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.

“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.

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.

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.

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.