by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, Del – It was not a good night for owner-trainer George Teague. His stable had two starters, both program choices in a night of four Matron 2-year-old finals. One, Timeless Winner, never made it to the event, dying of heart failure on Thursday. The other, a 2-5 choice, never had a chance after being interfered with at the start of his final.

Fotowon

Meant To Be Me cruised to a 1:53.1 win in the $266,950 Matron freshman colt pace.

At the start of the $266,950 Matron freshman colt pace First Rate made a misstep and interfered with prohibitive favorite Badlands Nitro, making the event a wide open affair. Driver Ron Pierce and Meant To Be Me sat second as My Wagons Dragon cut out the mile. Pierce pulled the 7-1 brown colt, owned by Lou Marciante of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Amante Standardbreds of Delray Beach, Fla., to the outside around the final turn and cruised to a 1:53.1 triumph. Dontloseyourdayjob, a 38-1 shot with George Brennan finished third. Badlands Nitro proved to be a dilemma for ‘bridge jumpers” who bet $58,141 on the 2-5 choice that had won six of seven races previously with a second in the other. Badlands Nitro won his elim in 1:51.1 by 13-1/4 lengths.

In the $231,650 Matron Filly pace Lomangino Standardbreds’ Happy Dreamer and driver Ron Pierce got up in the final stride to nip Stylish Artist and George Brennan in 1:52.4. It was the fifth win in nine career starts for the Julie Miller trainee. Ready To Win was the show finisher for Yannick Gingras.

Hall of Famer Mike Lachance made the winner’s circle in the $194,550 Matron filly trot, steering the lightly raced Lindy’s Heiress, owned by Lindy Racing Stable of Enfield, Ct., to her first lifetime victory in a 1:59.1 photo finish win. Celebrity Tribute and Brian Sears picked up second place money while odds-on favorite Diana Hall with Trond Smedshammer settled for third. Early leader Just In Time was fourth.

Heavily favored Lear Jetta, the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion, added the $244,024 Matron colt and gelding trot to a growing list of major victories as Tim Tetrick drove the Lindy Lane bay to a confident 1:57.3 triumph, his 10th in 11 races. Waterstone edged a fast closing Di Manggio for second.