Gimpanzee, When Dovescry, Tall Drink Hanover and Bettors Wish added another Grand Circuit title to their respective resumes with victories in the Matron Stakes for three-year-olds on Thursday at Dover Downs.
In the $208,300 Matron for sophomore trotting colts and geldings, Gimpanzee ($2.80) and Brian Sears sprinted to the early lead before yielding control to Chin Chin Hall (Dexter Dunn) at the completion of a :27 first quarter. The son of Chapter Seven was relegated to third as Dont Letem (Yannick Gingras) brushed aggressively from midfield to clear with a circuit to go, but angled first-over to attack soon after stalking a :54.4 half.
On the backstretch, Gimpanzee sustained a strong attack on Dont Letem, taking charge effortlessly past three-quarters in 1:23 and drawing away at will for a 1:51.1 score. Chin Chin Hall emerged up the open stretch to take second, four lengths back, while Pilot Discretion (Andy McCarthy) rallied off cover for third.
Marcus Melander trains 17-time winner Gimpanzee for Courant Inc and the S R F Stable.
The $176,150 Matron for three-year-old trotting fillies saw Simon Allard send Breeders Crown runner-up When Dovescry ($7.60) clear of Beautiful Sin (Åke Svanstedt) and Only Take Cash (Tim Tetrick) into the first turn before controlling splits of :27, :56.1 and 1:23.4. With three-sixteenths to go, When Dovescry faced a bid from Evident Beauty (David Miller), who circled stalled cover to challenge on the final turn. The daughter of Muscle Hill successfully held her ground, holding off a late stand-side rally from Only Take Cash by a half length in 1:52.2. Evident Beauty stayed on between fillies to maintain third.
Rene Allard trains 10-time winner When Dovescry for the Go Fast Stable, Yves Sarrazin, Kapildeo Singh and Lawrence Dumain.
After Dancin Lou snapped his four-race win streak in the Breeders Crown, Bettors Wish ($3.20) got back in the win column with a 1:49.2 score in the $248,350 Matron Stakes for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.
Bettors Wish worked clear of American Mercury (Tyler Buter) just beyond a :27 first quarter, but faced immediate pressure from Dancin Lou (Andy McCarthy) with a circuit to go and on toward a :53.2 half. With a quarter mile to go, Bettors Wish began to scamper away, turning aside Dancin Lou past three-quarters in 1:21.3. The son of Bettors Delight was kept to task through the final furlong, and he maintained 1-3/4 lengths of clearance over American Mercury. Aflame Hanover (Corey Callahan) angled off the pegs at head-stretch to chase and just miss the runner-up spot.
Trainer Chris Ryder co-owns Bettors Wish, an 18-time winner and an earner of over $2 million, with Bella Racing Ltd, Fair Island Farm Inc and Bettors Wish Partners. Bettors Wish has finished first or second in all 18 of his starts this season.
Following a runner-up finish to Warrawee Ubeaut in the Breeders Crown, Tall Drink Hanover ($13.20) rode the pocket to victory in the $165,900 Matron for three-year-old pacing fillies, reeling in her arch rival in the process.
Andy McCarthy put Tall Drink Hanover in play from the outset to seize early control, only to yield to prohibitive favourite Warrawee Ubeaut (Yannick Gingras) just behind a taxing :26 first quarter. After stalking a :54.2 half, Tall Drink Hanover found herself boxed as Sunny Dee (Brian Sears) offered first-over pressure up the far side. Off the home turn, Tall Drink Hanover angled to the open stretch and eclipsed the duelling leaders, beating Sunny Dee by three-quarters of a length in 1:50.2. Treacherous Reign (Dunn) lifted from third-over to narrowly take third over the engulfed Warrawee Ubeaut, who missed the board for the first time this year in her Matron defeat.
Tony Alagna trains 15-time winner Tall Drink Hanover, a daughter of Captaintreacherous, for Alagna Racing LLC, Marvin Katz and Riverview Racing LLC.
(With files from USTA)