R Melina and Maxim Hanover highlighted the Thursday (Nov. 2) evening card at Dover Downs after they won their respective splits of the Matron Stakes.
R Melina won the $138,000 Matron Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies in 1:55.4 with Tim Tetrick in the bike for John Butenschoen.
Tetrick and the daughter of Chapter Seven left from post five in the field scratched down to seven. French Champagne (Ake Svanstedt) achieved pylon control, while R Melina was caught on the outside in second as the first panel clocked :28.1. Tetrick eased R Melina into the front after that station and never looked back as they set two more panels in :58.4 and 1:27.2. R Melina crossed the wire 1-3/4 lengths the best in 1:55.4. Upallnight Hanover (Scott Zeron) came from third in the stretch to take second and French Champagne finished third.
M And L Of Delaware LLC and Alabama Harness Associates co-own the winner of six races in 10 starts. She moved her career bankroll to $315,613. She paid $3.60 to win as the bettors' choice.
In the $145,000 Matron Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings, Maxim Hanover flew home to take the victory in a narrow margin with Andy McCarthy providing the winning drive for Robert Cleary.
Maxim Hanover got away sixth in the field of eight as Dublin Dasher (Simon Allard) posted the first panel in :26.4. On the way to the half mile marker in :54.4, Magnifico Hanover (Brian Sears) pulled first over, followed by Booming Economy (Yannick Gingras) and Maxim Hanover third over on the outside. Still on the outside, Maxim Hanover made his way into fifth at the three-quarters in 1:23.4. In the final turn, A. McCarthy and the Cleary student worked their way into second and faced a challenge against Booming Economy. Down to the wire, Maxim Hanover stuck his neck out in front to win in 1:52. Booming Economy took second and Magnifico Hanover rounded out the top three.
Royal Wire Products Inc. owns the son of Captaintreacherous for his third career victory in 10 starts. He boasts $128,640 in career earnings. He paid $18.60 to win from 8-1 odds.
Beat Cop Serves Justice In DSBF Prelim
After completing a clean sweep of the season's first Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund (DSBF) series for two-year-old pacing colts last month at Harrington Raceway, P T Stable's Beat Cop picked up right where he left off with a 1:54 drubbing of six foes in his $20,000 first-round preliminary division.
After stalking Shocking Truth (Allan Davis) and Eagle Lands (Todd McCarthy) through first-half splits of :27.4 and :58.1, Beat Cop surged from third into control up the backstretch, hitting three-quarters in 1:26.1 before pulling clear steadily through the far turn. The Dragon King-Beat The Beat gelding shaved a full second off his lifetime mark in defeating Shocking Truth by seven lengths. Amelias Terminator (Ceba Horsey) finished third.
Crissy Crissman-Bier trains Beat Cop, a seven-time winner who now has banked $100,225 in career earnings.
In the second division, Papas Son ($2.60, Art Stafford Jr.) brushed from third with a lap to go before staving off a late charge from pocket rival Cavalli Island by a half length in 1:55.3. Tug River Patrick (Tony Morgan) finished third. Les Givens trains the victorious Papa Ray-Cruisinthecoast gelding, who recorded his third career victory, for owner-breeder Stephen Messick.
The third division saw Come On Eddie ($3, Montrell Teague) use front-end tactics on his way to a 1:57.2 win over Lovenbury (Cody Poliseno) and Matt's Artist (Ross Wolfenden). Bobby Clark trains the victorious Classic Card Shark-Delle Donne gelding, also a three-time winner, for Tina Clark and Brit Evans.
DSBF competition at Bally's Dover continues on Monday, Nov. 6 with three $20,000 first-round preliminary events for two-year-old trotting fillies.
(With files from the Delaware Standardbred Breeders' Fund)