the Muscles Yankee-Examination bay into a quick lead and led at every station: :28.1 at the quarter, a :59.4 half and after shaking off a bid by Offbroadway DeVie approaching the final turn coasted home in :28.4 for the triumph. Spicy Wings came on for John Campbell to finish second in front of Offbroadway DeVie. Nannina (Brad Hanners) responded after breaking stride at the start to finish fourth.
The richest race of the night was the $199,275 Matron Two-Year-Old Filly Pace. All Heart Gal, an elim winner was overlooked at 9-1. Native Doll, the race favourite, cut out fast fractions reaching the quarter in :26.3 with Skinny Dip (Corey Callahan) ranging up to take the field to the half in :54.4. Ron Pierce sent Native Doll back to the front and had a two-length lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4. Full Picture (Richard Silverman) got into high gear with All Heart Gal right behind. On the far turn Jim Morand moved All Heart Gal three wide eating up ground. In the stretch Native Doll had the lead with All Heart Gal a head back in mid stretch when Native Doll broke stride. All Heart Gal completed the mile in 1:53.2.
It was the sixth win of the year in 10 starts for All Heart Gal (Allamerican Ingot-Nine Of Hearts), co-owned by trainer Luis Porfilo with his wife Angela. The Porfilios moved ten years ago from their native Argentina, where Luis trained horses.
"I never raced [at Dover Downs] before so I left all decisions how to race to the driver who races at the track," said Porfilio. "Jim Morand did the rest."
When only three two-year-olds entered for the $220,000 Matron Colt Pace with the purse divided equally among them.
Sunday is the biggest day of the early meet with the $350,000 Progress Pace and three lucrative Matron three-year-old events sharing the spotlight. Saturday and Sunday harness racing begins at 5:30 p.m. Weekday post time is 4:30 p.m.
(Dover Downs)