Following her win in the Breeders Crown, 1-9 favourite Youaremycandygirl brushed to the lead moving into the second turn and kicked away to an open-length lead moving into the stretch, winning the $174,700 Matron Two-Year-Old Filly Pace by five-and-a-half lengths in 1:52.1 at Dover Downs on Thursday, November 9.
Stable-mate Strong Opinion launched to the lead from post eight, establishing a :27.1 opening quarter with Youaremycandygirl on her back turning into the stretch first time. Yannick Gingras soon circled Youaremycandygirl to the lead and was tracked by Python Blue Chip, who was left uncovered through a :57.1 half.
Hanging wide of the pacesetter through three-quarters in 1:24.1, Python Blue Chip faltered into the turn as Youaremycandygirl gained separation from pocket-sitter Strong Opinion. Leading by five lengths into the stretch, Youaremycandygirl remained clear of Strong Opinion in second, with Aims Whisper shooting through the passing lane for third.
By American Ideal out of the Somebeachsomewhere mare Sweet Lady Jane, Youaremycandygirl, owned by William Donovan, won her eighth race in 10 starts, compiling $714,545 in earnings. Trained by Ron Burke, she paid $2.10 to win.
Kicking off the quartet of Matrons on the Thursday program was the $203,900 Two-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot, taken by Jimmy Takter-trainee Wolfgang off a pocket trip in 1:55.3.
Stalking stable mate and unchallenged tempo-setter Samo Different Day, Wolfgang rode the pocket through splits of :29.1, :59.2, and 1:28 before moving out of second into the stretch, rallying to edge by the odds-on favourite in the final strides to win by a head. Samo Different Day finished second, while I Know My Rights chased in third.
Owned by Brixton Medical Inc., Goran Falk, Hatfield Stables, and Fair Island Farm Inc., Wolfgang, by My MVP out of the Mr Vic mare Summer Savory, won his third race in eight starts, earning $204,920. Driven by Yannick Gingras, he paid $4.60 to win.
Ake Svanstedt, who trains four of the eight entrants, wired the field in the $173,000 Matron Two-Year-Old Filly Trot with 6-5 favourite Plunge Blue Chip, winning in 1:55.4.
Securing the front before a :27.4 opening quarter, Plunge Blue Chip progressed on the front unchallenged to a :58.3 half. Heading to three-quarters, Lucky Ava, trotting third, angled off the rail and advanced to challenge Plunge Blue Chip to three-quarters, with the two nearly matching strides through a 1:27.2 clip.
Plunge Blue Chip expanded her lead and trotted to a two-length victory through the stretch over pocket-sitter Perfect Summer K, with Ake Svanstedt-trainee S M S Princess rallying off cover to finish third.
Winning her seventh race in eight starts this season, Plunge Blue Chip, by Muscle Mass out of the Donato Hanover mare Dunk The Donato, has earned $194,833 for owners Ake Svanstedt Inc. and Blue Chip Bloodstock. Trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt, she paid $4.40 to win.
Springsteen catapulted off cover, vaulting to a four-and-a-half length victory in the $211,300 Matron Two-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace, timed in 1:51.1.
Sent the 3-5 favourite, Shnitzledosomethin took control following a :27.1 quarter, leaving This Is The Plan to sit the pocket. In front through a :56 half, Shnitzledosomethin held the lead through the backstretch as Lather Up marched uncovered from third, carrying Springsteen into contention second over.
After a 1:23.3 third-quarter, Simon Allard fanned Springsteen three wide and the two sprinted to the front around the final turn, leading by four lengths into the stretch and coasting to the line in front as Closing Statement paced through the center of the track to take second, with Shnitzledosomethin holding third.
Earning $178,756 in his career, Springsteen, by Rock N Roll Heaven out of the American Ideal mare American Charm, won his second race in 12 starts. Owned by Allard Racing Inc., Bruce Soulsby, Alan Weisenberg, and Kapildeo Singh and trained by Rene Allard, he paid $15.20 to win.