The first set of eliminations for the 2010 Breeders Crown was held on Friday night at Pocono Downs
featuring two-year-olds. Recaps and replays of the eliminations can be found below.
Breeders Crown eliminations for sophomores and older pacing mares will take place tomorrow night, Saturday, October 2.
Eliminations are not necessary for the three-year-old trotting colts/geldings, aged trotting mares, open pace and open trot divisions.
The $6 million finals of the Breeders Crown will go to post beginning at 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 9.
Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts/Geldings
Broad Bahn trotted to a gutsy victory in the first of three $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for freshmen trotting colts and geldings at Pocono Downs on Friday night.
Driven by Jack Moiseyev, in from Canada, the invader from the north who fired big in the William Wellwood was challenged at the half by Not Nice (Marcus Johansson). "Bahn" would not let his challenger go by and dueled hard to three-quarters in 1:24.3.
Broad Bahn got to the winner's circle in 1:55.1, a track record.
Swan In A Million (Brian Sears) closed dramatically to get second. He made a huge rush at the quarter pole and caught Mythical Hall (John Campbell). "Swan" was 2-1 and took advantage of the fast quarters with his late charge.
Just In (Ron Pierce) was third by a nose. He sat up front and moved a little bit to just make it in to the final.
Fam Alber Horse Racing LLC of East Windsor, New Jersey owns the winning son of Broadyway Hall-Madonarail, trained by Noel Daley.
Dejarmbro, from Post 7, won easily in the second Breeders Crown elim for frosh colt trotters at Pocono. The time of the mile was 1:55, equaling the World Record for two-year-old trotters on a five eighths mile track, held by Explosive Matter and Correctamundo.
Driver Jeff Gregory said, "I kind of thought he would go a big mile. With the outside hole I had to leave tonight; I have been racing him from the back."
It was a front-trotting record once Dejarmbro shook off the early challenges of Leader Of The Gang (Ron Pierce), who got second, and Orlando (Tim Tetrick), who finished third and also made the final.
A mid-race challenge from Live Jazz (John Campbell) was useless though persistent to three-quarters when "Jazz" flew wide around the final turn and tired.
Jessica Okusko trains the Purple Haze Stables-owned trotter, a son of Credit Winner-Armbro Deja Vu. The New York Sires Stakes champion picked up his seventh win in a row.
Big Rigs, at 10-1, "cut the fractions his own way," according to driver John Campbell, who won with the colt in 1:55.1. It was the last of three Breeders Crown elims for the division at Pocono Downs.
"Rigs" went wire-to-wire, holding off Pastor Stephen (Yannick Gingras), the 3-5 choice, by a neck.
Neal (Brian Sears), finishing third, went first over at the half, but was too late. He held off Manofmanymissions (Andy Miller) by at least a head.
Talespinner (Dan Dube) was eliminated by a break.
Kelly O’Donnell trains the Andover Hall-Filly At Bigs colt, who rebounded from a bad break in the William Wellwood final at Mohawk last week, for Ed Mullinax.
He is owned by Millers Stable Inc. of Leburn, Kentcuky, DM Stables LLC of Naples, Florida and Ed Mullinax of Amherst, Ohio.
Here is a look at the draw for next weekend's final:
$600,000 Breeders Crown 2YO Colt Trot Championship – Race 6
1 – Orlando (Tim Tetrick)
2 – Big Rigs (John Campbell)
3 – Broad Bahn (Jack Moiseyev)
4 – Dejarmbro (Jeff Gregory)
5 – Leader Of The Gang (Ron Pierce listed)
6 – Pastor Stephen (Yannick Gingras)
7 – Just In (Ron Pierce also listed)
8 – Neal (Brian Sears listed)
9 – Swan In A Million (Brian Sears also listed)
AE 1 Manofmanymissions
AE 2 Buffalino Hanover
Two-Year-Old Pacing Colts/Geldings
Canadian-owned Foreclosure N, favoured in the first of three Breeders Crown frosh colt pace elimination at Pocono Downs, drew from the pocket in the stretch and paced right by Great Vintage to win in 1:52.1
“I felt pretty confident,” driver Tim Tetrick said about coming around the third turn with “Vintage” leading.
Great Vintage (John Campbell) was on top at the start, setting a hot pace through three-quarters in 1:23.3. Roadside Delight (Ron Pierce) was first up but couldn’t make any ground.
Westwardho Hanover (Brett Miller) made a late brush taking advantage of the tiring foes behind the top two and got third, making the final next week.
Mark Steacy trains the son of Rocknroll Hanover-Pleasing Package A for R. Peter Heffering of Port Perry, Ont.
Fashion Delight set a mark in the second of three Breeders Crown elims for frosh colt pacers at Pocono.
The Jim Campbell-trained frosh fireball paced it in a track record time of 1:51.3.
Line Officer (George Brennan) went for the lead and Roll With Joe (Brian Sears) sat second but "Delight" wanted the top and soared to cut the fractions, which at three-quarters were 1:23.3.
Big Bad John (Dave Palone) took to the outside to make a big chase first over and galloped a bit trying to catch Fashion Delight in the final yards. He held up for second, regardless.
Line Officer saved ground from his early speed and took the third spot.
Fashion Farms LLC of New Hope, Pennsylvania owns the top Bettors Delight-B Js Sunshine colt.
Shadyshark Hanover flew from behind a fiery pace and broke a mark set in the previous elim by Fashion Delight in the last Breeders Crown elim for frosh colt pacers. It was a mile in 1:51.
"They mixed it up enough up front and we got lucky and wound up in the right spot," said driver Jim Morrill, Jr.
Wink N Atchya (Brian Sears) fired to the top and cut the first quarter in an unspeakable :25.4, then tried to ease up from that pace but was pressured by Big Jim (Phil Hudon), who came first up to challenge and get the top. He cut the half in :54.1.
As "Jim" sped along to three-quarters in 1:21.3, ahead by a reasonable margin, he and the other early speedsters began to tire.
A late bid by 50-1 Hugadragon (Dave Palone) was productive and managed to get the colt into the final as he finished second to "Shadyshark," who was three-wide down the stretch to capture the win.
Big Jim held for third to get into the final.
Erv Miller trains Shadyshark Hanover, a son of Cams Card Shark-Shady Past, for Jim Fielding of Toronto, Ont., Richard Strachan of Ajax, Ont., Ronald Michelon of Northbrook, Illinois and Ervin Miller Stables of Springfield, Illinois.
The complete field for the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2YO colt pace final on October 9 reads in post order with listed drivers:
1. Westwardho Hanover (Brett Miller)
2. Fashion Delight (Dave Miller)
3. Foreclosure N (Tim Tetrick)
4. Shadyshark Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr.)
5. Hugadragon (Dave Palone)
6. Line Officer (George Brennan)
7. Big Jim (Phil Hudon)
8. Great Vintage (John Campbell)
9. Big Bad John (Dave Palone)
AE1. Lookinforadventure
AE2. Rollwithitharry
Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Lady Rainbow got to leader Seducedbychocolate in the final stages of her Breeders Crown elimination for frosh filly trotters, the first of three episodes for this division at Pocono Downs in 1:56.4.
On the inside late after keeping that spot when “Seduced” got the lead from her, Hey Mister (Brian Sears) came back to be second.
Seducedbychocolate (David Miller) held on to make the final.
“She can go a lot more than this,” said trainer-driver Rick Zeron. “I was really careful with her at the gate and left the whip behind; she’s a little rambunctious.”
The daughter of Muscles Yankee-Sunshinenlollipops, who won at 7-2, is owned by the Rick Zeron Stables of Oakville, The Camel Club Stable of Hamilton, Herbert Chambers of Richmond Hill, Ont., and Rojan Stables of Wilmington, Delaware.
Fitness Girl took advantage of the untimely breaks by favourite Crème De Cocoa (D.R. Ackerman) to win the second Breeders Crown elimination for frosh filly trotters at Pocono in 1:57.4.
“Crème” broke just after taking the lead easily. The uncharacteristic step cost her many lengths and although she came back on gait well at the 1:00.1 half, she could not maintain the gait, galloping again and never getting back into the mile.
“I was racing very comfortably,” said winning driver Tim Tetrick. “She is so big, she looks like she is six and once she gets going she can go well all the way.”
Fitness Girl took the lead smoothly at three-quarters and jogged home.
Martiniontherocks (Sylvain Filion), who had the top briefly as Crème De Cocoa and Bold And Fresh (John Campbell) broke, got second and Medusa Blue Chip (Jim Morrill Jr.) made the final finishing third.
Steve Elliott trains the Muscles Yankee-Marie E Hanover filly for Bay Pond Racing Stable of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
Sweet Love was so tough she gave up the lead and came back to win easily in the last Breeders Crown elim for frosh filly trotters. The mile was in 1:56.2.
"She was in good shape right now," said driver David Miller. "It’s nice that she had some experience on this track before tonight."
The big favourite, Andover The Top (Dave Palone), broke and was eliminated, along with Devilish Emerald (Mike Lachance).
The 34-1 Celebrity Katie (Brett Miller) took the lead after the breakers left the fray and she was able to cut fractions faster than she had before. Still, Sweet Love came to the outside and rushed up to the top with Pilgrims Truffles (Jim Meittinis) on her tail.
But the stretch duel was between the late-rushing Angelette Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr.) and "Sweet," with the latter able to dismiss the challenge sans any effort.
Jim Campbell trains the Chocolatier-Amour Hall filly for Fashion Farms LLC of New Hope, Pennsylvania.
Here is the draw for next week's final:
$600,000 Breeeders Crown 2YO Filly Trot – Race 3
1 – Sweet Love (David Miller listed)
2 – Lady Rainbow (Rick Zeron)
3 – Fitness Girl (Tim Tetrick)
4 – Seducedbychocolate (David Miller also listed)
5 – Hey Mister (Brian Sears)
6 – Medusa Blue Chip (Jim Morrill Jr listed)
7 – Celebrity Katie (Brett Miller)
8 – Martiniontherocks (Sylvain Filion)
9 – Angelette Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr. also listed)
AE 1 Tango Dancer
AE 2 Hot Off The Press
Two-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
See You At Peelers, off of her 11th straight win in a New York Sires Stakes championship final last week, won her 12th straight race with Jim Morrill Jr. in the first of two Breeders Crown elims for frosh filly pacers at Pocono in 1:51.3.
"Next time is going to be 13," said confident co-owner Christina Takter, wife of trainer Jimmy.
The race was a jump-fest, as Ms Malicious (Ron Pierce) took the top first and the shuffle went from there with "Peelers" taking over and Drop The Ball (Tim Tetrick) wide to take the lead from that one as the field burned through a :54 half.
Ms Malicious wound up second and Honky Tonk Woman (David Miller), who was swift and sharp to begin and stayed out of the breakers’ paths, got third at 43-1 to complete the triple and the trio headed for the final.
John and Jim Fielding of Toronto, Ont. also co-own the Bettors Delight-West Side Glory filly.
The time of 1:51.2 was a new track record, erasing that of Gordons Gin Ms set in 2002.
Pretty Katherine, the co-fastest two-year-old pacing filly in harness racing history, was scratched from the first Breeders Crown elimination after not making it to the track before retention time.
Idyllic remained unbeaten, winning from Post 7 in the second Breeders Crown elim for frosh filly pacers. The mile was in 1:52, another track record on the evening.
Driver Mark Macdonald took the Casie Coleman-trained filly went right for the top and cut some very fast quarters easily to win.
Myluvmylife (George Brennan) was second racing in the pocket all the way, hanging Strike An Attitude (Dave Palone), who makes it into the final by finishing fourth. Rocklamation (Tim Tetrick) got up for third.
Cold Mist (Brett Miller), fifth, was the other finisher to make the final.
This sets up a final with two unbeaten fillies next week.
The West Wins Stable of Cambridge, Ont., Michael LaCova and Joseph Lacova of West Islip, New York, and John Campagnuolo of Loxahatchee, Florida own the daughter of American Ideal-Magical Dreamer.
The complete field for the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2YO pacing filly final in post order with listed drivers will be:
1. See You At Peelers (Jim Morrill Jr.)
2. Idyllic (Mark MacDonald)
3. Show And Tell (Dave Palone)
4. Cold Mist (Brett Miller)
5. Honky Tonk Woman (Dave Miller)
6. Myluvmylife (George Brennan)
7. Rocklamation (Tim Tetrick)
8. Strike An Attitude (Dave Palone)
9. Ms Malicious (Ron Pierce)
AE1. Celebrity Dollfin
AE2. Shyaway
(with files from Hambletonian Society)