Tuesday, October 16, 2018 - from the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Cranbury, NJ --- Been there, done that. It could be the slogan for Saturday’s (Oct. 20) Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-olds and older horses at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
Eleven former Breeders Crown champions will be in action Saturday, led by two-time winners Hannelore Hanover, Ariana G, and Pure Country. A 12th former champ -- McWicked, who claimed his trophy at age 3 in 2014 -- will advance directly to the Open Pace final because eliminations were unnecessary. Another winner from 2014, Pinkman, who was 2 when he captured his Crown, also is back for another try in the Open Trot.
Completing the list of former champions are Broadway Donna, Call Me Queen Be, Emoticon Hanover, Fiftydallarbill, Manchego, Stay Hungry, and Youaremycandygirl
Ariana G, Broadway Donna, and Emoticon Hanover all are in the Mare Trot. The connections of trotting mare Hannelore Hanover opted to face the boys, as they did in 2017, in the Open Trot.
The only other division with multiple previous champions is the Mare Pace, with Pure Country and Call Me Queen Be.
Talent is not limited to past winners. Divisional money-leaders Atlanta, Courtly Choice, Crystal Fashion, Kissin In The Sand, Marion Marauder, and Shartin N also were among the 106 horses entered Tuesday for Saturday’s eliminations. History’s fastest trotter, Homicide Hunter, New Zealand’s two-time Horse of the Year Lazarus N, and International Trot champion Cruzado Dela Noche add to the star power.
Kissin In The Sand will not race Saturday. Her connections accepted a bye to advance directly to the final for 3-year-old filly pacers. Also accepting a bye were the connections of Baron Remy. One elimination will be contested, with the top seven finishers from a nine-horse field joining Kissin In The Sand and Baron Remy.
Eliminations for 2-year-olds were drawn Monday and will be raced Friday. A total of 177 horses entered the Breeders Crown. Last year, the number of entries was 166.
Post time for Friday and Saturday is 7 p.m. (EDT). All finals, with purses totaling $6 million, will be Saturday (Oct. 27) at Pocono. Elimination winners, in an order determined by lot, draw for post positions one through five for the finals.
The draw for the $421,000 Open Pace will be Tuesday. The eight-horse field for the final is All Bets Off, Dealt A Winner, Donttellmeagain, Filibuster Hanover, Lazarus N, McWicked, Rockin Ron, and Western Fame. Lazarus N was supplemented to the event for $50,000.
Following is a look at Saturday’s eliminations, which have purses of $25,000 apiece.
3-YEAR-OLD COLT AND GELDING PACE
Returning champion Stay Hungry leads a group of 20 horses. Stay Hungry will attempt to become the first male pacer since Artiscape in 1997 and 1998 to win a Breeders Crown at both ages 2 and 3. Stay Hungry’s victories this year include the Cane Pace and Messenger Stakes.
Also in the elims are Meadowlands Pace and Little Brown Jug winner Courtly Choice, North America Cup champion Lather Up (a $62,500 supplemental entry), Adios winner Dorsoduro Hanover, Max C. Hempt Memorial champ Springsteen, Carl Milstein Memorial winner Thinkbig Dreambig, and Tattersalls division winners American History and Grand Teton. The top-three finishers from each elimination advance to the final.
Elimination One
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
Elimination Two PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer 1-Talbotcreekwhiskey-Bob McClure-Luc Blais 2-Wes Delight-George Napolitano Jr.-Chris Oakes 3-American History-Andrew McCarthy-Tony Alagna 4-Courtly Choice-David Miller-Blake MacIntosh 5-I’m A Big Deal-Brett Miller-Chris Ryder 6-Decoy-David Miller-Jimmy Takter 7-This Is The Plan-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
Elimination Three PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer 1-Shnitzledosomethin-David Miller-Dylan Davis 2-Stay Hungry-Doug McNair-Tony Alagna 3-Grand Teton-Andrew McCarthy-Jimmy Takter 4-Hayden Hanover-Andy Miller-Julie Miller 5-Lather Up-Montrell Teague-Clyde Francis 6-Done Well-Tim Tetrick-Ron Burke
3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE Youaremycandygirl is the returning champion and will try to become the first female pacer since My Little Dragon in 2005 and 2006 to win a Breeders Crown at both ages 2 and 3. She won this year’s Empire Breeders Classic and finished second to Kissin In The Sand in the James M. Lynch Memorial, Mistletoe Shalee, and a division of the Glen Garnsey.
The connections of Youaremycandygirl and Jugette winner Alexa’s Power both turned down the seasonal-earnings-based bye that went to Courageous Lady winner Baron Remy. The top-seven finishers from the single elimination advance to the final.
Single Elimination PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer 1-Youaremycandygirl-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke 2-Double A Mint-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke 3-I’m Trigger Happy-Corey Callahan-Ross Croghan 4-Strong Opinion-Andrew McCarthy-Ron Burke 5-Alexa’s Power-Tim Tetrick-Jim Campbell 6-Percy Bluechip-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke 7-Solitary-Brett Miller-Nick Surick 8-Sidewalk Dancer-George Napolitano Jr.-Chris Oakes 9-Dance Blue-Andrew McCarthy-Nancy Johansson
3-YEAR-OLD COLT AND GELDING TROT
Fiftydallarbill is the returning champion and will try to become the first male trotter since Father Patrick in 2013 and 2014 to win a Breeders Crown at ages 2 and 3. His wins this season include the Indiana Sire Stakes final. Also entered were Canadian Trotting Classic and Earl Beal Jr. Memorial winner Crystal Fashion, Dr. Harry M. Zweig Memorial winner Met’s Hall, and Yonkers Trot and Kentucky Futurity winner Six Pack. The top-four finishers from each elimination plus the fifth-place finisher with highest seasonal earnings advance to the final.
Elimination One PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer 1-Met’s Hall-Andy Miller-Julie Miller 2-You Know You Do-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter 3-Tactical Landing-Jimmy Takter-Jimmy Takter 4-Jula Downton-TBA-Susanne Kerwood 5-Lawmaker-Anthony MacDonald-Andrew Harris 6-Evaluate-Brian Sears-Marcus Melander 7-Gemologist-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt
Elimination Two PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer 1-Six Pack-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt 2-Wolfgang-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter 3-Cruising In Style-Anthony MacDonald-Andrew Harris 4-Run Director-Sylvain Filion-Benoit Baillargeon 5-Fiftydallarbill-Brett Miller-Bill Crone 6-Crystal Fashion-Tim Tetrick-Jim Campbell
3-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT
Manchego is the returning champion and will try to join stablemate Ariana G (2016-17) on the list of female trotters to win a Breeders Crown at ages 2 and 3. Her wins this year include the Hambletonian Oaks and Moni Maker Stakes. She is joined in this event by Hambletonian and Kentucky Filly Futurity winner Atlanta and Elegantimage winner Phaetosive. The top-four finishers from each elimination plus the fifth-place finisher with highest seasonal earnings advance to the final.
Elimination One PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer 1-Highland Dynamite-Simon Allard-Marty Fine 2-Looking For Zelda-Matt Kakaley-Norm Parker 3-Plunge Blue Chip-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt 4-Courtney Hanover-Scott Zeron-Rick Zeron 5-Top Expectations-Marcus Miller-Erv Miller 6-Impinktoo-Brian Sears-Ron Burke 7-Seviyorum-Andy Miller-Julie Miller
Elimination Two PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer 1-Lily Stride-Tim Tetrick-Mark Harder 2-Manchego-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter 3-Atlanta-Scott Zeron-Rick Zeron 4-Ciao Dolce-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt 5-Supergirl Riley-Marcus Miller-Erv Miller 6-Phaetosive-Trond Smedshammer-Trond Smedshammer
OPEN TROT
Hannelore Hanover, the 2017 Horse of the Year, is the defending champion and will try to become the first repeat winner of the Open Trot since Fool’s Goal in 2002 and 2003. She also would become the first mare to win the event twice and her three Breeders Crown trophies would tie her with Grades Singing and Mack Lobell for the second most for a trotter. Peace Corps holds the record with four. Hannelore Hanover’s wins this year include the Armbro Flight and Arthur J. Cutler Memorial.
Homicide Hunter, who trotted his world-record 1:48.4 mile in winning the Allerage Open Trot at Red Mile, joins Hannelore Hanover in the event along with multiple-stakes-winner and 2016 Trotter of the Year Marion Marauder, Will Take Charge, Cruzado Dela Noche, and Pinkman. The top-four finishers from each elimination plus the fifth-place finisher with highest seasonal earnings advance to the final.
Elimination One PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer 1-Yes Mickey-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt 2-Guardian Angel As-Matt Kakaley-Anette Lorentzon 3-Cruzado Dela Noche-Brian Sears-Marcus Melander 4-Marion Marauder-Scott Zeron-Paula Wellwood 5-Pinkman-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter 6-Lindy The Great-David Miller-Domenico Cecere
Elimination Two PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer 1-Will Take Charge-Tim Tetrick-Jeff Gillis 2-Hannelore Hanover-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke 3-Dunbar Hall-Jody Jamieson-Stephanie Jamieson 4-Homicide Hunter-Brian Sears-Chris Oakes 5-Top Flight Angel-Andy Miller-Julie Miller 6-Warrawee Roo-Dan Dube-Luc Blais
MARE TROT
Emoticon Hanover is the defending champion and will try to become the event’s first repeat winner since Buck I St Pat in 2009 and 2010. Ariana G will try to become the first female trotter since Peace Corps (1988-89-90) to win a Breeders Crown at ages 2, 3 and 4. She would tie Grades Singing and Mack Lobell for the second-most trophies for a trotter. Peace Corps holds the record with four. Broadway Donna won her Breeders Crown in 2016 at age 3.
The top-four finishers from each elimination plus the fifth-place finisher with highest seasonal earnings advance to the final.
Elimination One PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer 1-Emoticon Hanover-Dan Dube-Luc Blais 2-The Erm-Charlie Norris-Charlie Norris 3-Celebrity Ruth-Trond Smedshammer-Trond Smedshammer 4-Charmed Life-Simon Allard-Rene Allard 5-Ariana G-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter 6-Royal Witch-Sylvain Filion-Benoit Baillargeon 7-Ice Attraction-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt
Elimination Two PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer 1-Dream Together-Bob McClure-Luc Blais 2-Broadway Donna-David Miller-Jim Campbell 3-Barn Bella-Trond Smedshammer-Trond Smedhammer 4-NF Happenstance-Jack Parker Jr.-Carol Jamieson-Parker 5-Caprice Hill-Brian Sears-Chris Oakes 6-Pink Pistol-Tim Tetrick-Peter Shody
MARE PACE
Pure Country is the defending champion and will try to become first female pacer since Shelliscape in 2013 and 2014 to repeat as the event’s winner. She also would join Jenna's Beach Boy, Eternal Camnation, and My Little Dragon as the only pacers to ever win three Crowns. Call Me Queen Be won her Breeders Crown in 2016 at the age of 3.
Shartin N (a $31,250 supplemental entry) is the season’s richest female pacer. Her wins include the Roses Are Red, Lady Liberty, Artiscape, and Blue Chip Matchmaker championship. The top-four finishers from each elimination plus the fifth-place finisher with highest seasonal earnings advance to the final.
Elimination One PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer 1-Newborn Sassy-Tim Tetrick-Jim King Jr. 2-Agent Q-David Miller-Chris Oakes 3-Divas Image-Joe Bongiorno-Jennifer Bongiorno 4-Carol’s Z Tam-Brian Sears-Jamie Macomber 5-Lakeisha Hall-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke 6-Pure Country-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter 7-Bettor’s Up-Doug McNair-Scott McEneny 8-Call Me Queen Be-Eric Carlson-Ross Croghan
Elimination Two PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer 1-Caviart Ally-Andrew McCarthy-Noel Daley 2-Nike Franco N-Matt Kakaley-Scott DiDomenico 3-Frost Damage Blues-Jody Jamieson-Kyle Caulfield 4-Tequila Monday-Brian Sears-Chris Oakes 5-Twinkle-Scott Zeron-Ross Croghan 6-Blue Moon Stride-Corey Callahan-Mark Harder 7-Seventimesavirgin-Corey Callahan-Jimmy Nickerson 8-Shartin N-Tim Tetrick-Jim King Jr.
Ken Weingartner Media Relations Manager U.S. Trotting Association http://www.ustrotting.com @harnessracenews @HarnessKenW
