Hugadragon and Yannick Gingras
Hugadragon closed out his three-year-old harness racing season scoring a 1:50.3 triumph in the $221,465 Matron Final at Dover Downs on Sunday (Nov. 27). On the card, were four $20,000 Delaware Standardbred Fund (DSOA) 2nd leg prelims won by pacers Shaving Mug and Flying Instructor and trotters Windshield and Im So Striking. For second straight night, Ross Wolfenden drove four winners.
In front of the grandstand Yannick Gingras rushed Hugadragon past entry-mate Westwardho Hanover into the lead and then stepped up the pace reaching the half in :54.3. After reaching the three-quarters in 1:22.3, Tim Tetrick hustled Samandar up to challenge but Hugadragon rolled down the lane in :28 to insure a 1:50.3 victory in the last of the eight Matrons raced at Dover Downs.
In the stretch, with Samandar on the outside, Stablemate Westwardho Hanover closed along the passing lane but could only manage second place with Samandar holding on for third. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Hugadragon, an altered son of Dragon Again – Hip Hugger won for the seventh time this year while in the money in 15 of his 21 races banking $715,818 this campaign and $934,833 lifetime.
In the first of a pair of DSBF Colt Pace prelims, Gary and Barbara Iles’ homebred Shaving Mug romped to his fifth straight DSBF victory in 1:54.2 equaling his lifetime mark. The altered son of Badlands Hanover-Pocket Comb has won six times with two seconds in eight starts this year earning $95,250. Chizzled In Stone (Jon Roberts) finished third but was placed second when Its Outta Here (Ross Wolfenden) was determined to have interfered and was placed third.
Tim Tetrick piloted Flying Instructor to a 1:55 victory in another prelim. Wayne Givens trains the Badlands Hanover-Daylon Flyer freshman owned by Niel Gargiulo, Louie Paglierani, Legacy Of Delaware and Nanticoke Racing. Ken Kma (Vic Kirby) and Pacific Perch (Art Stafford Jr.) finished second and third respectively.
There were two DSBF Colt trots. Windshield, a Political Briefing – CR Mimosa colt owned by Nanticoke Racing and driver Ross Wolfenden, proved much the best again, notching his sixth consecutive victory and seventh in nine starts this year, a 2:01 win in one of the two prelims. Bold Strike (Art Stafford Jr.) was runner-up. Boss The Hoss finished third.
In the other $20,000 trot, I’m So Striking driven by Eddie Dennis for Lois and Earl Walters and E&K Stable took command early when race favorite Spunky Jack (Vince Copeland) broke stride after the start. The So Striking-Ringside Katie homebred then led the rest of a 2:02 mile to keep his record perfect two wins in two starts. Klondike Mike (Rick Murphy) was next with Montchanin (Kim Vincent) the show finisher.
The top eight point-getters in each of the two DSBF frosh filly divisions return next Saturday with the colts vying on Sunday in $100,000 finals. Ross Wolfenden had four winning drives while Nanticoke Racing had three training wins. Drivers Brad Hanners, Cory Callahan and trainer Les Givens had doubles. (Dover Downs)