Records set in Classics

Western Ace, not stablemate Total Truth, won the $213,845 Matron Three-Year-Old Colt Pace; Boulder Creek set a world record, Mystical Sunshine remains unbeaten racing at Dover Downs, Vivid Photo became a $2-million winner, and Marnie Hall pulled a mild surprise to help make it a night to remember for driver Daniel Dube and trainer Mark Silva. The duo teamed to win two Classics and the $10,000 trainers bonus. All this on Million Dollar Monday at Dover Downs.

Boulder Creek paced the fastest 1 1/4-mile in history-2:19.4-over any size track to win the $250,000 Pacing Classic for the second consecutive season. Dube drove the Silva-conditioned 6-year-old gelding owned by New Yorkers' Cliff Segal, Lee Wasserman and John Fodera. The altered son of exported Pacific Rocket won easily beating Stonebridge Regal, with Ron Pierce, and Hop Sung, driven by David Miller. The previous world record of 2:20.2 was set by the Pierce-driven Paradise Lover Boy in a Pacing Classic leg at Dover Downs in April 2002.

Vivid Photo added the $250,000 Trotting Classic to his list of major accomplishments to go along with winning the 2005 Hambletonian classic. Trainer-driver Roger Hammer, who owns the altered son of SJ's Photo with Todd Schadel., took the twice world champion gelding into the lead after the quarter and then played follow the leader on the way to becoming a $2 million winning trotter. Vivid Photo's winning time of 2:25 was two-fifths of a second from the world record.

JM Vangogh, owned by trainer Paul Chambers of Harrington, Del. and New Englander John Mello, finished second with North America's leading reinsman Tony Morgan aboard. Mr. Muscleman, with Pierce, was the race favorite and had to settle for third.

Mystical Sunshine continued her love affair with Dover Downs where she has never been beaten in five appearances. The latest is a 2:26.1 victory in the $250,000 Classic Oaks. Pierce drove the Yankee Glide 5 year old owned by Alvin Jacobson and Sid Korn to her sixth success of the season holding off a late charge from Lavec Dream, handled by George Brennan for the win. Solveig with Jimmy Takter in the bike, too show money. Snazzy Millie, with Luc Ouellette made a strong effort on the backstretch and held on to finish fourth.

Marnie Hall became a world champion displaying a powerful stretch drive to victory in the $250,000 Classic Distaff. Her time of 2:21 lowered the former world record by one-and- four-fifths seconds. Dube pulled the Blissfull Hall 4 year old out of fourth on the backstretch and zoomed past leader Glowing Report and Miller and Burning Point with Pierce early in the lane to insure the $10,000 Classic Series Trainer Bonus for Silva. Burning Point was second in front of Glowing Report.

A funny thing happened in the $213,845 Matron final when the odds-on favorite Total Truth was locked in until late in the stretch and finished third, but for those who wagered on the George Teague entry, the other half, Western Ace, came through with flying colors to score a 1:51.4 victory. This adds the Matron 3-year-old title to his 2-year-old Matron championship.

When the race unfolded, Tim Tetrick rolled Mr. Feelgood to the lead with Total Truth securing a dream trip in second for until reaching the final turn. At that point, Miller wheeled Western Ace up on the outside to challenge Mr. Feelgood with a fanned-out group of contestants behind him.

Turning for home Western Ace cleared to take the lead and then began to draw away for victory. Meanwhile Mr. Feelgood became weary, with Up Front Peyton with Mike Lachance, Carr's Character driven by Brian Sears and Ouellette-piloted Eagle Luck coming on strongly. Pierce finally found room for Total Truth along the passing lane to bullet down the lane by not quick enough to catch stablemate Western Ace and runner-up Up Front Peyton.

For Western Ace it was his second straight Matron championship and his third win of the campaign with five seconds and three thirds in 19 races. For owners Jerry and Jan Kovach and George and Brenda Teague, who race under the nom de course of Kovach Stable and Teague Inc., the diminutive Western Ideal gelding ends his sophomore season with $577,223 and $1,650,365 lifetime. A third-place finish enabledTotal Truth reached the $1.5-million mark this season, the most money won by a pacer this year.

Silva was awarded the $10,000 Classic Series Trainer Bonus. Silva's Series horses earned the most bonus points to take the prize. (Dover Downs)

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