Redemption for Papi Rob Hanover in Matron

Dover, DE — After being disqualified from first in the Breeders Crown at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Oct. 25, David McDuffee’s Papi Rob Hanover ($2.40) found redemption in the $186,000 Matron Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, held Thursday (Nov. 7) at Dover Downs.

The son of Somebeachsomewhere and Panera Hanover eclipsed the $500,000 mark in career earnings with an effortless 1:50 win, the fifth of his career.

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“I was just waiting to be the last one to the front,” said driver David Miller, who yielded to Cattlewash (Yannick Gingras) and Put To Right (Andy McCarthy) in a :27.1 quarter before brushing to the top with a circuit to go. After clearing the lead just before a :55 half, Papi Rob Hanover found no further challengers, coasting to three-quarters in 1:22.4 before drawing away by 5-1/4 lengths with plenty in reserve.

“He’s very sharp; he’s ending up the year very well,” concluded Miller. “He was strong tonight, and just a real nice horse.”

Cattlewash gave futile chase to protect second, while Father Nuno (Brian Sears) emerged off cover to take third.

“David said he could have gone (1:)49 pretty comfortably,” remarked Brett Pelling, who trains Papi Rob Hanover. “He’s a very special horse, great-gaited, and knows what he’s doing. It takes a good horse to beat him. All along, we planned on the latter part of the season, so he’s 100 percent going to the Governor’s Cup.”

In the $181,600 Matron for juvenile male trotters, Breeders Crown winner Amigo Volo ($2.20) proved a similarly easy winner, clearing from the outside post six under Dexter Dunn and controlling splits of :27.3, :56.1 and 1:24.3 before drawing away to a 6-1/2 length victory over Patriarch Hanover (Matt Kakaley) and Moveoutofmyway K (Gingras) in 1:52.4, just a fifth of a second off his lifetime mark taken in the Bluegrass at The Red Mile. The mile was, however, a new world record for a freshman trotting gelding on a five-eighths-mile track.

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Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman trains the gelded son of Father Patrick and Margarita Momma, now a six-time winner, for the Pinske Stables and David J. Miller.

Tim Tetrick swept the Matrons for 2-year-old fillies, taking the $176,400 pace with Breeders Crown runner-up Lyons Sentinel ($2.40) and the non-wagering $147,600 trot with Next Level Stuff.

In the filly pace, Lyons Sentinel stalked a blistering :26.1 first quarter from third behind Lady Lou (McCarthy) before brushing to the fore with a circuit to go. After out-sprinting Lady Lou through a :54.2 half and keeping a first-over attack from Hen Party (Gingras) at bay through three-quarters in 1:22.3, the Captaintreacherous-Tutu Hanover filly worked clear to a 1:50.3 victory, the ninth of her career. Perfect Storm (Sears) rallied into second, 2-1/4 lengths back, while Hen Party faded to third.

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Jim King Jr. trains Lyons Sentinel, whose previous victories this season include the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final and the She’s A Great Lady, for Threelyonsracing.

Next Level Stuff coasted to a pillar-to-post 1:53.2 win in the filly trot. The daughter of Sebastian K S and Nantab cleared Queen Of The Hill (Yannick Gingras) through a :27.2 first quarter and remained unchallenged through middle splits of :56.1 and 1:25.1. Next Level Stuff began to edge clear on the final turn, and she defeated Queen Of The Hill by 2-1/2 lengths. Luv U Bye Click (Steve Smith) finished third, beaten by 25-1/4 lengths.

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Jim Campbell trains the Runthetable Stables homebred, whose six career wins have all come in stakes competition.

The Matron Stakes continue next Thursday (Nov. 14) with all four divisions for 3-year-olds.

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