Dayton: When Dovescry looks to keep rolling in Trotting Derby

In any discussion of the sport's top trotting mares, the names Atlanta and Manchego are at the top of the list. Those two have been dominant forces throughout the entirety of their careers and have earned the distinction above the rest as perhaps the greatest pair of mares to compete at one time.

A short distance back from that pair has been When Dovescry. A Hambletonian Oaks champion with multiple stakes victories, When Dovescry has played a strong second fiddle to the above mares for some time. Yet just a few weeks back in the Armbro Flight at Woodbine Mohawk Park, it was When Dovescry who was a confident winner, with Atlanta and Manchego taking a backseat on this rare occasion.

"I liked our chances going into that race," said Brett Pelling, When Dovescry's conditioner. "Manchego and Atlanta were coming off disappointing efforts, and my mare was coming into the race sharp."

When Dovescry captured the Armbro Flight on September 17 in 1:51 over Sorella, with Atlanta third in that mile and Manchego taking herself out of the equation with a rare break in stride. Just six days later, When Dovescry pushed her winning streak to three in capturing the Miss Versatility final at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in dominant fashion.

On Saturday, the Muscle Hill-sired 5-year-old When Dovescry moves to Dayton where she will again tackle the Nancy Takter-trained mares Sorella and Manchego, along with a talented cast of older male trotters in the $175,000 Dayton Trotting Derby.

When Dovescry landed post seven in the nine-horse Derby field, inside female rivals Manchego (post eight) and Sorella (post nine,) giving the race the look of a handicap for the top mares. On the inside of the field finds Caesars Trotting Classic (Harrah's Hoosier Park) champion Forbidden Trade (post three) as the likely favorite for trainer Luc Blais and driver Bob McClure. Forbidden Trade, the 2019 Hambletonian champion, has proven himself in major combat this year and appears poised for a late-season run at the division title.

There's an International flavor to this year's Dayton Trotting Derby with two in the field sired by Ready Cash. Back Of The Neck (post one) has been racing against weaker company looking to regain his 3-year-old form of 2020. Ready For Moni (post four) is the third of Nancy Takter's trio. He last won in July in the Graduate final at the Meadowlands and most recently finished fourth behind Forbidden Trade in the Caesars on September 24.

The $1.5 million career earner Guardian Angel As has yet to reach the type of form he's seen over the last few years for trainer Anette Lorentzon, but the gifted son of Archangel was in the hunt with a third-place finish in the Caesars and appears to be rounding into form. Guardian Angel As drew post five.

Pelling has not been surprised with the season When Dovescry is enjoying. The mare has won six times with four seconds in 12 starts while earning in excess of $300K this year.

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"She's just a lovely mare," said Pelling. "With the exception of that one race (fifth-place finish in the Steele Memorial) on Hambletonian Day where I believe she tied up, she's been consistent at a high level."

Despite the victories of late the trainer doesn't mince his words. "Atlanta and Manchego are definitely faster than she is," Pelling said. "I think we beat them when they weren't at their best."

The Trotting Derby is one of three $175,000 stakes on the card at Dayton. Race seven features distaff pacers, with Lyons Sentinel the 6-5 morning-line favorite from post three for the team of trainer Jim King Jr. and driver Tim Tetrick. The 11th offers a loaded nine-horse field in the Dayton Derby for older male pacers. Ocean Rock (post one) seeks his third straight stakes win for trainer Christi Noble and driver Dan Noble.

Post time for the 14-race card, which also includes eight Ohio Sire Stakes consolation races for 2- and 3-year-olds is 6:00 P.M. (EDT).

On the pacing front, Pelling is planning on sending the streaking Allywag Hanover to The Red Mile for the second week of Grand Circuit action in the Allerage (October 10). The 4-year-old altered son of Captaintreacherous has moved to the front of this division recently.

"I think the biggest difference is that he's learned how to race on the front-end," said Pelling.

Test Of Faith, most recently second in the Jugette Final, is slated to race on Sunday (October 3) in Bluegrass stakes action at The Red Mile.

"The trip in the Jugette final really helped Scarlett Hanover more than my filly," said Pelling of the first-over grind that saw Test Of Faith defeated for just the second time in 11 tries this year.

Hammering Hank, the undefeated 2-year-old gelding, will remain in New Jersey and point towards the Breeders Crown.

"He's just got amazing high speed and can carry it," said Pelling of the Captaintreacherous offspring that has won all six of his starts with ease.