Race Preview Dover Downs: Matron Finals on Sunday November 17, 2013
There are eight Matron Finals on the card at Dover Downs on Sunday, November 17th. Some of the entries raced against each other in Breeders Crown races and in other stakes. One, Sunshine Beach, beat Captaintreacherous and ran second to him in their Breeders Crown Final. Before that race though, there are 5 other matron stakes and several Delaware Breeder Stakes races to pique handicappers' interest.
The Matron Final action starts with the first race, a trot for 3 Year Old Fillies. Ma Chere Hall is the morning line favorite at 6/5. Corey Callahan drives for Jonas Czernyson and the pair have a 20% win average and a string of firsts with the Deweycheatumnhowe filly. Probable challengers include Thistle Dhu, Drink The Wine and Southwind Cocoa.
The second race is a Matron Final for 2 Year Old Colts and Gelding pacers. McArdle's son, McWicked at 2/1, looks menacing from the 2 post with Andy Miller driving for Julie Miller. Ron Burke's entry, All Bets Off has good early speed, but is not well placed in the 7 post, although he got a second from that post two races ago. He won his only race at Dover.
The next Matron Final is in the third race and is a trot for 2 Year Old Colts and Geldings. John Campbell and Scott Andrews drive and train the morning line favorite at 6/5, Nuncio. This Andover colt has had a trainer change from Jim Oscarsson and won his last Matron elim with a 155.2. He is moving up in class though, and has to contend with Well Built and Don Dorado, who may be tough to beat in this one.
Race 5 features the 2 Year Old Fillies Final Pace that is hard to handicap. There's no real standout in this one, although Tyra, in the very helpful 1 post has 5 wins out of 9 races this year and has earned more than $176,000. Beach Body, though, the 5/2 favorite, has earned even more - over $284,000. If earnings matter, both of them have to be taken seriously.
Race 9 is a Trot for 2 Year Old Fillies in the Matron Finals, something I always approach the way I approach live grenades and sticks of dynamite with lit fuses. No matter how well trained the young lady trotters seem to be, there's always a chance that one or more of them will make a break and turn it from a trot to a conga line. In this one, there's a 2/5 morning line favorite, Shake It Cerry, in the 1 post, not the best place for a trotter to start from.
I'll bow to the wisdom and handicapping knowledge of whoever believes that the crowd will back her at those odds, but I think I'll sit this one out and watch it without having a stake in it. Much better for my blood pressure. If I just can't restrain myself from betting at post time, I'll put a longshot bet on 7-Scream and Shout, who hasn't won in 10 races this year, but has 5 seconds and Tim Tetrick in the bike for Jimmy Takter.
Race 10 is the Matron Final for 3 Year Old Colts and Geldings, with Sunshine Beach in the 8 post. The son of Somebeachsomewhere will have to get out quickly and race aggressively against Vegas Vacation and Emeritus Maximus, but he has a record that makes him look like he can pull it off.
The 11th race is the Matron Final Pace for 3 Year Old Fillies. One of my favorite fillies, Ms Caila J Fra, is in the 1 post in this at 9/2. Good odds for a horse with her record, although she's faltered of late. She does have a second at Dover though. Shebestingin is the 3/5 favorite and with 10 wins and 3 seconds out of 17 races this year, that's no surprise. Jerseylicious will also be looking for a piece of the pie in this one and has 5 wins out of 5 races at Dover. Hmm.
3 Year Old Colts and Geldings meet in Race 13 for the Matron Final Trot for their age group. Smilin Eli is the morning line favorite at 4/5. Tim Tetrick will be gunning him to the front or for cover and I expect All Laid Out to close in the stretch if well placed. Bluto, who has a second at Dover, might be in the mix at the finish also.
As always, good racing luck and safe trips to all the drivers and horses on Dover's Sunday card. Don't forget to watch and wager on Bet America, where bonus tracks pay rewards.
The Matron Final action starts with the first race, a trot for 3 Year Old Fillies. Ma Chere Hall is the morning line favorite at 6/5. Corey Callahan drives for Jonas Czernyson and the pair have a 20% win average and a string of firsts with the Deweycheatumnhowe filly. Probable challengers include Thistle Dhu, Drink The Wine and Southwind Cocoa.
The second race is a Matron Final for 2 Year Old Colts and Gelding pacers. McArdle's son, McWicked at 2/1, looks menacing from the 2 post with Andy Miller driving for Julie Miller. Ron Burke's entry, All Bets Off has good early speed, but is not well placed in the 7 post, although he got a second from that post two races ago. He won his only race at Dover.
The next Matron Final is in the third race and is a trot for 2 Year Old Colts and Geldings. John Campbell and Scott Andrews drive and train the morning line favorite at 6/5, Nuncio. This Andover colt has had a trainer change from Jim Oscarsson and won his last Matron elim with a 155.2. He is moving up in class though, and has to contend with Well Built and Don Dorado, who may be tough to beat in this one.
Race 5 features the 2 Year Old Fillies Final Pace that is hard to handicap. There's no real standout in this one, although Tyra, in the very helpful 1 post has 5 wins out of 9 races this year and has earned more than $176,000. Beach Body, though, the 5/2 favorite, has earned even more - over $284,000. If earnings matter, both of them have to be taken seriously.
Race 9 is a Trot for 2 Year Old Fillies in the Matron Finals, something I always approach the way I approach live grenades and sticks of dynamite with lit fuses. No matter how well trained the young lady trotters seem to be, there's always a chance that one or more of them will make a break and turn it from a trot to a conga line. In this one, there's a 2/5 morning line favorite, Shake It Cerry, in the 1 post, not the best place for a trotter to start from.
I'll bow to the wisdom and handicapping knowledge of whoever believes that the crowd will back her at those odds, but I think I'll sit this one out and watch it without having a stake in it. Much better for my blood pressure. If I just can't restrain myself from betting at post time, I'll put a longshot bet on 7-Scream and Shout, who hasn't won in 10 races this year, but has 5 seconds and Tim Tetrick in the bike for Jimmy Takter.
Race 10 is the Matron Final for 3 Year Old Colts and Geldings, with Sunshine Beach in the 8 post. The son of Somebeachsomewhere will have to get out quickly and race aggressively against Vegas Vacation and Emeritus Maximus, but he has a record that makes him look like he can pull it off.
The 11th race is the Matron Final Pace for 3 Year Old Fillies. One of my favorite fillies, Ms Caila J Fra, is in the 1 post in this at 9/2. Good odds for a horse with her record, although she's faltered of late. She does have a second at Dover though. Shebestingin is the 3/5 favorite and with 10 wins and 3 seconds out of 17 races this year, that's no surprise. Jerseylicious will also be looking for a piece of the pie in this one and has 5 wins out of 5 races at Dover. Hmm.
3 Year Old Colts and Geldings meet in Race 13 for the Matron Final Trot for their age group. Smilin Eli is the morning line favorite at 4/5. Tim Tetrick will be gunning him to the front or for cover and I expect All Laid Out to close in the stretch if well placed. Bluto, who has a second at Dover, might be in the mix at the finish also.
As always, good racing luck and safe trips to all the drivers and horses on Dover's Sunday card. Don't forget to watch and wager on Bet America, where bonus tracks pay rewards.