Dover: Vivians Dream, Act Fast rule in Matrons for rookie pacers

Vivians Dream and Act Fast visited the winner's circle following Thursday evening's Matron Stakes for freshman pacers at Bally's Dover Casino Resort.

The fillies were up first in their $156,500 tilt, and Sanders Hanover (Art Stafford Jr.) blasted to early command from post six, but Vivians Dream (Brian Sears) tipped out of the pocket before the 27 1/5 opening quarter and hit the front beyond that marker.

Sears stole a second quarter in just 29 4/5 to put the half on the board in 57 seconds and maintained command through three-quarters in 1:25 1/5 as 1-5 favorite Earthwindfire (Tim Tetrick) advanced first-over out of third. Earthwindfire loomed on the rim, but Vivians Dream still had something left in the tank on the final turn and in the lane, and she would repel Earthwindfire to score by half a length in 1:52 3/5. Extreme Z Tam (Scott Zeron) got up for third.

"I thought it looked like a two-horse race to me, and Timmy's horse was the one to beat," Sears said. "I was fortunate enough to get to the front, go some soft fractions, and just kind of wait on her.

"I've only raced her a couple of times, but I can't say enough about her. She's a big, strong filly that gets over the ground great and has a nice mouth. That makes my job very easy."

Vivians Dream, bred by Winbak Farm and purchased for $50,000 at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, is a daughter of American Ideal and is trained by Cory Mumford for owner Forrest Bartlett. Vivians Dream has seven wins and a pair of seconds from 11 trips behind the gate, has now put away $336,425, and paid $5.80 to win as the 9-5 second choice. Vivians Dream is out the Sportswriter mare Sports Chic [1:54 2/5, $254,738], a half-sister to the great pacing filly Rainbow Blue.

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Act Fast, driven by Dexter Dunn for the first time, romped in the $155,600 companion tilt for colts and geldings. He shot to the point from post five, was unchallenged through stations of 26 1/5, 55, and 1:22, and defeated pocket-sitter Cant Stop Lou (David Miller) by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:50 3/5. Why Not Now (Sears) advanced from sixth to third in the last quarter.

"He's coming out of the Breeders Crown off a bad draw," Dunn said about the strategy to plant Act Fast on the engine. "Obviously he had a great year out in Ohio this season, but he felt good behind the gate. There wasn't too much outside that left, although that first quarter was pretty solid. Once we got a pretty good second quarter, he felt good going into the back, and I could sort of feel David drop off me a bit. I thought we'd take a little break.

"He was doing it good. He still had his ears up and pricked coming to three-quarters. It's always a risky move doing that, but luckily we had the horsepower to finish it off."

Ron Burke trains Act Fast, a Downbytheseaside-Act Like A Diva colt bred by Fred Hertrich III, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Rich Lombardo Racing LLC., and Beasty LLC. A $125,000 purchase at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Act Fast won for the third time in ten chances, has now banked $209,604, and returned $4.20 to win as the even-money favorite.