The stakes portion of the Dover Downs 41st season gets underway on Saturday, November 7 with four Matron Stakes events
. First post is 5:30 p.m.
The two Matron freshman trots are previews with all contestants qualifying for next Saturday's lucrative finals. The top four finishers in each of the two $33,213 filly pace sections return for the final.
In the $52,600 filly preview, Costa Rica, an eight-time winner this season who has banked $864,961 for owners Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding will have Ron Pierce in the bike. She will be coupled in the wagering with Glide By driven by trainer Jimmy Takter. In addition to Costa Rica's owners, Blue Chip Farm is a partner.
Leading challenger to the entry is Spicy Wings with John Campbell driving. She has been in the money in eight of her 11 starts for Jerry Silva, Let It Ride and Mentally Stable Inc. Offbroadway De Vie, in the money in all five career starts, is owned by Peter Barbato and Joie De Vie Farm, and will be driven by her trainer Oyvind Hegdal. Stakes seasoned Robert Rosenheim Stables' True Advantage will be reined by Andy Miller while former track leading driver Brad Hanners will drive locally owned Nannina for Freda Ivory and Rodney Mitchell Inc.
The $55,600 colt preview features Lucky Chucky (John Campbell), a winner of $870,492 with eight wins including five in a row before finishing second in the recent Breeders Crown Final. Bob Key's homebred Break The Bank K (Ron Pierce) is a five-time winner this year. Joe and Laurie Davino's Take My Picture (Andy Miller) is the New Jersey Futurity winner. Robert Rosenheim starts a two-horse entry of Baximum (Corey Callahan) and Cant Lose (Ross Wolfenden). Local colours belong to Joe and JoAnn Thomson's homebred Scent Of Oil (Jeff Fout).
In the first of two $33,213 Matron Filly paces, the five-time winningest starter is Ken Wood, Brian Gordon and Toby Rekoon's Rockaroundthetrack (Andy Miller). Vae LLC's Casino Night (Mike Vanderkemp) has won four races.
The other filly section includes A And G Stables' A And Gs Princess (Andy Miller), Lon Frocione's Skinny Dip (Corey Callahan) and Luis Alberto and Angela Porfillo's All Heart Gal (Jim Morand).
The 2009 Matron Colt and Gelding pace was canceled due to only three entries.
(With files from Dover Downs)