Lyons Sentinel heads Invitational Pace

Lyons Sentinel headlines the $40,000 Invitational-Handicap Pace for harness racing mares on Wednesday at Dover Downs but will have to overcome an outside post to get the job done.

Without the presences of Rocknificent, who had beaten Lyons Sentinel in her last two starts in the Breeders Crown, Lyons Sentinel is the 5/2 morning line favorite from post seven for driver Tim Tetrick.

The Captaintreacherous four-year-old mare has had a great season with nine wins and earnings of $678,433 for trainer Jim King, Jr. and owners Threelyonsracing of Brantford, Ontario.

This year, Lyons Sentinel was #1 in the Top Ten Poll for weeks as she wrapped up victories in the $252,800 Roses Are Red, $191,050 Lady Liberty, $189,600 Milton Stakes, $168,000 Dayton Distaff Derby and the $160,000 Artiscape, just to name a few of her major stakes wins.

At one point during this season, Lyons Sentinel rallied for eight straight wins for the stable.

Of course, it will not be a walk in the park for Lyons Sentinel, as she faces six rivals, all of whom would love nothing better than to have beaten this top mare. She has beaten most all of them over the past year.

Second choice in the race is JK First Lady, a four-year-old mare by Western Ideal from the top mare JK She’salady. She goes from post six for driver David Miller.

Trained by Nancy Takter for the 3 Brothers Stables of New York, JK First Lady has but one victory this year in 14 starts as she has been racing against the best mares in the country all season long. Her lone win was a very impressive lifetime mark of 1:47.4 at the Meadowlands.

Entering the race with a four-race winning streak on the line is Scuola Hanover and driver Art Stafford, Jr. This six-year-old mare by A Rocknroll Dance sports 11 wins this year racing primarily in Delaware and New York, the fastest a 1:50.4 record at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

Other contenders include Shes Pukka N (post 4), a nine-time winner this year, Marloe Hanover (post 5), Soho Burning Love A (post 2) and rounding out the field is Sunny Dee (post 3).

Coming up Thursday at Dover is the Matron Stakes for three-year-old pacers and trotters and featured will be all-star performers Test Of Faith, Bella Bellini, Charlie May, Swingforthefences and Scarlett Hanover.

By Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink