Upsets and more in $560,000 Matron Stakes

Warrawee Xenia (Walner) was given a perfect second-over drive by James MacDonald and scored an 8-1 upset victory in capturing her $135,300 harness racing division of the Matron Stakes Thursday, November 10 at Bally’s Dover Downs.

Her division was one of four Grand Circuit Matron Stakes for three-year-old trotters and pacers.

The 6^th race for three-year-old trotting fillies saw Venerable and driver David Miller parked out Raised By Lindy (Yannick Gingras) to a speedy opening quarter in :26.2.

Going to the half mile, the 2/5 race favorite, Joviality S (Brian Sears) was flushed first-over by Warrawee Xenia as they passed the half mile marker in :55.4.

Going down the backstretch, Venerable held on to the lead with Joviality S neck and neck to the three-quarters in 1:23.4.

Those two raced as a team until they straighten out in the stretch when MacDonald swept three-wide with Warrawee Xenia and she powered down the stretch to win by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:52.4. Venerable held for second place with Raised By Lindy third. Joviality S faded in the lane and was fifth.

“It was one of those dream trips,” MacDonald said after the race. “It just worked out. I was hoping to get behind Joviality S and then risking it if she could get to the lead or not. It worked out great.”

WARRAWEE XENIA REPLAY

It was the ninth win this year for Warrawee Xenia, who is trained and co-owned by Mark Steacy with David McDonald, Dale Larson and Diane Bertrand. She paid $18.00 to win.

It was a night for horses coming off the pace as in the next Matron Stakes, the 8^th race for three-year-old trotting colts with a purse of $143,950, Double Deceiver (Cantab Hall) was able to win off a perfect drive by David Miller.

It was the three-wide battle for the early lead between Double Deceiver, Fast As The Wind (Dexter Dunn) and the 4/5 race favorite, King Of The North (Mark MacDonald), who was going for his fourth straight win.

King Of The North won the battle after a fast :26.2 first quarter with Double Deceiver getting the two-hole trip. They raced to the half mile in :55.1 with Temporal Hanover (Mattias Melander) coming first-over and Slay (Joe Bongiorno) second-over.

They raced that way past the three-quarters in 1:23.3 and by the top of the stretch it turned out to be a two-horse race to the wire, but Double Deceiver and Miller were too tough in the lane, passing King Of The North to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:52.4. King Of The North edged Keg Stand (Yannick Gingras) for second by a nose.

“Dave (Miller) gave him a perfect drive tonight,” said trainer Carter Pinske. “He’s a small horse and can get around any size track.”

DOUBLE DECEIVER REPLAY

It was the seventh win this year for Double Deceiver, who is trained by Carter Pinske whose Pinske Stable co-owns the gelding with Makenna Lynn Pinske. He paid $6.20 to win.

The first race favorite to win came in the 10^th race $123,950 Matron Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies where the 1/5 favorite Niki Hill (Always B Miki) and driver Dexter Dunn did not disappoint her backers.

Silver Label (James MacDonald) was first on the lead to the opening quarter mile in :26.1 with Boudoir Hanover (Todd McCarthy) getting the two-hole trip.

As the field approached the second turn, Niki Hill and Dunn were flushed first-over by Just Divine (Yannick Gingras) as Silver Label led to the half mile in :55.2.

Down the backstretch, Niki Hill worked her way to see eye-to-eye with Silver Label and then passed her by before the three-quarters in 1:22.3. From there Dunn let his filly have her head and she paced on to a four length triumph in 1:49.4. Boudoir Hanover closed for second with Wickedly Innocent (David Miller) third.

“I might have gone to the front if we got away third,” said Dexter Dunn about the start of the race. “But we got away fourth and I just took my time. She felt so good tonight, she could not have done any better. She is amazing.”

NIKI HILL REPLAY

It was the third win in her last four starts for Niki Hill. She is trained by Chris Ryder for owner Tom Hill of Lancashire, UK and paid $2.40 to win.

Ryder did confirm that Niki Hill will return and race next year.

Pebble Beach (Downbytheseaside) showed his star status with what looked like an easy victory in the 12^th race $158,200 Matron Stakes The Hap Hansen for three-year-old pacing colts.

Driver Todd McCarthy left with Pebble Beach and was first on the lead, but I Did It Myway (Andy McCarthy) also left and took command of the race to a fast :25.4 opening quarter.

Todd McCarthy then came right back with Pebble Beach, and they retook the lead before the half mile in :54.3. Greatest Ending (Yannick Gingras) came first-over with Energetic Hanover (David Miller) second-over but they were unable to advance on Pebble Beach by the three-quarters in 1:22.4.

Pebble Beach continued to hold the field at bay with only I Did It Myway on their back and Energetic Hanover three-wide around the final turn. As they came down the stretch, Pebble Beach was the strong horse, winning by one length in 1:51.2. I Did It Myway was second with Energetic Hanover third.

PEBBLE BEACH REPLAY

It was the fourth straight win for Pebble Beach, who now has nine wins and has yet to finish off the board in 15 starts this year. He is trained by Noel Daley for the Patricia Stable, Jo Sbrocco & Country Club Acres and Laexpressfoderadeovolente. He paid $3.20 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink