by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — The Matron Stakes return during the first weekend of the 2010-11 Dover Downs season with many of the sport’s top 2-year-olds racing on Saturday (Nov. 6), followed by three Matron 3-year-old divisions and the start of the track’s signature event, the $350,000 (est.) Progress Pace on Sunday.

The largest field of the elims presents 11 starters, including an entry, in the $54,650 Matron freshman colt pace. Two starters required $20,000 fees to supplement. One is Lookinforadventure (Roger Plante), owned by Frank Bellino. The other, Feel Like A Fool, is teamed with Delaware-bred Three Martini’s. Another First State bred, Powerful Mist, has won his last four in a row.

In the $45,575 Matron 2-year-old filly trot, Tight Pants (Vic Kirby), owned by Mel Hartman, David McDuffee and Irv Liverman, a six-time winner in 10 starts this year, leaves from the rail.

Rock Phillips’ Southwind Jazmin (Brian Sears) is the program choice in one of two Matron freshman filly paces. Chief rivals are Colt Mist (Mike Lachance), New Album (Mike Simons) and Krispy Apple off fast qualifiers, making her first pari-mutuel start. Myluvmylife (Mike Lachance) drew the inside in the second division. I Kill Time (Ross Wolfenden) and Capri Hanover (Brian Sears) head the opposition.

Chapter Seven (Mike Lachance), winner of the Harold Dancer at Freehold for his fifth consecutive win, faces a strong Fashion Farms entry of Spring Goal (Brian Sears) and Way Back When (Jim Morand) in a $44,025 Matron 2-year-old colt trot stake.

The Progress Pace tops the Sunday elims. The consistent Fred And Ginger (Tim Tetrick), Jimmy Takter-conditioned Rockin Image (Yannick Gingras) and BG’s Folly (David Miller), along with the George Teague, Jr.-trained entry of Delmarvalous and Windfall Blue Chip, lead a bulky field of 11.

One of the top trots of the season finds nine starters in a Matron 3-year-old colt trot elim. The sharp Wishing Stone, supplemented to the event, Break The Bank K, Il Villaggio and Flex The Muscle are the most notable.

Saturday and Sunday post time is 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday racing begins at 5:30 p.m. There is no live racing on Friday. There is no charge for admission or parking at Dover Downs. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call 302.674.4600.