DOVER, Del. —- It's the biggest Thursday card of the season. Grand Circuit Week comes to a close with lucrative Matron Stakes three-year-old division on Nov. 12 at Dover Downs. There are four lucrative sophomore divisions, highlight of Dover Downs' "Novemberfest of Stakes." Hambletonian Society-Breeders Crown top-rated Wiggle It Jiggleit and another top 10 performer, Wakizashi Hanover, two Harrington, Del.-area trained speedsters meet in the $200,100 Male pace. In addition on the banner 15-race program are three $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) Two-Year-Old Male Paces.
The piece d 'resistance of the powerful Matron championship card is the $201,900 colt and gelding pace. George Teague Inc.'s Wiggle Jiggleit, with regular driver Montrell Teague, drew the rail. The world champion gelding has 19 wins in 23 starts, with three close-up seconds, earning $1913,545.
One of those setbacks came in the $1-million North American Pace when Tim Tetrick and Wakizashi Hanover won a head-to-head duel to the wire. JoAnn King trains the $1.1-million winner for Tri County Stable. Two other horses with local connections in the final are M&L Of Delaware and Victoria Dickinson's Dude's The Man with Corey Callahan and Frank Chick and Yankee Bounty Parnership's Yankee Bounty, piloted by Yannick Gingras, starting from outside post 8.
The rest of the fast field contains Jeff Snyder's Dealt A Winner (David Miller), Van Dusen, Cimaglio, Patel and trainer Steve Elliott's Artistic Major (Scott Zeron), Jeff Snyder and Three Decades Racing's Rock N'Roll World (Daniel Dube) and Joe P Racing's Badiou Hanover (Andy Miller).
Sassa Hanover (Matt Kakaley), winner of the 2014 Matron Two-Year-Old Filly pace at Dover Downs seeks to reach six figures in the $201,450 three-year-old final. The $935,561 career winner is owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi, Karr and Panhellenic Stable. Divine Caroline (David Miller) is on a stakes-winning tear. The Breeders Crown champ, trained by former University of Delaware grad Joe Holloway for owners Rojan Stables,Ted Gewertz, Val D'or Farms and M.A. Duriel. The same ownership, minus Duriel, start the fast Bettor Be Steppin (Corey Callahan) from post 8.
Last week's American National winner, Devil Child, with driver, also is streaking with three-in-a-row for Susan Oakes and Crawford Farms. Bedroomconfessions (Tim Tetrick) was third in the Breeders Crown for Riverview and Alagna racings. Completing the field are Mosquito Blue Chip (Daniel Dube) leaving from the rail for Falcicchio, Jessop and Our Three Sons Stable. Alongside, Brett Miller steers Courant AB's Wicked Little Minx; and Dana Parham and Let It Ride Stable's Single Me (Andy Miller).
Our Hrs Cents, Deo Volente Farms and J&T Silva Stable's $1-million winner Crazy Wow, reined by Tim Tetrick, is the one to beat in the $243,550 Matron soph trot. The fast French Laundry (Brett Miller) owned by ChristinaTakter, John and Jim Fielding and Ontario-breeders Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz, must overcome starting from post 8 while Joe Smith's Fashion Creditor (David Miller) drew the rail.
Seven-time winner Bluebird Reverend ( ) is a Delaware-owned contestant. Trainer Bobby Reeser, Case, Johannsen and Indianan Dennis, own the Indian bred. Rubber Duck (Tetrick) has been an Ontario standout racing for Blair and Ema Corbell. Sweden's Ake Swanstedt trains and drives Wolfgang A Stable's Southwind Mozart. Whom Shall I Fear's horse of the same name (David Miller) shared by Howard Taylor, Laura Noren and Order By Stable's Crescent Fashion (Scott Zeron) complete the starting lineup.
The $187,400 Matron Three-Year-Old Filly Trot shapes up as the pinnacle event for seasonal top divisional honors. Wild Honey, who set a world record at two at Dover Downs, has won her last three including the Breeders Crown and Kentucky Fill Futurity, will be driven by Hall of Famer John Campbell. The $1-million winner leaves from the rail for Christina Takter, Herb Liverman, John and Jim Fielding.
Early season sensation Mission Brief and Yannick Gingras, who has been the favorite in all of her 17 race career, made a break in her Breeders Crown start. The $1.4-million winning speedster has post 5 for Burke, Our Hrs Cnts and J&T Silva Stables and Weaver Bruscemi. The opposition includes Story Inc.'s Lady Winona (Andy Miller), Brittany Farms' Speak To Me (Brett Miller), Howard and Judy Taylor, Dandy Farms and Burke Racing Stable's Speak To Me (Kakaley), Glengate Farms' Juanitas Fury (Tetrick), nine-time winner Bob Key's homebred Soaring Flight ( ) and from the outside Joyce McClelland's She Wore Red ( ).
There is also a $25,000 Matron Filly consolation. Led by Lindy Racing's Luck Be A Lindy, handled by Tim Tetrick. The Massachusetts' Stakes champion is winner of four consecutive starts. David Van Dusen and Mike Cimaglio own Stacia Hanover with Scott Zeron. Black Horse Racing's Storm Point, piloted by John Campbell has the rail.
Delaware-sired Totally Rusty and Andrew McCarthy, Blueberry Bill Augustine's Frost Damage Blues (D.Miller), Lindy Farms Lindys Old Lady with Yannick Gingras will be joined by Tom Fanning and Fly By Night Stable's Special Package (B.Miller) and The Wiz Kids Stable's Girlofyourdreams, who get in for two scratched horses, Ideal Nugget and Heavenly Bride.
Al Moor of Smyrna, Del.- owned Royal Status and John Campbell, Caulfield, with driver Aaron Merriman) and Courant AB and Knutsson Trotting Inc.'s Colbert, a winner of his last three of four starts will be driven by trainer Ake Svanstedt, head the $25,000 Matron consolation trot and Alagna Racing.
There is no live racing on Friday. Saturday and Sunday. Racing resumes Monday through Thursday with post time at 4:30 p.m.
by Marv Bachrad, for Dover Downs