by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs
DOVER, Del. —The thermometer may have registered 39-degrees but the track was hot for a world record and a track record in the $345,900 Progress Pace and the 204,550 Matron Stakes Final on Sunday, Nov.14 at Dover Downs.
George Brennan executed a perfect drive behind Holborn Hanover en route to a 1:49.3 clocking to win the 8th Progress Pace, the track’s signature event. Strong Yankee earlier became the track’s fastest two-year-old trotter notching a 1:56.3 victory in the Matron Final.
The Progress Pace had a chess match-like history. In familiar style, Langfelder, the Smileys and TLP Stable’s Metropolitan streaked away to an immediate lead. After a :27 opening panel, Brian Sears rushed Perfect World Stable’s prohibitive favorite Western Terror up on the outside to take the lead before reaching the clubhouse turn and posted a :54.3 first half. Heading down the backstretch, Tony Morgan seized the moment blasting past the leader with Lloyd Arnold’s Quik Pulse Mindale to take the lead at a 1:21.3 three-quarters. Brennan was right on his heals chasing after the front-pacing pair. Holborn Hanover collared his rival just after turning for home and waltzed to victory in 1:49.3. Quik Pulse Mindale was 2-lengths off at the wire. Western Terror clung to third in front of entrymate Timesarachanging (Ron Pierce). Metropolitan lasted to finish fifth.
Holborn Hanover, the $1-million Meadowlands Pace winner was overlooked at 10-1. The Cam’s Card Shark gelding owned by John Fielding and Canamerica Capital Corp. has now won $928,899 of his two-year total $972,333 this season.
For George Brennan it was the third time he drove a sub-1:50 winner at Dover Downs. Last November on million dollar Monday, Nov. 23, 2003, Brennan guided Luckyisasluckydoes to a world and track record equaling 1:49.1 to win the $250,000 Pacing Classic. Then on April 19, 2004, Brennan scored a 1:49.4 win piloting Art Maker to victory in a Preferred Pace.
In the $204,550 Matron Two-Year-Old Colt Trot Final, Strong Yankee, a lightly raced son of Muscles Yankee lived up to his name racing outside for much of the last half before pulling away to his second consecutive victory in 1:56.3. The clocking broke the track record set in last year’s Matron by Great Challenger by one-fifth of a second.
Trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer left at the start but had to settle for a spot fifth as Ray Schnittker hustled Clearaway, a colt he owns with Frank Baldassare, Steve Demeter and Seal Stable, to a quick lead. Smedshammer then pulled Strong Yankee out to follow John Campbell driving Med Vac, who was first to challenge for the lead. Med Vac, a Delaware-sired CR Commando gelding, finally reached the front heading to the three quarters with Strong Yankee powering past to the front and then was urged on to secure victory by 2-lengths.
Green Dot, a $20,000 supplement by Have A Dream Stable, closed strongly for Dave Palone to get up for second. Med Vac, owned by Adam Victor and Son Stable, was third. Christina Takter, Lindy Racing and Anderberg stable’s Manopoly (David Miller) finished fourth ahead of Dr. William Solomon and Emposimato stable’s Mr. Dream OM (Jim Doherty), fifth.
Strong Yankee was originally purchased and trained by Ray Schnittker and then sold to a group of prominent owners. Peter Heffering, Sampson Street Stables, Ted Gewertz, Dr. Mike Wilson and WCB Racing Stable, are partners in the colt racing under the nom de course of Strong Yankee Stable. The colt now has won twice, with two seconds and a third in only five career outings banking $198,114.
Jim Morand drove JoAnn and Joe Thomson’s Cookie Dough Boy to a 1:55.1 victory in a $14,000 conditioned pace. The George Teague trained Artsplace colt beat Oliver Twist N (Steve Warrington) and Shotaway N (George Dennis), the second and third respective finishers.
Longshot Beware Beret got up for Ross Wolfenden with a strong stretch drive to win a $14,000 conditioned pace. Twelve Seventeen (Jack Parker Jr.) finished second. JP Hickory (Brian Sears) was third.
Allamerican Knight made it two-in-a-row for owner Brooks Stable since its purchase. Kevin Sizer steered the Island Fantasy colt to a 1:54.3 triumph in a $13,500 conditioned pace. On The Tee (Mike Cole) was next. Crystal Art (Brad Hanners) took third.
Saturday and Sunday post time is 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday racing starts at 4:30 p.m. There is no live racing Friday. Parking and admission is free. Reservations are suggested for the Winner’s Circle Restaurant. Call 302-674-4600.