Dover Downs: Six Pack dominates, Custom Cantab surprises in Matrons

Six Pack eclipsed the $1 million mark in career earnings while Custom Cantab posted a 7-1 upset in her first ever start outside Indiana in the two Matrons for sophomore trotters on Thursday evening at Dover Downs.

Kentucky Futurity champion Six Pack (Ake Svanstedt) missed the Breeders Crown final when he came up sick, but he showed no rust today, winning the $210,150 race for males in 1:54 1/5.

Svanstedt had Six Pack on the point through fractions of 28 1/5, 57 3/5, and 1:26, and put away a tepid first-up try from second choice Met's Hall (Andy Miller) for good just past three-quarters. Six Pack began to open up on the final bend, and he would go on to win by four lengths over Fashionwoodchopper (Yannick Gingras), who was making his first start for trainer Ron Burke after being purchased during the mixed sale at the Standardbred Horse Sale. Mississippi Storm (Andrew McCarthy) got up for third late over Met's Hall.

Svanstedt trains Six Pack, a Muscle Mass colt, for owners Ake Svanstedt Inc., Little E LLC., Stall Kalmar Ff, and Lars Berg. Six Pack now has 15 career wins and his career earnings surged to $1,274,290. He was the 1-2 favorite and paid $3.00 to win.

Fillies raced for a purse of $183,900, and Svanstedt was going for a sweep with 2-5 choice Plunge Blue Chip from the rail. She would get away third and watch as Supergirl Riley (Tony Morgan) and Custom Cantab (David Miller) battled side-by-side to the 26 4/5 opening quarter and into the stretch for the first time before Custom Cantab finally cleared.

Custom Cantab would go on to reach the half in 55 2/5 and the three-quarters in 1:24 2/5, with Plunge Blue Chip, who had pulled nearing the half, just spinning her wheels on the outside. She was done for good turning for home, leaving Custom Cantab and a passing lane-shooting Supergirl Riley to decide the win, and Custom Cantab was dead-game, keeping her at bay to win by a head in 1:53 1/5. Plunge Blue Chip had to settle for third.

Trainer Chris Beaver also co-owns Custom Cantab, a daughter of Mr. Cantab, with partners Donald Robinson and Rbh Ventures Inc. This was her 15th career victory, and she has now pocketed $735,886. Custom Cantab, dispatched at 7-1, returned $17.80 to win.