by Marv Bachrad, Dover Downs Publicity Director

DOVER, Del. — The much-ballyhooed rivalry between Strong Yankee and Vivid Photo didn’t happen as expected. On a biting-cold and windy Wednesday, Dec. 7, Sir Perseverance zoomed to the front as Vivid Photo broke stride nearing the finish line to win the $60,523 Matron Stakes Three-Year-Old Colt and Gelding elimination in a track record time of 1:54.4 at Dover Downs.

Vivid Photo left the gate from post 8 and finally made the front after a :27.1 opening panel. Meanwhile, Strong Yankee, starting from post 11 in the second tier, spent the entire mile on the outside. After taking the lead, part owner-driver Roger Hammer kept Vivid Photo in the lead with only Sir Perseverance – stalking from the start – close enough to challenge. At the three-quarters, George Brennan moved his Self Possessed gelding to the outside to take on Vivid Photo.

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Sir Perseverance won the $60,523 Matron Stakes Three-Year-Old Colt and Gelding elimination in a track record time of 1:54.4.

Half way down the stretch it was apparent Sir Perseverance was on the way to victory. Vivid Photo, about 20 yards from the finish line made a break, but quickly got back on gait, as 72-1 Muscle Memory, with trainer-driver Jimmy Takter, went by to finish second. Smooth Muscles, a 75-1 shot, with Mike Wilder driving, finished third. Vivid Photo was fourth with Strong Yankee finishing fifth. The others qualifying for next Wednesday’s $199,013 final are Clearaway (Tony Morgan), sixth, Muslesextrodinair (Brad Hanners), seventh, and the eighth place finisher Lonestar Kosmos (Kevin Sizer).

Sir Perseverance, trained by Brett Pelling, is a homebred owned by Al Libfeld, Marv Katz and Sam Goldband, from the greater Toronto, Ont. area. The 1:54.4 time is a track record for a sophomore gelding trotter. Usually in the hunt in 15 starts this season, the win was only Sir Perseverance’s second of the season to go along with four seconds and four thirds, most coming on the Grand Circuit. He has now banked $400,901 this year and $464,676 in his career.

Mighty Moses stepped up into the $25,000 Open Handicap trot after an impressive Winners-Over win last week and sped away to a 1:55.4 victory, winning by 3-lengths with Jim Morand at the controls. It was one of three wins for Morand. Recently acquired by Bill Dittmar, Steve Ianquinta, Betsy and Ken Wood, the five-year-old Garland Lobell gelding won for the ninth time this year pushing his 2005 earnings to $109,398. Broke As Usual (Tony Morgan) was runner-up. Jake’s Nordic (Tim Curtin), last week’s feature winner, was third.

In the $16,000 Winners-Over trot, Max Walton’s Bullville Sue dropped down from the Open ranks and showed his class holding off a closing barrage of challengers to score a 1:57.2 triumph by a nose over Racsan Jenny (Steve Warrington). Main Gate Red Rock (Wayne Truitt) was a close third. The win was the first of three winners for driver Roger Plante. In the next race, Plante steered Griffin Conley’s Miracle Believer home in 1:55, his third consecutive win. Later Plante guided Doris Rice’s Nights Echo to his second straight victory in 1:59.2 to win a $7,800 Delaware pace.

Brad Hanners got Scott Dillon’s 11-1 shot Artchie Andrews going in the stretch to come on for a 1:54 score in a $15,000 3-4-&-5-Year-Old Pace. Blowout Hanover (Art Stafford Jr.) edged JK Jack (Hal Belote) for second-place honors. Hanners later won with Gary Wolf’s 6-1 Love That Cut in 1:54.2 in a $20,000-$25,000 Filly and Mare Claiming Handicap. Crystal Bliss (Jim Morand) and Fernbank Franny (Brandon Givens) were second and third respectively.

In another $15,000 3-4-&-5-Year-Old Pace, Mike Wilder piloted Patchel Family Stable’s Devonshire Hanover along the passing lane to overtake Due Damage (Jim Morand) for a 1:55.1 triumph. My Secret Weapon (Tim Curtin) was the show horse.

Breeders Crown winner to race in the Matron Stakes Eliminations

Nine of the 10 starters in the recent $500,000 Breeders Crown Final will be among the 17 starters in a pair of $31,531 Matron Stakes Eliminations at Dover Downs on Thursday, December 8. Post time will be 4:30 p.m. (EST).

The Breeders Crown winner, Blur, a winner of $757,094 this year, drew the outside post position, number eight in the second Matron Elimination. Brian Sears piloted the Muscles Yankee filly to victory in both the Breeders Crown Elimination and Final, and won them by a nose and a neck, respectively.

The same elimination will mark the return of the 2004 champion 2-year-old, Solveig, who will be making her first start since early September, with Jimmy Takter in the bike. Joie De Vie Farm’s Fan Favourite, an Ontario-bred standout, drew post position two, and will be driven by Cat Manzi, and stepping off of the tough Pennsylvania Fair Circuit will be Dunn Stable’s Rosebud Sioux, a 10-time winner this year who will be driven by Bill Zendt.

Perfect World Enterprises’ Reinvent, with Ron Pierce listed to drive, will leave from the rail; Jersey Gal, owned by Bill and Joan Venerables and Harness the Power, will be driven by Kevin Lare; Myrna Sholty and Sholty Stable’s Lollipops N Roses, to be handled by Trond Smedshammer; and Bill Weaver’s Seducer Hall, with Tony Morgan name as driver, will be the other starters.

In the other elimination, Flawless Bluestone, who finished second to Blur in the Breeders Crown Final, owned by Agins, Russell, Arak, and Bluestone Farm, is the leading money winner, having banked $463,535 this year. David McDuffee, Irving Liverman, and John Fielding’s Her Culese, with Ron Pierce named to drive, will head the opposition. Paul Kinnear and Doug Hutchins’ stakes-seasoned Ticket To Glide, with Cat Manzi at the controls, has recorded the most wins among the nine starters, having made it to the winner’s circle 10 times.

The rest of the field will include Little E; Frank Dettore’s Lady Lifter and driver Brian Sears; Turndorf Racing’s Chicago standout Arcola, to be reined by Steve Warrington, who drew the rail; and Jesmeral Stable’s Vyingforthecrown, to be piloted by Jim Meittinis. Trond Smedshammer will drive Mike Andrew’s Malvictorian; Nikki’s Game, owned by d’Elegance IX, Royal Flush, and Cataway Racing stables, will be driven by Tony Morgan; and Hans Enggren’s Caledonia, to be driven by Jim Morand, must overcome having to start from post position eight.

The first four finishers in each division will return next Thursday for the Matron Stakes Final for 3-year-old filly trotters, which will offer a purse of $189,186.

The 2005-2006 Dover Downs meet offers racing six days a week; Monday through Thursday post time is 4:30 p.m., and on Saturday and Sunday racing begins at 5 p.m. (EST). There is no charge for parking or admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call (302) 674-4600.