Boston Red Rocks, Pure Country, Caprice Hill and Dayson take Matron finals

by Marv Bachrad / Dover Downs

Boston Red Rocks, Pure Country, Caprice Hill and Dayson were all winners of Matron three-year-old finals Thursday (Nov. 10) at Dover Downs.

Boston Red Rocks, the 2015 USHWA Two-Year-Old Pacer of the Year, came from off to pace to get the lead on the final turn and scooted to a 1:49.3 victory in the $160,200 Matron for sophomore pacing colts. It was his fifth win of the season for trainer Steve Elliott and owns Peter Blood and Rick Berks. It was winning driver Tim Tetrick’s third of five wins of the night. The victory boosts the Rocknroll Hanover—McGibson colt’s earnings to $382,055 this year and $961,260 lifetime.

Brett Miller and Diamond Creek’s homebred Pure Country, arguably the sport’s leading sophomore filly pacer, chalked up her 10th win of 2016 by overpowering seven distaffs in 1:50.2 to win the $148,400 Matron and improve her lifetime bankroll to $1.7 million and her seasonal earnings to $1,082,430 for trainer Jimmy Takter. Pen Pal and Pat Lachance finished second. Blue Moon Stride, driven by Andrew McCarty, was third.

In Matron trots, Tom Hill’s Caprice Hill received a well-timed drive from Hall of Famer Brian Sears to record a 1:52.3 triumph in the $149,000 Matron Filly Trot. The win put the Kadabra—Bramasole filly over the half-million mark this year and just shy of six-figures in her career. All The Time, piloted by Yannick Gingras, was runner-up. Non Stick and Ake Svanstedt, took show honors.

Gingras and New York Sire Stakes standout Dayson won for the 12th time in 19 starts this season recording a 1:53 score in the $178,650 Matron Colt Trot. Ron Burke conditions the Conway Hall—Nervey’s Taurus gelding for Our Hrs Cents and J&T Silva and Burke Racing stables. The win lifted his purse total to $479,508 this year. Double L Lindy and Ake Svanstedt finished second in front of Lagerfeld handled by Hall of Famer David Miller, third.

Montrell Teague drove three Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund freshmen winners, all sired by George Teague $1 million winners, and trained by Clyde Francis, to impressive victories.

Henry The Dragon by Custard The Dragon—Surveille Hanover, won his fifth in-a-row in an unbeaten start, easily outdistancing Automatic Dragon (Tetrick) and Hallie’s Comet (Ross Wolfenden) to the finish line in 1:52.3.

Next, Montrell Teague guided Stay In Your Place, a Mr. Wiggles—Southwind Tahiti Teague homebred who he owns with K&R Racing, to a 1:53.4 success. Wake Up And Go (Corey Callahan) just missed finished second in the photo with James Isaac (Tony Morgan).

The same owner/trainer/driver combo returned with Daylen in 1:55.1 The Mr. Apples—Dance Major Teague bred and owned rookie held off Kaaya (Jim Morand) and Painter’s Edge (Art Stafford Jr.) for his third win of the year.

Bags To Riches spoiled a Teague sweep as Tim Tetrick steered the Roddy’s Bags Again—Paint The Sky Blue colt home in 1:53 for trainer Jason Skinner and breeder Only Money Inc., co-owners. Rat Tail (Montrell Teague) was second best. Suspinder (Allan Davis) finished third.