by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — A total of $1,561,150 in Matron Stakes purses is on the line in eight stakes on a giant Thursday (Nov. 6) program at Dover Downs. Post time is 4:30 p.m. A $26,000 Delaware Special headed by defending Horse of the Meet Nova Artist and track record holder Bandolito lead a strong undercard.

There are five $1 million winners, one of whom, Father Patrick, has earned more than $2 million, among the Matron starters. Leading trainers Ron Burke and Jimmy Takter have entered many of their top young horses.

The filly and colt freshman trotters make up the daily double. Wild Honey, a winner of eight of nine races with Yannick Gingras driving for Christine Takter, Herb Liverman and John and Jim Fielding is the one to beat in the first race filly trot, boasting a $203,800 purse, while Burke’s Habitat, co-owned with partners Weaver Bruscemi and Our Horse Cents Stable, match strides in the colt trot with Bender Sweden and Roy Holth’s Billy Flynn with Brett Miller in race two going for $237,500.

A Delaware-owned filly pacer, Bettor Be Steppin, owned by Rojan Stables, along with Ted Gewertz and Val D’or Stable and trained by University of Delaware grad Joe Holloway, is a major contender in the $199,600 Matron frosh pace. They meet Southwind Roulette, with Corey Callahan, a winner of five of eight starts for Philadelphia attorney Howard Taylor and Brad Grant along with Burke Racing, The Pahellennic Stable, Larry Karr and Weaver Bruscemi’s Sassa Hanover, who has won eight of 10 and will be driven by Gingras.

Another local tie comes in the $193,200 2-year-old colt and gelding pace where Yankee Bounty, owned by Frank Pitts of Harrington, and the Yankee Bounty Partnership, holding an impressive eight wins in nine races record, meets Joe Lyons-Mound’s Lyons Levi Lewis, handled by Ron Pierce, White Birch Farm’s In The Arsenal, reined by Brian Sears and New York Sire Stakes champion Cartoon Daddy, driven by Gingras for Joe Di Scala and Burke Racing.

Takter has the trotters to beat in the sophomore filly division. The streaking Shake It Cerry, racing for Solveig’s Racing Partners and driver Pierce and Lifetime Pursuit, owned by breeder Brittany Farms with Gingras in the bike, are both listed in the sport’s Top 10 and meet in the $160,950 3-year-old filly trot.

Father Patrick, owned by the Father Patrick Stable, a winner of 11 of 15 and nearly $2.2 million in his career, drew the rail with Gingras driving in the $200,350 3-year-old colt trot. Red hot trotter Nuncio, winner of last year’s Matron with John Campbell, returns but most overcome outside post eight. The Stall TZ Inc. colt has never been worse than second, winning 15 of 25 lifetime and is approaching $1.8 million in earnings.

S S G Stable’s McWicked, with David Miller driving for trainer Casie Coleman, a $1 million winner; Matt Kakaley with All Bets Off, another million dollar winner for Frank Baldachino, Rosemary Shelswell, The Panhellenic Stable and Burke Racing, are among the contestants in the $186,550 Matron sophomore colt pace.

Fast finishing Weeper, owned by Bay Pond Stable of Paoli, Pa. and steered by Corey Callahan, is a dramatic fast finisher. She tangles with a pair of Coleman trainees, Major Dancer and Brett Miller and Also Encouraging with David Miller. Both are co-owned by West Win Stables, in the $179,200 sophomore filly pace.

To top off the outstanding card, in the $26,000 Delaware Special, Bandolito, co-owned by trainer-driver Daryl Bier, Charles Dombeck and David Bier, closed out the last meet, scoring a 1:48 performance to break the former track record. In the first Delaware Special of the new meet, he collides with Eddie and Kathy Davis’ Nova Artist, with driver Allan Davis, who was voted Horse of the Meet twice in the past three seasons. Among the nine contestants, John Dayton’s Just A Jolt, handled by Vic Kirby, and Kovach Stable’s Feel Like A Fool with Corey Callahan, are fast contenders on the strong undercard.

Throughout the year, Harness and Thoroughbred simulcasting opens daily at 12 Noon until 12 Midnight at Dover Downs Race and Sports Book in the Colonnade. There is no charge for parking or admission at Dover Downs.