WILMINGTON, Del.--Michael Matz has had two stakes winners in the last week, including a homebred for his wife DD.

Tatters in the Winners Circle at Delaware Park (Photo by Hoofprints)In addition to his success at the racetrack, Matz and DD have celebrated the engagement of both of their sons, Robert and Alex, during the past month, Robert to a girl from the West coast and Alex to Isabel Stattinius who competes in hunter classes.

Dorothy Alexander Matz' Tatters won a $45,000, 5 1/2 furlong Maiden Special Weight for 2-year-olds by a head on July 16 at Delaware Park in his first race.

Tatters followed that up with a win in the $75,000, 6 furlong Dover Stakes on Aug. 8, also at Delaware Park.

Tatters won after Snowhomish was disqualified from first after first bumping Tatters and then drifting in front of him.

"The jockey had to stand up on him and pull him up, said Matz. "He started to run again, but he was beaten 3/4 of a length. But there was good reason for the disqualification."

 

"DD DOESN'T usually keep the colts she's  bred, but the man who broke him said Tatters might be a nice one, so DD decided to keep him," said Matz. "We put him in the Stakes race hoping he'd get at least stakes placed, because DD is selling his dam at the Keeneland breeding sale this fall. She's selling most of her mares and only keeping a few."

"I don't know where he'll go next, because some people called DD about buying him, and she said she'd sell if she got an offer she couldn't refuse," Matz said.

Runnymoore Racing's Understudy Kitty won the $75,000, 7 1/2 furlong Sussex Handicap Stakes for Delaware bred or certified 3-year-olds and up on the turf by 1 1/4 lengths on Aug. 1 at Delaware Park.

"He looked like he was going to be a real nice horse, but every time he ran he got hurt," said Matz. "They gave him a year off, and I ran him once, but he got tired, and then we ran him in this stakes. He got left at the gate, so he was dead last going into the turn, but then he won going away."

"He's Delaware and Virginia certified, so we'll look for another race like this for him.", said Mat. "I think there's one Sept. 22."

"Iv'e only got about 17 or18 in training now, mostly family  and Runnymoore plus three nice fillies forMichael  Moran," said Matz.

GRAHAM MOTION has won eight races, including three stakes, during the past month. 

He won two stakes at Colonial Downs on Aug. 1, including  the $150,000, 5 1/2 furlong Andy Guest Stakes for fillies and mares 3 and up on the turf  with Roja, who won by 1/2 length.

The same day, Gimme a Nother won the G2, $500,000 Beverly D Stakes for fillies and mare 3 and up on the turf by a neck.

 Warming won the G2, $200,000, 1 1/16 mile Yellow Ribbon Stakes for fillies and mares 3 and up on the turf by a neck on Aug.8 at Del Mar.

Motion saddled Bless Her to win a $73,000, 1 3/16 mile Allowance turf race for fillies and mares 3 and up by 2 1/14 lengths.

He had three Maiden Special Weight winners, Party Guest in a $70,00, 5 1/2 furlong turf race a Colonial on July 10, Embouteillage in a $115,000, 5 1/2 furlong 2-year-old filly race at Saratoga on Aug. 5, and Induction in a $70,000, 1 mile turf race for 2-year-old fillies at Colonial on Aug. 9, as well as a Maiden Claiming winner in Mobile at Saratoga onAug. 7.

KERI BRION had five flat winners for five different owners over the past month. 

She saddled two winners at Delaware Park on July 24,.

Planet Clare won a $36,000, 1 mile Starter Allowance for fillies and mares 3 and up by 5 1/2 lengths, and Carloun won a $25,000 Starer Optional Claiming race by a nose.

Lendalfoot won a $90,000, 1 1/16 mile Allowance race for fillies and mares 3 and up by 1 1/2 lengths at Colonial Downs on July 26.

Brion saddled Celtic Prince to win a $34,500, 1 mile Claiming race for 3-year-olds and up on the turf at Colonial on July 22, and Rivage in a $14,000, 1 mile and 70 yards Maiden Claiming race for 3-year-olds and up at Presque Isle on July 13.  

ARCH KINGSLEY saddled Benjis Benefit (Ire) to win a $40,000, 1 1/8 mile Maiden Claiming race for 3-year-olds and up on the turf by 4  3/4 lengths at Colonial on Aug. 7.