One favorite, one longshot win $283,000 Matron Stakes

R Melina (Chapter Seven) made 4 to 5 odds look like a gift in the $138,000 Matron Stakes for rookie trotting fillies in Grand Circuit harness racing at Dover Downs on November 2nd (Thursday night.)

Driver Tim Tetrick made his intentions clear on the first turn, leaving hard from post six, staying out and advancing past rivals French Champagne (Ake Svanstedt) and Upallnight Hanover (Scott Zeron). Tetrick would make front with R Melina before the :28.1 opening 1/4 was reached.

From there, there was little movement as Tetrick guided his John Butenschoen through a reasonable :58.4 half and the three quarters in 1:27.2 with no outside challengers until the top of the stretch. That’s when Svanstedt took his shot out of the pocket, but French Champagne lost ground in the :28.2 final quarter and squandered second to Zeron and his filly, who drove up the passing lane to claim second, two lengths behind the winner. It was another length back to French Champagne.

R Melina paid $3.60 to win as the favorite and she combined with Upallnight Hanover for a winning exacta that paid $19.20.

R MELINA REPLAY

R Melina took her sixth win in 10 starts this year for owners M and L of Delaware LLC, and Alabama Harness Associate. She boosted her earnings to just over $315,000.

The $145,000 Matron Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings was full of action and lead changes eventually won by 8-1 Maxim Hanover (Captaintreacherous) who powered up off cover late to take a neck win in 1:52.

Dublin Dasher (Simon Allard) was eager to leave for the front from post seven and he would be the first leader. He reached the opening 1/4 in :26.4 but he wouldn’t hold the lead for long. Even money favorite Noblesville (Tim Tetrick) would make front as he passed the half in :54.4 but would soon be under siege.

Dave Miller popped Wish You Well out of third and brushed to the front leaving Magnifico Hanover (Brian Sears) first-over, and he pressured the leader while providing cover to Booming Economy (Yannick Gingras) and Maxim Hanover (Andy McCarthy).

At the 1:23.4 three quarters, Gingras pulled three wide and it appeared that Booming Economy would drive away for the win. But Maxim Hanover had the freshest legs and he pounced off the good cover to nail Booming Economy on the wire, a neck winner in 1:52, a lifetime mark.

It was a length back to Magnifico Hanover, who held for third ahead of Noblesville. The winner paid $18.60 and keyed a $113.60 winning exacta.

MAXIM HANOVER REPLAY

Maxim Hanover, trained by Bob Cleary, took his third career win and raised his earnings to $126,390 for Royal Wire Products, Inc. of North Royalton, OH.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink