by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs
Dover, DE — Speed Demon lived up to his name, fashioning a track record 1:51.4 victory in the $298,000 Matron two-year-old colt pace on Tuesday, November 16 at Dover Downs.
Brian Sears blasted away from post four to lead a field of only five freshman starters at every post on the way to his third victory of the season in 12 starts. The two-year-old Life Sign colt had no challengers until the stretch when Pat Lachance rolled up from fourth driving Syncro’s Z Tam, a colt he owns with MJGB Racing Stables, to come within three-quarters of a length of the winner at the wire. Berry Stable’s Eleven AM, handled by Ron Pierce, finished third.
The other Matron starters — Bob Messick’s Roddy’s Bags Again (Cat Manzi) and Keither (John Campbell), owned by Kal Liebowitz, Doug Kamm and Marc Rubach — collected fourth and fifth place money.
Speed Demon’s 1:51.4 clocking was the fastest time this season for a freshman pacing colt over a five-eighths-mile oval.
Wilson Clark and trainer Jeff Clark’s Rondel Franco N, driven by Hal Belote, raced head-to-head with Cams Little Imp N (Brad Hanners) for much of the last half mile, then wore down her adversary nearing the stretch to win the $23,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace in 1:53.4. Felicity (Ross Wolfenden), off at 58-1 from the rail, finished third. Race favorite Crossfire N (Mike Cole) led briefly at the start and faded to fourth.
Fred Hertrich’s Silver Dialing had just enough to outlast fast finishing Lucille A (Jim King, Jr.) in deep stretch in a 1:54 mile to win the $15,500 Fillies and Mares Winners Over Pace. Ross Wolfenden steered the Hi Ho Silverheel’s mare to her first local win and second victory in a row. Time Flies N (Mike Cole) was the show horse.
Not Aday Goes By, owned by Jeff Franklin and Todd Wise, overtook front-pacing Hasty Dewar (Kevin Sizer) in the final strides to win the $11,000 distaff pace. Brad Hanners guided the winner along the passing lane to score the victory. Jay Low (Ross Wolfenden) closed quickly to secure third place.
Herve Filion, the all-time leading dash win driver in North America, notched two winners to his record of 15,087 career trips to the winner’s circle. Filion piloted Clinton Brown’s Ezy Flight N to victory in 1:59.4, taking a $7,500 Claiming Pace. Sly Smile (Tony Domino) and Won’t Touch This (Eddie Davis) were second and third respectively.
Earlier, he drove Jean Bernard’s KG’s Kamotion to a 2:00.2 triumph in a $6,000 conditioned trot. Laughton Hanover (Hal Belote) led until just before the finish line. AP English (Eddie Davis) was third.
$220,000 Matron Stakes Final for sophomore filly trotters set Almond Joy and Mystical Sunshine, elimination winners, will lead a field of eight in the Matron Stakes Final for 3-year-old filly trotters on Wednesday at Dover Downs. Post time will be at 4:30 p.m. (EDT). Last week Almond Joy, owned by Arden Homestead Stable and driver Jacquie Ingrassia, stormed down the lane and notched a 1:564 victory in the first of two $32,513 eliminations. Invincible Dream, owned by 50-12 Stable, with trainer-driver Jimmy Takter aboard, finished one length back in second, and Steven Anderson’s Rant N Rave, trained by Morgan McInnis, finished third. The second Matron Stakes Elimination was faster; Alvin Jacobson and Sidney Korn’s Mystical Sunshine closed from third at the three-quarter pole and won in 1:56. Bramasole, a $25,000 supplemental starter owned by James Jesk, led early and held-on and finished a solid second for driver Eric Ledford, and L&L Devisser’s Olympics, with John Campbell driving, finished third. There will be a two horse mutuel entry, owned by Menhammar Stuteri and trained by Jonas Czernyson; In The Shell, to be reined by Cat Manzi, will start from post three, and Ivy Swinger, will start in post position four and David Miller will drive. On the undercard will be two $40,000 claiming paces. The fast-stepping Racsan Nuke (Steve Warrington), owned by John Hynanski, Don Hawk, and trainer Dan Warrington, will leave from post position one and will be the one to catch. Two of the starters won last time out; Bob Figlossi’s Secret Harbor (Bob Reeser) won for the second straight time, and Bill Emmons’ Bluechip Hanover (Cat Manzi) will step up after winning a $30,000 claiming race, in wire-to-wire fashion, in 1:534. Hoffecker, Watkins, and J&E Stable’s Lavros Victoria N (Eddie Davis, Jr.) finished second the last time out, and Woody Long and trainer Bobby Glassmeyer’s Moon Sign put in a strong effort last time, but settled for third. This time Moon Sign drew post position eidht. In the other $40,000 claiming race, Don Hawk, John Hynanski, and trainer Dan Warrington’s Village Crusader N (Steve Warrington) will start from the rail. Elbert and Betty Brittingham’s Butter Free (Bret Brittingham) finished second last time, and Roy Parker, Jr.’s Maverick Seelster (Eddie Dennis) will also be part of an eight horse lineup. A field of nine will battle in a $30,000 claiming pace, in which Art Brewer II’s Double Game A (Brewer Adams) will drop down from the $40,000 ranks, and in which MJGB Racing Stable’s Invader Hall (Travis Bowman) drew the rail. Dover Downs has added a Pick 4 to its wagering format, and it will be featured on the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh races each day, and a fifth Superfecta has been added to the track’s daily, six-day-a-week, 15 race schedule. Superfectas will be offered on the third, fifth, ninth, 13th, and 15th races. Simulcasting from major harness and Thoroughbred tracks is featured daily, from noon until midnight (EST). Again this year, Dover Downs will race on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 5:30 p.m., and on Monday through Thursday, post time will be at 4:30 p.m. There is no charge for parking and admission. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call (302) 674-4600.