Six Millionaires Slated for Thursday's Matron Stakes at Bally's Dover

Six millionaires are slated to take part in Thursday’s (Nov. 12) Grade 2 Matron Stakes for 3-year-olds at Bally’s Dover, with the $124,800 Hap Hansen Matron for sophomore male pacers being highlighted by four of those standout competitors.

Positioned as race 12 on a 15-event schedule, the Hansen brings together Al Papi, Melillo, Odds On Mr Mamba, and Fragment, all aiming to add to their already impressive earnings. Al Papi defeated stablemate Melillo by a neck in the Monument Circle on Oct. 30 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

With a morning-line odds setting him at 5-2 as the favorite, Al Papi comes into the race following a determined first-over triumph in Harrah’s Hoosier Park’s Grade 2 Monument Circle; this preceded his runner-up effort behind Brandon Blvd in Eldorado Scioto Downs’s Grade 1 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace.

Starting from post 2, the Papi Rob Hanover-Baron Remy colt will be guided by regular reinsman Yannick Gingras, having accumulated 10 victories and $1.58 million in total purses.

Millionaires headline sophomore Matrons Six millionaires are slated to take part in Thursday’s (Nov. 12) Grade 2 Matron Stakes for 3-year-olds at Bally’s Dover, with a quartet of them headlining the $124,800 Hap Hansen Matron, for sophomore male pacers. https://t.co/MDjQbJwMSg… pic.twitter.com/tVKv3VNpmc

— Post by @USTrotting on X

One of four conditioned by Ron Burke entered in the Hansen is Al Papi, alongside Melillo, whose eight triumphs feature the Grade 2 Carl Milstein Memorial alongside this season’s Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final. Handled by Ronnie Wrenn Jr. from post 4, the Sweet Lou-Rosemary Rose colt holds the role of 7-2 morning-line second choice with a bankroll totaling $1.27 million.

The remaining pair of million-dollar competitors in the lineup consist of Grade 1 Pepsi North America Cup victor Odds On Mr Mamba—steered from post 5 by Dexter Dunn for conditioner Melanie Wrenn—alongside Messenger winner and dual New York Sire Stakes victor Fragment, who will launch from post 8 under driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Petter Engblom.

Breeders Crown champion Diabolic Hill aims to secure a fourth straight victory during the $124,200 Matron for 3-year-old male trotters, which is programmed as the 10th race. Backed by his personal-best 1:50.4 performance in the Breeders Crown, the Muscle Hill-Crysti Dream colt has been tabbed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite, with Todd McCarthy once again handling the steering duties for conditioner Annie Stoebe on the $1.08 million earner.

Among his top rivals are New York Sire Stakes champ AI, who makes his debut for Marcus Melander from post 6 as the 7-2 second choice, and Minoan, who finished third in the Grade 1 Hambletonian and starts from post 7 at 9-2 with Andy McCarthy driving.

Completing the group of six million-dollar competitors is Jugette winner Loua Dipa, designated as the 5-2 morning-line choice for the $103,000 Matron designed for sophomore fillies, which is set as race 8. The Sweet Lou-Looksgoodinaromper filly enters with 16 victories from 26 career starts and overall earnings reaching $1.35 million, and Wrenn Jr. returns to the sulky for Burke from post 2 following their 1:49 score in the Grade 3 USS Indianapolis at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

Jugette runner-up Darlin’s Angel, driven by Lauren Tritton from post 5 at 7-2, and New Jersey Classic winner Be Perfect BG, driven by Louis-Philippe Roy from post 6 at 9-2, stand among the other main contenders in the filly pace division.

Several highly competitive divisions take center stage at Bally’s Dover on Thursday for the Matron Stakes events for 3-year-olds, complete with their respective post positions, drivers, trainers, and morning line choices.

Race / Event	Top Contender	Morning Line
$171,400 Filly Trot (Race 6)	Custom (Jason Bartlett/Petter Engblom)	5-2
$103,000 Filly Pace (Race 8)	Loua Dipa (Ronnie Wrenn Jr./Ron Burke)	5-2
$124,200 Male Trot (Race 10)	Diabolic Hill (Todd McCarthy/Annie Stoebe)	5-2
$124,800 Hap Hansen Male Pace (Race 12)	Al Papi (Yannick Gingras/Ron Burke)	5-2

Beginning at 4:30 p.m. (EST), the Thursday afternoon program at Bally’s Dover also showcases a $27,500 Blue Hen Open Handicap Pace alongside a trio of $20,000 second-round divisions from the Delaware Standardbred Breeders’ Fund program for 2-year-old male pacers.