Dover: Sophomores look to close out 2021 with a bang in Matron

With the Breeders Crown now in the rearview mirror, many of the top 3-year-olds take aim at the Matron at Dover Downs on Thursday evening. For some the annual November stake could be the last race of the year while others ponder perhaps one last dance before calling it a career.

The Matron commences with the $148,550 sixth race filly trot as Bella Bellini looks to put the finishing touches on divisional honors. The Hambletonian Oaks and Breeders Crown winner has posted 10 wins in 17 starts while earnings just over a million dollars in 2021.

"She came out of it really good and is ready to go," said trainer Nifty Norman on Bella Bellini after the Breeders Crown.

Dexter Dunn will once again be the in the bike from post 3 behind the David McDuffee-owned daughter of Bar Hopping who might be making her final career start.

"There is a possibility that we'll go to the TVG at The Meadowlands. We'll see how she goes in the Matron and talk it over," said Norman, who added that Bella Bellini will be bred to Walner in 2022.

Although Bella Bellini will be the odds-on favorite at post time, there are a number of potential contenders in the field. Five of her competitors have earned at least $300,000 in 2021 including Iteration, who is looking to make amends after breaking in the Breeders Crown.

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"Brian [Sears] said it was his fault. He was forcing her and she just made a break," said trainer Marcus Melander on the untimely miscue. "We know she is good on smaller tracks but Bella Bellini is too. It will be tough to beat her, but we have a good post and with the right trip maybe she can be third or something like that."

Sears will again steer the Courant Inc.-owned Iteration from post 4.

Two races later the $156,3000 colt and gelding trot sees Melander with the 2-1 morning-line favorite In Range from post 7 with Tim Tetrick holding the lines.

"He raced really well [in the Breeders Crown]. We changed his bridle to a pull-down and that really helped him. He came home in 26 2/5," said Melander. "Now we are going to a five-eighths track, which I think he is a little better on. It's too bad because maybe post 4 or 5 would've been better."

In Range, who has amassed $363K with just two wins on the year, will face a red-hot pair with many more victories on their cards. Incommunicado (9-2) has won four straight at Plainridge for the team of Yannick Gingras and Ake Svanstedt while capturing the Massachusetts championship and Swingforthefences (5-2) seeks his sixth straight score for the husband-wife team of Peter and Melanie Wrenn.

Horse of the Year front-runner Test Of Faith headlines the $129,000 filly pace (race 10). The 13-time winner in 15 starts this year landed post 2 with David Miller scheduled to drive for trainer Brett Pelling as the 9-5 early choice on the morning-line. She'll face the usual suspects including the fillies which finished second through fifth behind her in the Breeders Crown.

Nifty Norman trains two of the fillies seeking an upset and while the prospects of Fire Start Hanover from the difficult outside post 8 seem slim, he's hoping that Grace Hill can land a good trip from the three-hole.

"Maybe she'll get a two-hole trip or something," said Norman, who offered that both fillies would be making their last starts of the year on Thursday. "Everyone has a bad day and maybe Test Of Faith will, but if all is normal, Test Of Faith will win."

The final Matron is the $164,750 colt and gelding pace as the 12th race on the Dover card and the entire field is looking to get back on track after losing efforts in their previous starts.

Rockyroad Hanover is one of the eight in the field looking for better luck after getting stuck behind stalled cover in the Breeders Crown and finishing strong in 26 1/5 to finish fourth. With an inside draw (post 2) on the speed-favoring surface in Delaware, perhaps new tactics of showing early foot off the gate could be in play?

"Dexter [Dunn] likes him a little more off the pace so he's been more conservative with him, but the horse can [leave] that's for sure. When he is in the right spot he'll do it," said trainer Tony Alagna, who also starts Abuckabett Hanover in the field from the dreaded eight-hole. "Abuckabett just has no luck."

The role of favoritism should swing to Charlie May (post 7) after his solid second-place finish in the Breeders Crown most recently. Brett Miller will make the trip from Ohio to drive for trainer Steve Carter.

Dover's 14-race card kicks off at 4:30 PM.