DOVER, Del.—- A boffo Thursday card is topped by four lucrative Matron Stakes at Dover Downs. On the strong harness racing undercard is a $30,000 Preferred pace, a $25,000 Open, two $19,000 Winner divisions along with a $35,000 and a $25,000 Claiming pace top on the Nov. 9 program. First Post is 4:30 p.m.
The sport's biggest owner 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 Dillion. 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 Ron Burke trainees, Majorsspeciallady with Matt Kakaley driving and Strong Opinon, from posts 6 and 8 respectively. Brian Sears drives an Ake Svanstedt trained Python Blue Chip, fresh from three straight win.
The Matron Filly 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 Swanstedt stalwart Plunge Blue Chip who he owns with Blue Chip Bloodstock, drew outside post 8 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 Solevig 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 1 with Josh Green's Poisonous (Tetrick) alongside.
Mildred Ventriglio's Kid PK (Tony Morgan), the Stafford's Blazing Bobby Sox (Art Safford Jr.), Reg Hazzard and Legacy Racing's Sicily (Montrell Teague) and Cajon Lightning (Gingras) owed by Ken Wood Bill Dittmar, Steve Iaquinta and Minisink Farms, head the $25,000 Open,
Next Thursday, all four Matron three-year-old division, 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.
When watch live racing, enjoy fine dining in the Winners Circle Restaurant. Top North American harness and thoroughbred racing is featured at the Dover Downs Sports & Race Book open daily from 12 Noon until 12 Midnight. There is no charge for general parking or admission.
Marv Bachrad