Badlands Nitro ties World Mark in Matron elim

November 04, 2007

Delaware-owned and trained 2 year olds came up big in Matron Stakes action on Saturday, Nov. 3, at Dover Downs, highlighted by Badlands Nitro equaling a world record that had withstood 17 seasons,

On Nov. 30, 1990, Artsplace paced into the wind to set the world record in a Breeders Crown freshman pace. The record was tied when Badlands Nitro, a $20,000 supplement won one of two $37,825 Matron divisions, overpowering a fast field of 2 year olds to equal the world record of 1:51.1 over a five-eighths mile oval. It was the biggest winning drive in the career of youthful Delaware reinsman Wayne Long.

Owned by breeder John Celii of Chadds Ford, Pa. and Teague Inc. of Houston, Del., the George Teague trainee rolled to an early lead and paced away from six rivals to score his sixth victory with one second in seven career outings. In his previous start, the Badlands Hanover - Pleasant Thoughts by Artspace colt won the $110,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund final at Harrington Raceway. Second place in the Matron elim went to Dontloseyourdayjob, (George Brennan). Arterosa (Corey Callahan) was third with Meant To Be Me, (Ron Pierce) fourth.

In the other colt pace elim, Pot Luck Stable of New Holland, Pa. struck paydirt as First Rate, a Real Artist gelding it also supplemented to the Matron, scored a 1:53.1 triumph with Tony Morgan at the controls. The win was the sixth in a row for First Rate. Dragoon K (Tim Tetrick) finished second in front of My Wagons Dragon and (Yannick Gingras). Artic Stretch (Brian Sears) took fourth place.

Lear Jetta, trained by Greenwood's Bobby Myers for Jim McAuliffe of Sarasota, Fla. was yet a third Matron elim winner notching an easy 1:56.3 win in his trot elim. The Lindy Lane trotter was driven to his ninth win in 10 lifetime starts by Tim Tetrick.  Waterstone (Ron Pierce) edged DiManggio (George Brennan) the show finisher. Make It Happen (Ray Schnittker), the early race leader was fourth.

Arlene and Jules Siegel's homebred Manhattan, a 5-1 shot, came on strong in the stretch to win the other $37,338 colt trot division in 1:59. George Brennan drove the Broadway Hall colt to the win beating Conway AS (Jack Moiseyev) and Yankee Matthew (Ron Pierce), second and third respectively. Little Moon Lake (Mike Lachance) finished fourth. Celebrity Secret and Electric Chicken were late scratches.

Mario Mazza's Diana Hall, with trainer driver Trond Smedshammer, stormed out of third on the final turn and trotted past leader Timeless Winner (Yannick Gingras) in deep stretch to score a 1:57.3 victory in a $32,425 Matron Filly elim. It's Coast Time (Cat Manzi) was the fourth place finisher.

Earlier Brian Sears and Celebrity Tribute made the winner's circle after a 1:59.3 win in her Matron elim for Celebrity Farms, of New York City. Just In Time (George Brennan) was second with Berry Nice Muscles (Tim Tetrick) third. Lindy's Heiress(Mike Lachance) was fourth.

In the first of two $35,275 Matron filly paces, George Brennan made the first of two trips to the winner's circle guiding 6-1 Stylish Artist home in 1:52.4 for Ontario-residents David Reid, Peter Heffering and co-owner-trainer Mark Steacy. Happy Dreamer (Ron Pierce) closed along the passing lane to finish second catching Ready To Win (Yannick Gingras). Good News Lady (Mike Lachance) was the final qualifier.

The Cheyenne Gang's Artiscape filly Cheyenne Trish was strongest in the stretch in a second $35,275 Matron elim. Ron Pierce drove the 1:55.1 beating Artexpress (Tim Tetrick) to the finish line. Thong (Toby Lynch) led into the stretch, but had to settle for third in front of Chocolate Art (Brian Sears) fourth.

All four lucrative Matron Two-Year-Old Finals are set for next Saturday, Nov. 10.
Purses for the finals are for the colt pace - $266,950, the colt trot -$244,024, the filly pace - $231,650 and the filly trot $194,560. (Dover Downs)

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