by Marv Bachrad, publicity director, Dover Downs
Dover, DE — A 32-1 longshot, What’s Goin On with Hall of Fame driver David Miller, rolled from last at the three-quarters to score a 1:53 upset in the $171,300 Matron 2-year-old male pace, one of four rich Matron stakes at Dover Downs on Thursday (Nov. 3).
Ain’t Three OK won the filly pace while Fine Tuned Lady and Snowstorm Hanover took the trot finals. There were also four Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund first leg colt eliminations on the card.
It was catch-driver Miller’s first effort behind What’s Goin On, a son of Roll With Joe-Shipps Xclamation owned by Rick Phillips, Deena Frost, VIP Internet Stable and trainer Mark Harder.
Miller waited while race favorite Boogie Shuffle and then Every Way Out took the eight starters to the three-quarters. Miller then moved What’s Goin On to pass horses and beat Rock N Tony (Trace Tetrick) to the wire for his third win of the season. Boogie Shuffle held on for third. What’s Goin On has now won $172,367 lifetime.
Another catch-driver, newly elected Hall of Famer Brian Sears, piloted Ain’t Three OK to a lifetime best 1:52.4 to win the $170,000 Matron 2-year-old filly pace. Steve Carter conditions the Chuck Grubbs leased daughter of Mach Three-Ain’t Given Up who posted her fifth win in 11 races this year. She has now banked $282,224. Rockette picked up second money with Matt Kakaley in the bike. World Apart and Scott Zeron finished third.
Delaware was well-represented in the $148,700 Matron 2-year-old filly trot. Dover Downs’ leading driver Corey Callahan steered Fine Tuned Lady to a 1:56.3 triumph for owner M And L Of Delaware, the nom-de-course for Ralph, Roz and Doug Paul, and their partner Bill Wiswell. Ice Attraction was second for Ake Svanstedt with Winter Sweet Frost, piloted by Scott Zeron, third. The victory was the sixth of the campaign for the John Butenschoen-trained Fine Tuned Lady, a Cantab Hall-Poster Princess filly, now a winner of $438,340.
Matt Kakaley drove Snowstorm Hanover home in 1:55.1 to win the Matron event for freshman trotting males. The Muscle Massive-Snow Angel Hanover colt got going late in the mile to overtake Sortie with Andrew McCarthy in the final strides for win number four this year. Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino, Phil Collura and Burke Racing Stable own the winner of $181,419 in his rookie season. Southwind Cobra got up for third for Yannick Gingras.
There were four DSBF 2-year-old colt paces on the stakes filled program.
Automatic Dragon (Vic Kirby) took the lead early on the way to a 1:54.3 victory in the first $20,000 event. Daylen (Montrell Teague) was runner-up with Suspinder (Allan Davis) third. Bobby Clark trains the Art Director-Dragon Woman gelding for Tina and Joe Clark.
Apple Heir and Jason Green took the second DSBF pace in 1:56.3. Brian Wright trains and co-owns the Mr Apples-Paris The Heiress gelding with Bill Hall. Unbroken Vision (Callahan) and Takeittotheface (Ross Wolfenden) were second and third, respectively.
Montrell Teague guided Henry The Dragon to his fourth consecutive victory in his $20,000 DSBF prelim. Sired by Custer The Dragon from Surveille Hanover, the Clyde Francis trainee is owned by George Teague Jr. Inc. Stay In Your Place (Kevin Switzer Jr.) was second. Bags To Riches (Art Stafford Jr.) was third.
James Isaac with Tony Morgan driving for trainer Victor Keeler II and owner Dan Keeler posted a 1:53 conquest in the other $20,000 DSBF pace. Hallie’s Comet (Ross Wolfenden) was a strong second in front of Rat Tail (Teague).
Morgan, Vic Kirby, Allan Davis and Ross Wolfenden had two wins each.