To watch a race replay of Pebble Beach‘s Matron victory, click here.

Dover, DE — Fresh off his 1:48.1 triumph in the Breeders Crown at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Pebble Beach reeled off his fourth consecutive win by way of a gritty 1:51.2 score in Thursday’s (Nov. 10) $158,200 Matron Stakes for 3-year-old male pacers, named in honor of Hap Hansen, at Bally’s Dover.

I Did It Myway, who defeated Pebble Beach in the Kentucky Championship Series final, powered to the front from post seven, was driven clear of Pebble Beach by Andy McCarthy through a :25.4 first quarter before yielding control back to Pebble Beach with a circuit to go.

“I was content to let I Did It Myway get around me at that point and then get back around him in the stretch,” said winning driver Todd McCarthy. We had to duel a little bit, and getting to the half in :54 and change was pretty solid.”

Once on top, Pebble Beach rated a :54.3 half before fending off a first-over bid from Greatest Ending (driven by Yannick Gingras) to three-quarters in 1:22.4. Meanwhile, I Did It Myway lurked from the pocket, poised to challenge again off the home turn.

As they had done many a time throughout the season, Pebble Beach and I Did It Myway threw down in the stretch, with Pebble Beach bracing for the inside challenge of his arch rival. The son of Downbytheseaside-Santa Rosa dug in smartly, winning by three-quarters of a length. I Did It Myway finished a game second up the open stretch; Energetic Hanover (David Miller) rallied off stalled cover for third.

Pebble Beach (left) responded willingly in the stretch to parry the inside challenge of arch rival I Did It Myway in the Matron Stakes for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

“As soon as they got to him at the top of the stretch, he dug right in,” McCarthy continued. “I didn’t have to ask him too much. He won with the earplugs in and still had pace. He was impressive. It’s definitely one of his big attributes, his ability to accelerate like he can. I was happy with how he dug in to fend them off.”

“I was real happy the way he held on,” said Noel Daley, who trains Pebble Beach for Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Country Club Acres Inc. and LAExpressFoderaDeoVolente. “He’s always been a good horse.”

Pebble Beach, now a 16-time winner from 27 starts, paid $3.20 to win.

“I had to leave the hardest to get the spot that I wanted,” said Andy McCarthy of his plan to try to upend Pebble Beach. “He turned me loose, he came back — we got a good trip, but it was a pretty wicked first quarter.

“I probably had room to give it a shot, but I just didn’t quite have enough go at that stage, so I thought I’d wait and try the passing lane instead. Pebble Beach raced good, but so did my horse. We’ve had our turn; he’s getting his right now. I guess we’ll see what happens in a couple weeks.”

Both Pebble Beach and I Did It Myway are slated to return in the Progress Pace.

In the $123,950 Matron for 3-year-old pacing fillies, Niki Hill bounced back from a narrow defeat in the Breeders Crown with a decisive 1:49.4 score. The Always B Miki-Road Bet filly ground first-over out of fourth in line to Dexter Dunn after Silver Label (James MacDonald) clicked off a :55.2 half, ascending steadily up the backstretch and taking control just past three-quarters in 1:22.3. From there, the Chris Ryder trainee drew clear steadily, defeating Boudoir Hanover (Todd McCarthy) by 3-1/2 lengths. Wickedly Innocent (Mark MacDonald) escaped traffic to save third.

Niki Hill turned in a sparkling 1:49.4 mile to capture the Matron for sophomore pacing fillies. James Witherite/USTA photos.

“Once we cleared on the last turn, she had her ears pricked and earplugs in,” related Dunn. “She was just doing it easy; she was under wraps at the wire. She was perfect, couldn’t have been any better.”

“We’ve got a little timing situation; she’s just starting to blossom at the moment when the season’s over,” said Ryder, indicating that the plan is for Niki Hill to return for her 4-year-old season. “She looked comfortable.”

Now a winner in 12 of 16 starts, Niki Hill paid $2.40.

While odds-on favorites prevailed in both Matrons for 3-year-old pacers, both odds-on favorites in the trotting splits tasted defeat.

In the $143,950 Matron for sophomore trotting colts and geldings, King Of The North was strung out by Double Deceiver through a :26.2 quarter, only to be overpowered by that rival in the final 70 yards. After drafting behind middle fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.3, David Miller angled Double Deceiver off the pegs just above the eighth pole, and the Cantab Hall-Sarcy gelding surged to the fore, avenging his Breeders Crown defeat with a 1:52.4 score. King Of The North narrowly held second over Keg Stand (Yannick Gingras), 1-1/4 lengths in arrears.

Carter Pinske trains 11-time winner Double Deceiver for the Pinske Stables and Makenna Pinske.

The biggest upset of the card came in the $135,300 Matron for 3-year-old trotting fillies, when Warrawee Xenia and driver James MacDonald rode live cover behind 2-5 favorite Joviality S (Brian Sears) up the backstretch, swept three-wide off the home turn, and powered to the fore to defeat Venerable (David Miller) by a length in 1:52.4. Raised By Lindy (Gingras) saved third after being boxed up the backstretch; Joviality S faded to fifth.

Trainer Mark Steacy co-owns Warrawee Xenia, who paid $18.00, $9.20 and $74.00 across the board, with David McDonald, Dale Larson and Diane Bertrand. The daughter of Walner-Endless Flirt now has amassed 10 wins in her career.

“Mark and Shawn and the whole crew had the horse terrific,” said MacDonald. “It’s just a testament to how much work they all put in — and (regular driver) Bob (McClure) put in all year trying to teach her and make her do it the right way. I think it sets her up for a really good 4-year-old season. I think the horse has a really bright future — hopefully one of the top mares in North America.”

Grand Circuit action at Dover Downs continues with the Progress Pace, for 3-year-old male pacers. The $300,000 (est.) final is slated for Nov. 23, with eliminations or a preview event, dependent upon entries, six days prior.