by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Lucky Jim, trained by Julie Miller and driven by her husband, Andy, heads to the $600,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot off a track-record 1:52 win at Vernon Downs in the $195,000 Credit Winner on September 17. It was the 5-year-old gelding’s first start since a fourth-place finish in the Maple Leaf Trot and two-month break from action.

Eight rivals will face Lucky Jim in the Breeders Crown, which will go forward without eliminations. Joining him in the field are All Cantab, Define The World, Enough Talk, Hot Shot Blue Chip, Lanson, Neighsay Hanover, Slave Dream, and Triumphant Caviar.

“I was a little concerned he wasn’t tight enough, but Andy drove him exactly how we’d talked about and he got up there,” trainer Julie Miller said about Lucky Jim’s return performance. “He was the same old Jim.”

Lisa photo

Lucky Jim has earned $417,344 in 2010.

Last year, Lucky Jim won the Breeders Crown on his way to the Dan Patch Award for best older male trotter. This season, he has won five of 11 starts, finished second four times, and earned $417,344. He will try to become the first horse to repeat as Breeders Crown Open Trot champion since Fool’s Goal (2002-03). The only other multiple winner was No Sex Please, who captured trophies in 1990 and 1992.

“I would have liked to race (this weekend), but the fact we’re not is fine too,” Miller said. “I was very indifferent about it.”

Enough Talk won the $235,750 Titan Cup in July at the Meadowlands and was second to Slave Dream in the $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational in August.

Triumphant Caviar is coming off a track-record 1:53.1 victory at Indiana Downs in the $100,000 Pride In Progress free-for-all.

Dreamfair Eternal says ‘bye’ to Breeders Crown elim

Dreamfair Eternal, who won the $364,560 Milton Stakes on September 25 at Mohawk Racetrack, accepted a bye to the final of the $300,000 Breeders Crown Mare Pace at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, leaving nine horses to battle on Saturday for the last eight spots. Dreamfair Eternal has won 11 of 17 races this year, finished second four times, and earned a division-best $646,890.

She received the Breeders Crown bye based on this season’s purses.

In addition to winning the Milton, Dreamfair Eternal won the $160,000 Artiscape at Tioga Downs (in a then-track record 1:49.4) and was second in the $364,720 Roses Are Red. Tug River Princess, who is in the Breeders Crown elim, won the Roses Are Red.

Joining Tug River Princess in the elim are Chancey Lady, Ginger And Fred, Not Enough, On The Glass, Ramona DiSomma, Showherthemoney, Southwind Tempo, and Voelz Hanover.

Tug River Princess also won the $257,000 Golden Girls in August at the Meadowlands and was second in the $248,000 Lady Liberty, which was won by On The Glass. Ginger And Fred won the $237,000 Blue Chip Matchmaker in May at Yonkers and was second in the Golden Girls.

Southwind Tempo was last year’s Dan Patch Award winner for best pacing mare. She has won four of 12 races this year.

A horse has never won back-to-back Breeders Crown Mare Pace trophies, a fact that will not change this year. Last season’s winner, Hana Hanover, is retired.

Following is the field in post position order, with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Not Enough, Jim Morrill Jr., Steve Elliott; 2. Chancey Lady, Andy Miller, Mark Kesmodel; 3. On The Glass, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke; 4. Ramona DiSomma, George Brennan, Frank Hartline III; 5. Tug River Princess, John Campbell, Jeff Webster; 6. Ginger And Fred, Brian Sears, Ron Burke; 7. Southwind Tempo, Tim Tetrick, Jeff Webster; 8. Showherthemoney, Eric Goodell, Steve Elliott; 9. Voelz Hanover, Daniel Dube, Benoit Baillargeon.