gon, Westwardho Hanover win Matron Stakes eliminations

 

Dover, DE --- Westwardho Hanover, winner of last Sunday’s $330,000 Progress Pace, and Hugadragon were in top form, scoring impressive, front-pacing, sub-1:50 victories to win $32,745 Matron Stakes eliminations for 3-year-old colt pacers on Sunday (Nov. 20) at Dover Downs.

On the same card, Shaving Mug, It’s Outta Here and the trotters Windshield and I’m So Striking won $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund preliminaries for 2-year-old colts.

Westwardho Hanover turned in a powerful performance in his elimination with Dave Palone aboard.

Just as in the Progress Pace, Westward Ho Stables had to pay a supplemental fee to race in the Matron Stakes and the Dragon Again--Western Duel colt responded with a powerful, 1:49.1 triumph in his elimination. Driver Dave Palone repelled an early challenge from Reckless Ric (Ron Pierce), then paced :26.4 on the backstetch to open a big lead and topped the victory with a :27.3 final panel.

It was Westwardho Hanover’s third win in his last five races and his fifth win of the campaign, raising his season’s earnings to $349,122. Samadar (Tim Tetrick) finished second in front of American Romance (Yannick Gingras). Reckless Ric (Ron Pierce) finished fourth to also qualify for next Sunday’s final.

Fotowon photos

Hugadragon lowered his lifetime mark in winning his Matron Stakes elimination and has now won four of his past six starts.

Hugadragon and driver Yannick Gingras notched a 1:49.3 lifetime-best in the other Matron Elim. The Dragon Again--Hip Huggers gelding owned by Burke Racing Stable beat the runner-up, Rock To Glory (David Miller), for his fourth win with two seconds in his last six races. It was his sixth win this season, sending his 2011 earnings to $605,096. Lizard King (Tim Tetrick) was the show horse. Mr Tommy Fra (Andy Miller), fourth, also made it to the $221,000 final next Sunday.

Shaving Mug, the latest in a long list of top pacers from Gary and Barbara Iles’ broodmare Pocket Comb, won his fourth straight and fifth win in seven freshman starts, winning a 1:54.2 DSBF preliminary. Montrell Teague drove the Badlands Hanover gelding trained by George Teague, lifting his bankroll to $85,250. Chizzled In Stone (Jon Roberts) was second with Flying Instructor (Tim Tetrick), third.

Its Outta Here won the other $20,000 pacing preliminary as Ross Wolfenden guided the Three Olives--Galaxy Girl colt home in 1:56.2 for owners Greg Simendinger and trainer and co-owner Eli Scott, Jr. Hot Shot Dresser (Tony Morgan) was runner-up. Somethinginthewind (Brad Hanners) finished third.

Nanticoke Racing and driver Ross Wolfenden’s Windshield dominated his DSBF trot section, winning with easy in 2:01.2. Les Givens conditions the Political Briefing--CR Mimosa colt who earned his sixth consecutive victory and now has $85,299 in earnings.

Bold Strike (Art Stafford, Jr.) and This Is It Sam (Eddie Davis, Jr.) were second and third, respectively.

The second $20,000 DSBF trot was taken by the 11-1 shot I’m So Striking in 2:03.2, winning his first pari-mutuel start. Eddie Dennis trains and drives the So Striking--Ringside Kate gelding for Lois and Earl Walters and E&K Stables. Left Alone Ranger (Corey Callahan) finished second. Tzar (John Gazzerro) took third.

The second DSBF colt preliminariess are set for next Sunday. The top eight point-getters after two rounds will race in $100,000 finals on Dec. 4.