Matron Stakes 2-year-olds vie at Dover Downs
November 8, 2017,by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs
Dover, DE — A big Thursday (Nov. 9) card is topped by four lucrative Matron Stakes at Dover Downs. On the strong undercard is a $30,000 Preferred Pace, a $25,000 Open, two $19,000 Winners Over divisions, along with a $35,000 and a $25,000 claiming pace. First post is 4:30 p.m.
One of the sport’s biggest owners of racing horses, Philadelphia attorney Howard Taylor, spotted a freshman pacer in Indiana and induced partners Ed Gold, Abe Basen and Tom Lazzaro to buy Shnitzledosomethin and turned the juvenile over to trainer Dylan Davis. Since then the pacer has been outstanding, in-the-money in 11 of 12 races with veteran Peter Wrenn steering the young pacer all season.
To enter the Matron, his owners have put up a $20,000 supplemental payment to race in the $211,300 colt and gelding pace. Shnitzledosomethin faces Closing Statement, driven by Brian Sears, This Is The Plan with Andrew McCarthy and highly rated Nutcracker Sweet with Tim Tetrick in the 10th race.
W.J. Donovan’s streaking Youaremycandygirl and Yannick Gingras heads the field in the $174,700 Matron Filly Pace. The Ron Burke trained juvenile has been red hot recently, winning five straight and seven of nine starts, for $627,195. A pair of other Burke trainees, Majorsspeciallady with Matt Kakaley driving and Strong Opinion with David Miller up, start from posts six and eight, respectively. Brian Sears drives an Ake Svanstedt trained Python Blue Chip, fresh from three straight wins.
The Matron Colt Trot boasts a $203,900 purse and is led by Mellby Gard’s Sonofamillionaire with trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt. Wolfgang is driven by Yannick Gingras while Jimmy Takter handles Samo Different Day.
Another Svanstedt stalwart Plunge Blue Chip, who he owns with Blue Chip Bloodstock, drew outside post eight, but is the one to beat in the $173,000 frosh filly trot. Swing It Cathy, driven by Jimmy Takter for his wife Christina and Solveig’s Racing Partners and Bob Key’s Perfect Summer K are among the contenders.
A hard-hitting seven horse field of fast pacers tangle in the $30,000 Preferred Pace. Burke-trainee Always At My Place (Gingras), a newcomer from Yonkers, drew post one with Josh Green’s Poisonous (Tetrick) alongside.
Mildred Ventriglio’s Kid PK (Tony Morgan), the Staffords’ Blazing Bobby Sox (Art Safford Jr.), Reg Hazzard and Legacy Racing’s Sicily (Montrell Teague) and Cajon Lightning (Gingras), owned by Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar, Steve Iaquinta and Minisink Farms, head the $25,000 Open.
Next Thursday, all four Matron 3-year-old divisions head the Nov. 16 program.
Dover Downs now features a 50-cent Pick-5 wager starting with the second race through the sixth. A late daily double is carded for the 12th and 13th races.
- Matron Stakes on Thursday in Grand Circuit spotlight (Wednesday, November 08, 2017)
The Grand Circuit returns to Dover Downs this Thursday (Nov. 9) for four Matron Stakes for 2-year-olds of both sexes and gaits.
- Holloway hopes for ‘Statement’ win in Matron (Wednesday, November 08, 2017)
Joe Holloway hopes this year does not provide the last word on Closing Statement’s disposition. Closing Statement has won five of 12 races and earned $226,939 in purses this season despite being “a work in progress.” In his most recent start, the colt finished third in the Breeders Crown. On Thursday, he faces seven foes in the $211,300 Matron Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers at Dover Downs.
- Youaremycandygirl, Springsteen, Wolfgang and Plunge Blue Chip win Matron Stakes (Thursday, November 09, 2017)
Springsteen is not only a big hit on Broadway but also in the Matron Stakes after winning the $211,300 Colt and Gelding Pace at Dover Downs on Thursday (Nov. 9). His victory placed him in the Delaware facility’s winner’s circle with the likes of the sensational Youaremycandygirl, Wolfgang and Plunge Blue Chip, as these four horses captured their respective contests.