by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs

Dover, DE — With the completion of the eight Breeders Crown finals last Saturday, major stakes action shifts to Dover Downs starting on Nov. 7.

The Matron Stakes begins its 2009 championship competition with seven of its eight divisions in action the first full weekend in November with the series’ four 2-year-old division eliminations on Saturday, Nov. 7, and three sophomore divisions on Nov. 8.

Annually the Matron Stakes boasts a high number of nominees. There are 1,064 juveniles eligible to the track’s major events for young pacers and trotters. This season, 943 2- and 3-year-olds are eligible for the eight events. Add to this the Progress Pace, the track’s signature event. The two weeks of the Progress Pace begin with eliminations on Nov. 8 and culminate in a rich $350,000 (est.) final the following Sunday.

The largest number of Matron eligibles come in the freshman filly pace section with 180. Breeders Crown winner Fancy Filly, Casino Nights, Cannae Cammie and Full Picture are among the nominees. The colt and gelding pace finds Breeders Crown winner All Speed Hanover, Fred And Ginger and Delmarvelous leading a group of 169. Lucky Chucky and Il Villaggio top the 151 candidates in the colt and gelding trot while Costa Rica and Fashion Feline lead a list of 142 in the filly trot.

The 3-year-olds go to post on the Sunday, Nov. 8, program with 141 colt and gelding trot nominees headed by Triumphant Caviar, Neighsay Hanover, PJ Clark, Swan For All, Tom Cango, Broadway Bistro, Hotshot Blue Chip and Howthehaloareyou. Broadway Schooner, the Breeders Crown winner, track record holder Honorable Daughter, Yursa Hanover, Margarita Momma, Windsong Soprano and The Ice Queen lead the filly trot eligibles. On the Matron sophomore filly pacing roster are Breeders Crown champ Yellow Diamond and runner-up Ginger And Fred, Not Enough, Showherthemoney, Shacked Up, Kabbalah Karen B and Special Sweetheart.

The top eight 2-year-olds in each division return on Saturday, Nov. 14, for lucrative finals while the 3-year-old finales are set for Nov. 15.

Also on Nov. 15, the top soph pacing colts take center stage in the Progress Pace. There are 116 nominees led by Well Said, Mr Wiggles, Vintage Master, Vertical Horizon and Straight Shooting.

The Matron 3-year-old pacing colts do not race until the following week with 127 nominees for eliminations on Nov. 22 and an estimated $250,000 final on Nov. 29, featuring many of the colts eligible for the Progress Pace the week before.