There’s no been stopping trainer Tracy Brainard this past weekend, and it was more of the same on Sunday evening in the $259,486 final of the Matron Stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers at Dover Downs
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Brainard’s weekend included a three-win night at Woodbine on Saturday, in addition to a punishing performance by If I Can Dream in Saturday’s $160,000 Cleveland Classic at Northfield Park.
Her Sunday night success came in the form of Schoolkids holding off stablemate Ideal Race in the final of the Matron Stake – yet another stakes victory for the highly successful combination of Brainard and the Bulletproof Enterprises of Boca Raton, Florida.
Schoolkids and Tim Tetrick left quickly from post four on Sunday night before releasing Mr Wiggles to the lead before the opening panel flashed up in an alarming clocking of :25.4. Tetrick power-moved Schoolkids from second to first as the field passed in front of the grandstand, and in a matter of strides they were in command of the pace.
They threw down :54.2 first half speed before feeling mild pressure from Ideal Race, who was at the leader’s flank to the three-quarter pole in 1:22.2. Schoolkids, who was still very comfortable past that juncture, tacked on a :27.4 final quarter for good measure en route to posting the 1:50.1 decision over Ideal Race and pocket-sitter Mr Wiggles.
It was the fifth victory of the season in 21 attempts for Schoolkids, who went 7-for-14 during his freshman campaign. The lion’s share of Sunday’s score pushed his lifetime cash stash to $514,757.