Matrons to be Deciding Moment for End of Year Honors

After the Breeders’ Crown, the stakes season begins to wind down with the grand circuit action at Balmoral and Maywood, but the end of stakes season is marked with the Matron and Progress Pace. Seven Matron divisions will be conducted on the Dover Downs surface, leading up to the $270,000 Progress Pace.

The two-year-old colt trot opens up the stakes card, holding a purse of $159,675. With top prospect in the Matron Dontyouforgetit out, we turn to a horse that did well in his elimination last week, San Donato. San Donato trotted behind tempo setter Sand Royal Blu for the entire mile, not trying to overtake him into the stretch but finished second. This week, he shouldn’t let Sand Royal Blu easily trot around the oval, he will put up a fight and be a great price.

Royal Assets winning at The Meadows

Up next is the frosh-filly trot, where Time To Kill has shown she will be a fierce competitor against the other four. We look away from her with the likely second choice Royal Assets. She trotted the entire mile behind Time To Kill, finishing a good second. Royal Assets is a much better trotter than Time To Kill and should unleash a furious mile like she did in the Merrie Annabelle. Royal Assets will likely attempt to dictate the tempo and should do well on the top if she does take the lead.

Somwherovrarainbow winning the 2yofp Breeders' Crown at
Woodbine Racetrack

The freshmen filly pace features the top horse in the division, Somwherovrarainbow. She paced leisurely around the track in the preview and should be prime for the final; there is no use picking against her. You would have better luck to be elected President of the United States than if you picked against Somwherovrarainbow.

The three-year-old filly trot is one of the best betting races of the night. We went against likely favorite Win Missy B, but have two horses to offer that have a good chance of winning. The first horse is Mystical Escapade. She shipped in from Indiana and finished a good third against these ranks and should get another great trip. She is a great bet if she is 6-1 or up approaching post time.

The second betting opportunity is with a horse we have followed for most of the season, D’orsay. She is always a big price in races of this caliber and Callahan finds a way to give her a good trip. She will likely get away mid-pack, then pick up cover second over and from there, she’ll use her late kick. She’s a good bet if she is 9-1 or up approaching post time.

The freshmen colt pace Matron was blown wide open, as a 44-1 shot won the preview for fun, Sir Cary’s Z Tam. His stable mate Sir Richard Z Tam has a better chance this week. He shouldn’t be as far off the pace as he was last week, having to close and finish a disappointing second. Under him, we’ll use Dedi’s Dragon and Teresa’s Beach for a trifecta. Dedi’s Dragon set the pace as he left from post 8 in the preview. He draws the rail this week and shouldn’t have to work hard to get the lead. Teresa’s Beach sat the pocket around the entire oval, coming up the passing lane to finish third. She should get that same trip this week and be a good price as well.

Googoo Gaagaa winning at the Meadowlands

The sophomore colt trot is headlined by the eliminations favorite, Uncle Peter. Uncle Peter returned after a horrible race in the Hambletonian in the Oliver Trotting Classic, where he lost to stable mate Upfront Billy. Our eyes are on the ‘ugly duckling’ of the trotters, so to speak. We like Googoo Gaagaa in this event. He was far off the pace in the eliminations, as he had to come from the second tier. He draws post 7 this week and should be more aggressive in this mile.

We’ll also go with My Mvp underneath for an exacta. He had to go first over to chase down Little Brown Fox, which did not have a good result. My Mvp finished fifth, as he wanted to save something for the final. He should be ready tonight and a good price.

The final Matron is the three-year-old filly pace. Darena Hanover headlines the race after a win in the preview. We will take a shot with an oddball, Marty Party. She came from post 8 in the preview and got away second, fading through a :26 and change opening quarter. This race was after scratching sick from the Breeders’ Crown. This is her second start off of being scratched sick, draws a better post and is in the perfect position to upset.

Bettor's Edge winning his Breeders' Crown
elimination

The feature on the card, the Progress Pace, is sure to be a tough mile, as foes will attempt to beat Breeders’ Crown winner Heston Blue Chip. One pacer in this field has been super consistent within the last few months, but was disappointing in the preview; finishing sixth. Bettor’s Edge is our horse to beat Heston Blue Chip. He draws a better post this week and should not let Heston Blue Chip go right to the lead. Bettor’s Edge will put up a fight that in the end, he will win. His 10-1 morning line is very deceiving, as he will probably go off at 15 or 20-1. If you are confident in beating Heston Blue Chip, then Bettor’s Edge is the horse you want to put your $2 on to win.