Dover: Divisional honors on the line in Matron Stakes

Some of the best 3-year-olds in harness racing will be in action at Dover Downs for the Matron series on Thursday evening. Three of the four six-figure stakes feature Breeders Crown winners looking to add to their résumés in search of divisional honors.

The festivities start in the $146,050 filly trot (race six) and the horse to beat is Crown champion Allegiant (5-2 morning line) starting from post five with Scott Zeron in the bike for trainer Linda Toscano.

“She came out of the [Breeders Crown] really good and she trained well on Saturday [Nov. 2],” said Toscano, who mentioned that Allegiant will sell in the North American Standardbred Mixed Sale on December 17. “We are hoping she puts in a good effort. She trained on a half-mile track her whole life, so I don’t see any reason why she won’t get around Dover.”

Allegiant currently sits second in her division in earnings behind fellow Matron starter R Melina (post three, Todd McCarthy, 7-2) and a win by either filly could be the difference maker in deciding divisional honors.

“I don’t like to talk about that stuff because you know me, I like to fly under the radar if possible, but she’s certainly done everything worthy of it. If she can beat R Melina and beat the fillies she’s in against on Thursday night, she’s certainly worthy of consideration,” said Toscano, who took over training the filly in early October. “Vernon [Beachy] called me and asked if I would take her after Lexington. I offered to just babysit her and he said, ‘no, I want you to take her and do whatever it is that you do’ and he’s awesome, and [owner] Ryan [Smith], I’ve worked with him before. They are terrific people and I was just happy to help.”

Filly pacers go in the $116,500 tenth race and Toscano also has an entrant in the speedy yet erratic Sarasota Hanover.

“Sarasota Hanover has a world of ability, which is the reason we decided to race her next year as a 4-year-old,” said Toscano. “As we’ve finished up the year I think she’s getting stronger and more consistent. She’s very, very fast but she’s in tough. She’s got a good post but they are all good horses in there.”

Sarasota Hanover (10-1) starts from post three with Zeron in the bike and will take on Breeders Crown champion My Girl EJ (post five, Dexter Dunn, 5-2) and runner-up Tarrific (post eight, Jason Bartlett, 7-2), who trainer Chris Ryder said will be retired to serve as a broodmare after the race.

Male pacers go in race 12 and we’ll witness a Breeders Crown rematch between winner Mirage Hanover (Dexter Dunn, 5-2) and Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy, 7-2), who tired to third after setting the pace in the mile.

“You have to have some sort of breather and he didn’t get any. The horses that beat him drew one and two along the fence,” said trainer Noel Daley about the Crown performance by Captain Albano, who again starts outside his rival in post five versus pylon position for the Jake Leamon-trained Mirage Hanover.

This $185,500 Matron split is another that could have a major impact on divisional honors as both Mirage Hanover and Captain Albano are separated by just under $160,000 in earnings.

Male trotters do battle in the $152,800 eighth race with Highland Kismet (5-2) looking to get back on the winning track after three consecutive off-the-board finishes.

Thought to be one of the divisional leaders along with Karl and Sig Sauer, Highland Kismet could only finish fourth in the Breeders Crown last time and hasn’t won since the September 28 Bluegrass at The Red Mile. He’ll start from post two with Tim Tetrick in the bike for trainer Mark Etsell on Thursday while tackling New York Sire Stakes champion Sir Pinocchio (Bartlett, 7-2) just to his inside.

Post time for the 15-race Dover card is 4:30 p.m.