Dover Downs Extra 17th November

The $300,000 Hap Hansen Progress Pace (HHPP) shapes up as one of the biggest events of the late season. This Thursday, the two $2-million pacers, both from the Brian Brown barn, meet head-on in the $35,000 HHPP elimination. Downbytheseaside, the Matron winner last Thursday and Fear The Dragon, the #1 rated horse via the Hambletonian Society poll for much of this season was paid into the HHPP via a $25,000 supplemental payment. There are 11 in the field this Wednesday with the first eight finishers qualifying for the $300,000 (est.) final.

————————————————————-

The Matron Stakes, harness racing's longest continual stakes in the sport dating back to the 19th century. Dover Downs has been home base since the 1997 season.Thursday's card provided fans with an outstanding showcase of racing on Nov. 16. Downbytheseaside became a $2-million winner, Bill's Man closed strongly for Tim Tetrick's first of four wins, Agent Q got up for Hall of Famer David Miller and Dream Together -led off the four Matron Stakes championships on Thursday, Nov. 16 at Dover Downs. Tim Tetrick added to his current leading driver total scoring four winners

————————————————-

Trotter Bill's Mann with catch-driver Tim Tetrick was surprise winner of the $201,900 Matron 3-Year-Old Trot. M&L of Delaware, the nom de course of Ralph, Roz and Doug Paul of Greenville, longtime horse owners, who formerly were noted for owning stake pacers, won their first major trot. Also, Agent Q, the dam of winner of the $182.700 Matron Filly pace was bred by Dover Down's horsemen Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta. Finding they had too many broodmares, they sold the dam of the Matron winner, Teenage Paige-A costly mistake.

—————————————————–

Two Delaware horsemen had The Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) stakes at Dover Downs head into is second and final week of pacing and trotting preliminaries for both sexes with the top eight point-getters qualifying for the four $100,000 finals on Nov. 30. It's the same day the $300,000 (est.) Hap Hansen Progress Pace tops off the biggest day in Delaware harness racing this year.

———————————————–

The Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) got off to a fast start on Nov. 13 when Slick Tony and Evolution Tour scored impressive victories in $20,000 first leg action. Russ Foster and Tim Tetrick notched three driving wins.

—————————————————————

Gracefullyforgiven and Go Sandy Go won DSBF $20,000 two-year-old filly paces while Corey Callahan notched five wins on Tuesday, Nov. 14. Art Stafford Jr., trainers Bobby Reeser and Nick Callahan made the winner's circle twice.

————————————

Star Sapphire and Vandalous won $20,000 DSBF 1st leg filly trotter preliminaries while Super Fly took the $20,000 male prelim. Enhance Your Mind, last season's Horse of the Meet scored a 1:52.1 triumph in the $25,000 Mares Open pace. Tim Tetrick had three wins, Corey Callahan and Art Stafford Jr. had two driving wins. Nick Callahan had two wins to move into second-place among trainers. Josh Green also had two winners.

——————————————-

On Nov. 11, Dover Downs horsemen, Kim and Justin, were involved in a real rarity. He father-son team finished in a dead-heat for win at Rosecroft Raceway. An old-time horseman remembered a similar feat a dead-head race finish

between a father and son racing at Harrington when the photo finish camera could not separate horses driven by Pat Hubbard and Charley Tribbett.

——————————————

Tim Tetrick is currently leading driver at the track. After several multi-win days, Tetrick has registered 28 winning drives. Art Stafford Jr, is second in the standings with 19 wins two more that defending champ Corey Callahan and Vic Kirby, tied for third with 17 each. Russell Foster completes the top 5 with 13 triumphs

——————————————–

Jim King tops the trainer stats with 11 winners. Wayne Givens is second with seven. Josh Green, Bob Reeser, Eric Ell, Jason Skinner and Joe Columbo of the George Dennis Stable are all tied with five wins each, and tied for third place.

Marv Bachrad