Dover: Charlie May takes them gate-to-wire in Matron for 3YO male pacers

Charlie May, the runner-up to Perfect Sting in the Breeders Crown final, wired his rivals in the $164,750 Hap Hansen Matron final for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Thursday night at Dover Downs.

Starting from post seven in the eight-horse field proved little obstacle to Charlie May, as he left under Brett Miller's direction and was able to get to the top before a quarter of just 27 seconds. Facing no outside pressure in the second quarter, Charlie May strolled to the half in a tepid 56 2/5, but Lou's Pearlman (Yannick Gingras) popped off the cones from fourth to go first-over before that marker went on the board.

Lou's Pearlman advanced into second on the way to the 1:22 3/5 three-quarters and continued to loom on the rim around the final the bend and into the lane, but Charlie May kept him at bay all throughout and was victorious by half a length in 1:49 2/5. Abuckabett Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) was able to work out a second-over trip from post eight and wound up third.

"It just seems like Dover is a speed-favoring track most of the time, and I was hoping I could get away at least in the top three," said Brett Miller. "He is a horse that does give you anxious moments because he takes care of himself. He's probably smarter than me. He let that horse get right to him tonight, but I could tell he wasn't going to let him by.

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"He's still going strong, so that does say something for Steve [trainer Steve Carter] to keep him that good."

Carter trains Charlie May, a gelding by McArdle, for owner/breeder Don Tiger. Charlie May picked up his 17th win from 29 career trips behind the gate, and he has now stashed away $1,168,027. He paid $4.00 to win as the even-money favorite.