Dover: Tall Drink Hanover knocks off Warrawee Ubeaut in Matron

Tall Drink Hanover picked up her first victory since the Simcoe back in early September and ended Warrawee Ubeaut's winning streak with a 1:50 2/5 decision in the $165,900 Matron for 3-year-old filly pacers on Thursday night at Dover Downs.

Starting from post five and driven by Andrew McCarthy, Tall Drink Hanover gunned out and led to the 26 second opening quarter, but Warrawee Ubeaut (Yannick Gingras) pushed on from the outside and took over command past that marker. Warrawee Ubeaut would go on to the half in 54 2/5, with Sunny Dee (Brian Sears) moving first-up from fourth on the way to that station.

Warrawee Ubeaut remained in command at the 1:22 1/5 three-quarters, but Sunny Dee applied some pressure to her beyond that point and around the last turn, and while those two were going at it, the passing lane became available in the stretch for Tall Drink Hanover. Once she had the space Tall Drink Hanover scooted through, going by Warrawee Ubeaut and out-finishing the game Sunny Dee to score by three-parts of a length. Treacherous Reign (Dexter Dunn) closed well from third-over to finish in the show spot, while Warrawee Ubeaut faded to fourth. JK American Beauty (Matt Kakaley) grabbed fifth.

"The plan was just to leave as hard as I could to get in front of Warrawee Ubeaut there at the start," said McCarthy. "I kind of figured there might be more leavers, but I was just hoping I could be either the last one to the front or leave hard and follow Warrawee Ubeaut and just figure it out from there. I wanted to make sure there was an honest pace.

"I felt good. Tall Drink felt terrific through the last turn. Brian looked like he still had a little pace on the outside of Yannick there, and I saw Yannick turn the whip over, so I was just hoping the passing lane would come soon enough, which it did, and she shot right through there."

Tony Alagna, who finished first and third in the race, trains Tall Drink Hanover, a daughter of Captaintreacherous, for owners Alagna Racing LLC., Marvin Katz, and Riverview Racing LLC. This was Tall Drink Hanover's 15th career win, and she has now pocketed $944,506. She was the 5-1 second choice and paid $13.20 to win.