Ma Chere Hall opened the card with a seemingly effortless track record victory in the $164,250 Matron for three-year-old trotting fillies.
Leaving from post four, the overwhelming 1-9 favourite cruised through fractions of :27.1, :56.2 and 1:25 en route to the 1:53.2 triumph for trainer Jonas Czernyson. She equalled the divisional track record held by last year's Matron champion Personal Style. Time To Kill (John Campbell) and Deja Vu Too (Matt Kakaley) followed in second and third.
"I've had a really fun summer with Ma Chere. It was a good way to culminate the year," said winning driver Corey Callahan. "I was pretty confident. She's been racing some tough fillies all year along and she looked like the best one in here today. They bet her down to 1-9 and if she did get beat it was pretty much going to be all on me. My plan was to cut it and she was perfect tonight."
The Deweycheatumnhowe filly is owned by breeder Walnut Hall Limited, Aldebaran Park Inc. and Joe Sbrocco. She has won nine of her 16 starts, including the Kentucky Sires Stakes Championship and a division of the Bluegrass Series, while banking $343,619.
All Bets Off turned in a track record performance of his own winning the $154,575 Matron for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings in 1:50 flat.
The Ron Burke trainee left from the outside post position in a field scratched down to six and briefly tucked into the three-hole before driving on past the :26.1 opening quarter mark. All Bets Off made the lead in front of the grandstand and then carved out middle fractions of :54.2 and 1:22.3 while turning back first over challenger Carracci Hanover (Yannick Gingras), who eventually finished third. Stevensville (Tim Tetrick) closed up the pylons down the stretch, but came up short, finishing half a length behind All Bets Off.
"He went a big trip, he raced super," said driver Matt Kakaley. "The Burkes always have him ready, so he was ready to roll today. I'm fortunate to be in the spot I am and Ronnie and Mickey look after me pretty good. It's always a pleasure to drive horses like this and I can't thank them enough.
"I think they've had him for a few weeks now and he's just getting better," added the winning reinsman. "I think the sky is the limit for him right now."
All Bets Off earned a new lifetime mark while improving his record to 4-4-0 in 12 starts. The Bettors Delight colt, who has banked $186,683 in purses, is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Frank Baldachino, The Panhellenic Stable Corp., and Rosemary Shelswell.
The former divisional track record of 1:50.4 was co-held by 2008 Matron winner If I Can Dream and Heston Blue Chip, who won as a two-year-old in 2011 and again at three the following year.
Nuncio destroyed the track record for two-year-old trotters with his 1:53 triumph in the following $166,650 Matron. He shaved two full seconds off the colt mark of 2008 Matron champion Explosive Matter.
The heavy 1-9 favourite retook the lead from Skates N Plates (Simone Allard) past the :26.3 first quarter mark and fronted the field past panels of :55 and 1:24 with Don Dorado (Tim Tetrick) advancing first over from third. However, Nuncio took off down the stretch to win by three lengths. Skates N Plates finished second over Don Dorado.
"He raced very well," said driver John Campbell from the winner's circle. "Last week [in the elimination] he was almost on the bit too much even though he was on the front. Tonight he was a bit more manageable and I was able to get him to relax the third quarter and he finished up strong.
"He's raced well every start this year, he's just had the misfortune of going up against Father Patrick and it's a tall order to beat him, but I've been happy with his races all year long."
Nuncio has won five times while never finishing worse than second in nine career starts for earnings amounting to $337,387. He was the runner-up to Father Patrick in the eliminations and finals of the Peter Haughton Memorial and Breeders Crown.
"He's got a tremendous amount of natural talent," added Campbell. "He's very good on his feet; it doesn't seem to matter what kind of track he races on, he gets around all of them very well. I'm looking forward to him coming back next year and being a horse that will race in the top stakes."
Scott Andrews trains the son of Andover Hall for Stall Tz Inc.
Locally-owned Table Talk pulled off a 19-1 upset victory in the $132,525 Matron for two-year-old pacing fillies as she wore down even-money favourite Ali Blue in the homestretch.
Instant Respect (Ron Pierce) established the early lead over Beach Body (Brian Sears) through a contested :25.4 first quarter, but Ali Blue (Yannick Gingras) was on the move after leaving from post seven and worked her way to command in front of the grandstand. As the new leader carved out middle splits of :55 and 1:23, My Lady Day (David Miller) advanced first over with Table Talk following her cover. Driver Andy Miller sent Table Talk three-wide around the final turn and she powered home to prevail in a career-best 1:52 flat, paying $40.20 to win. Ali Blue held off Tyra (Tim Tetrick) for the runner-up honours three-quarters of a length behind.