$156,300 Matron a homer for Swingforthefences

With a lifetime mark taken, Swingforthefences smacked another homer in wiring the field to capture the $156,300 Matron Stake for three-year-old harness racing trotting colts Thursday at Dover Downs.

It was the sixth straight win for Swingforthefences, who was stretched out to the opening quarter in the eighth race by Incommunicado (Yannick Gingras) in :27.

The field then stayed in single file order past the half mile marker in :56.3 with Swingforthefences and driver Peter Wrenn in full control. In the backstretch Capstone (Ake Svanstedt) came first-over, forcing race favorite In Range (Tim Tetrick) to race three-wide past the three-quarters in 1:24.1.

Clearing to first-over on the final turn, In Range started to try and mount a challenge, but Swingforthefences was too tough as he went on to win by three-quarters of a length over Incommunicado with In Range third. The time of the mile was 1:52.1.

Sired by Swan For All, it was the 11^th win this year and a lifetime mark by one full second for Swingforthefences. He is trained by Melanie Wrenn for co-owners Dave McDuffee and L&L Devisser, LLC. He paid $6.40 to win.

SWINGFORTHEFENCES REPLAY

It was a big day for owner Dave McDuffee whose Bella Bellini earlier on the card won the $148,550 Matron Stakes for the trotting fillies.

“I thought he would handle the smaller track really well,” Wrenn said. “I knew he would not have any problems here. It worked out well for us today. It’s a short stretch here compared to Hoosier Park and he didn’t know if he was done with the race or not.”

For full race results, click here.

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink