by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — The lucrative Matron Stakes 2-year-old finals headline the Saturday (Nov. 12) program at Dover Downs. First post is 5:30 p.m.

Following the eliminations last Saturday, the survivors tangle in the four freshman events for total purses of $549,100.

In the $129,050 filly trot, Check Me Out set a track and world record last week, rolling to a 1:53.2 victory. Tim Tetrick drove the Donato Hanover-Illusion Bi filly to a 16-1/2 length success. Charles Iannazzo and trainer Ray Schnittker own the winner of 13 races in 15 starts and $836,094 in earnings this year.

Brittany Farms’ Blue Muscles (Mike Lachance) finished second with Charles Stillings’ She Wears It Well (Jim Rattray) third. The rest of the eight filly field is made up of Tom Dillon’s Exercise To Go (David Miller), Ron Barnhard and trainer Tom Haughton’s Voluptuous Ronda (Ross Wolfenden), Paris Kentucky (Andy Miller) racing for Mel Hartman and Enzed Racing Stable, Consus Racing Stable’s D’Orsay (Corey Callahan) and Masters Voice (Marcus Johansson), owned by Bob and Karin Burgess.

Randy Ringer’s Destiny’s Chance with David Miller, the elim winner, is the program favorite in the $126,600 filly pace. Elmer Fannin and trainer Brenda Teague’s Four Starzzz Girl (Montrell Teague) and Peter Pan Stable’s Frontierpan (Corey Callahan) head the opposition which also includes Rick Phillips and trainer Mark Harder’s Southwind Johanne (Tim Tetrick) from the rail, Notreadytobenice (Mike Lachance) owned by Bill DeVan, Val D’Or Farms, LST Stable and Dreamland Farms, and Howard Taylor’s homebred Love You Bye (Andy Miller).

Hurrikane Kingcole, driven by David Miller for Jeff Kuhen, Mitch Cohen, John Levy Racing Stable and Hurrikane Racing, and Ken Jacobs’ Heston Blue Chip, with Tim Tetrick, renew their rivalry after last week’s elim in the top purse event, the $177,275 2-year-old colt pace.

Steelhead Hanover (Joe Pavia) finished third in the elim for Joseph Barbera, Steven Held, AGC Stables and Dijo Racing. Divulge (Marcus Johansson) owned by Christina Takter, John Fielding and Steve Gordon, was fourth. The rest of the field is Bob Key’s Mattacardle (Corey Callahan) leaving from the rail, Brittany Farms and John Cherveny’s Allstar Legend (Andy Miller), Bruce Soulsby and Mark Harder’s Bakin On The Beach (Ross Wolfenden) and Fred Wallace and Stake Your Claim Stable’s Forever Just (Tony Morgan).

Trainer-driver Ray Schnittker, Gareth Dowse, Tom Vassilou and Nick Tallarico’s Delano closed from fifth at the three-quarters to post a 1:57 win and now leads the way in the $116,175 colt trot final. Adam Victor & Son’s Gym Tan Laundry (Jim Rattray) was runner-up with Fashion Farms’ Pekoe Fashion (Tim Tetrick) third. Doug Ackerman Stable’s Duluth (D.R. Ackerman) was fourth.

The other half of the Fashion Farm entry, Fashion Astral (Corey Callahan), Southwind Austin (Andy Miller), owned by the Andy Miller Stable, and Swemba Inc.’s Nagini (Ross Wolfenden) complete the lineup.

The $330,000 Progress Pace for 3-year-old colts and three Matron sophomore finals share the stakes filled Sunday (Nov. 13) spotlight.