by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — Pacers Newborn Sassy and Big Top Hanover, along with trotters Dog Gone Lucky and Womans Will, turned in winning efforts in the 2015 Matron Stakes for 2-year-olds at Dover Downs on Thursday (Nov. 5).

Dog Gone Lucky edged Milligan’s School by a head in the 2-year-old male trot.

The richest Matron stake, the $216,300 male trot, was won by Dog Gone Lucky. Fresh from victory in the Kindergarten Series final at Vernon Downs, the freshman notched his fifth win of the season for owners Amy Lynn Stoltzfus and Charles Stansley, scoring a 1:55 victory.

Corey Callahan guided the Lucky Chucky-Ebbtide Hall colt, conditioned by Hall of Famer Chuck Sylvester, to the easy victory. Milligan’s School (Andy Miller) closed quickly between horses to finish second with front-trotting Love Matters (Yannick Gingras) third.

Dog Gone Lucky has now banked $321,493 in his first year of racing.

The husband-wife team of Andy Miller and Julie Miller collaborated as Womans Will recorded a 1:54.2 triumph in the $185,400 Matron filly trot. Canadians Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz, two of the sport’s leading breeders, own the Donato Hanover-Will Of A Woman consistent first year performer. The bay filly now has five wins and nine times in the money in 12 starts, good for purse money of $353,881.

Kathy Parker (Gingras) led for most of the mile before relenting to Womans Will at the top of the stretch. Radiant Beam (David Miller) picked up third money.

Fotowon photos

Newborn Sassy won the Matron filly pace in a time of 1:52.

The powerful Jim King Stable showed off in front of the local track patrons when Newborn Sassy scored her eighth win in 10 starts to win the $183,400 Matron filly pace event.

Tim Tetrick, who had a banner three-win night during the program, steered the Western Ideal–Sass Newton distaff to an impressive 1:52 victory. Penpal (Pat Lachance) closed sharply for second. Skinny Dipper was third for Andrew McCarthy.

The win was the eighth in a row for Newborn Sassy, bringing her bankroll to $216,284 this season.

Big Top Hanover completed the Matron freshman festivities, rolling to a 1:51.4 conquest in the $201,400 male pace. Yannick Gingras piloted the Jt45 and Burke Racing Stable son of Western Ideal-Blind Ambition to his third win of the campaign for the sport’s leading trainer Ron Burke. The winner has been in the money in eight of 13 starts.

There were two $20,000 Matron consolations. In one, Bobby Myers and Frank Condurso’s Moolah Moolah and David Miller came on in the lane to catch Black Broadway (Callahan) in deep stretch for a 1:56.2 filly trot win. The $20,000 Matron colt pace consolation went to Yannick Gingras-driven All The Cookies, a 1:52.4 winner in his first lifetime pari-mutuel race. Christina Takter, Joe Sbrocco, Louie Camara and Brixton Medical own the Rocknroll Hanover-Queen Otra gelding.

Tim Tetrick won three races, David Miller, Yannick Gingras and Ross Wolfenden had two wins apiece.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday are dark live racing days at Dover Downs. Monday through Thursday racing begins at 4:30 p.m. A $5,000 duaranteed Pick-4 pool is now featured daily.