Stakes are in abundance this coming weekend at Dover Downs as the richest-ever Progress Pace and divisions of the Matron Stakes for three-year-olds will take place on Sunday, while a smorgasbord of juvenile talent will battle Saturday in Matron eliminations.
First race post time for the 15-dash Saturday program will be is 5:30 p.m. The trotting fillies will clash in races 1, 6 and 12; the pacing fillies in Races 2 and 11; the trotting males in Races 4 and 8, and the pacing males in Races 7 and 10.
In Race 7, a $42,975 elim for the male pacers, McArdles Star (to be driven by Dan Dube) has drawn the rail, while Schoolkids (Tim Tetrick) will start from the outside Post 7.
Race 10, also with $42,975 up for grabs, features Fireintheshark (Jason Bartlett) from Post 5, Barber Pole (Tim Tetrick) from Post 6, If I Can Dream (Brian Sears) from the two hole and Time To Scoot (Ron Pierce) from Post 3.
The trotting fillies will battle in a trio of $25,125 elims. In Race 1, All Star Hanover (David Miller) drew the rail, while Honorable Daughter (John Campbell) must overcome starting from Post 8. In Race 6, Allamerican Phoebe (Ron Pierce) will start from Post 5 and take on Virgilyn Hanover (George Brennan), who will start from Post 7. In Race 12, Margarita Momma (Ron Pierce) will start from Post 2, while I Wanted Wings (John Campbell) will start from the five hole.
In Race 2, the first $34,950 elim for the pacing fillies, Perfectionist (Ron Pierce) has drawn Post 2. Arbeedo (Jason Bartlett) will be starting from Post 6. In the other elim, Race 11, Ginger And Fred has drawn Post 7. Hawaiian Drink (Brian Sears) has drawn the rail.
In Race 4, the first $40,963 elim for the male trotters, Celebrity Legacy (John Campbell) has drawn Post 5. In Race 8, the second elim, Encore Encore (Tim Tetrick) has drawn Post 6 and Citation Lindy (Ray Schnittker) has drawn Post 9.
(With files from Dover)