Dover Downs: Gingras, Takter double up in Matrons for freshmen

Driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Jimmy Takter teamed up to win two of the four Matrons for 2-year-olds that were held on Thursday evening at Dover Downs.

In the $213,000 colt and gelding pace, Blood Money and Gingras came first-up from fourth near the 54 3/5 half and were able to forge their way by leader No Mas Amor (Tim Tetrick) passing the 1:22 4/5 three-quarters. Blood Money got a gap on the field around the last turn, and then dug in under urging through the lane to win by a head in 1:51 1/5, a life's-best clocking. Sugar Factory (David Miller) was second after following the winner's move and then continuing to drive after losing cover, and Reigning Deo (Andrew McCarthy) rallied for third.

Blood Money, a Sweet Lou colt, is trained by Takter for owner/breeder Diamond Creek Farm. This was Blood Money's fifth win from 12 starts, and he has now earned $294,244. He's out of the Western Ideal mare Blood Diamond, making him a half-brother to the likes of Blood Brother (Somebeachsomewhere, $755,495). A 3-1 shot, Blood Money returned $8.00 to win.

Gingras and Takter also bagged the $158,000 male trot, which was raced as a non-betting event before the pari-mutuel card, with Super Schissel. Super Schissel was pocketed through opening-half stations of 28 2/5 and 58 1/5, popped to the outside and took control past the 1:27 2/5 three-quarters, and kicked on to score by 3 1/2 lengths. Holiday Hangover (Tetrick), Union Forces (Scott Zeron), and Lindy's Crazy Hall (Miller) completed the order.

The victorious Uncle Peter colt is owned by Al Libfeld and Perry Soderberg. Super Schissel is now a four-time winner from 12 trips behind the gate, and he pushed his bankroll to $244,060. Super Schissel, bred by Coyote Wynd Farms and grabbed for $115,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, is out of the Andover Hall mare Bavarde, a half-sister to the likes of Farifant (And Farifant, $839,754).

The filly trotters raced for a purse of $177,800 in their Matron, and Breeders Crown runner-up When Dovescry (Simon Allard) won in 1:54 4/5. When Dovescry was produced first-up from fourth going to the 1:25 4/5 three-quarters, but leader Sonnet Grace (Gingras) managed to keep her at bay to the top of the lane. When Dovescry got the advantage at that point, and although Sonnet Grace was game to the wire, When Dovescry kept control, winning by a neck. Jezzys Legacy (Ray Schnittker) collected third.

Rene Allard trains When Dovescry, a daughter of Muscle Hill, for owners Go Fast Stable, Yves Sarrazin, Kapildeo Singh, and Lawrence Dumain. She now has a record of 5-2-1 from eight efforts, and she has now pocketed $290,710. Bred by William Weaver, When Dovescry was a $205,000 acquisition at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, and she is the first foal out of Cedar Dove (Andover Hall, 1:52 4/5, $1,178,930). When Dovescry was the 1-5 favorite tonight and paid $2.60 to win.

Sylph Hanover (Matt Kakaley) rebounded from not advancing to the Breeders Crown final to take the $179,100 Matron for pacing fillies. Sylph Hanover worked out a second-over trip behind Renaissance Lady K (David Miller) going to the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters, went three-wide off the final bend, and was up in the stretch to prevail by three-parts of a length in 1:52 4/5. Queen Of The Pride (Mike Cole) came up the passing lane from the pocket for second, and Renaissance Lady K was third.

Sylph Hanover, a filly by Somebeachsomewhere, is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., William Switala, James Martin, and Joseph Critelli. She made her fourth appearance in the winner's circle from 12 tries, and she has earned $315,233. Sylph Hanover, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., was acquired for $75,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is out of the Artiscape mare She's A Fan (1:50 3/5, $322,663), making Sylph Hanover a half-sister to Shakai Hanover (Well Said, 1:52 4/5, $218,543). Sylph Hanover returned $12.40 to win as a 5-1 shot.