Schenectady, NY —– The New York Sire Stakes is pleased to announce that 26 New York-bred horses will be competing in the $6 million Breeders Crown finals this weekend. Known as harness racing’s richest and most prestigious year-end divisional championship series, the finals return to The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., on Saturday (Oct. 27).

“As one of the most significant championships in the country, having this many horses representing New York State continues to be a testament to the talent coming out of the New York Sire Stakes program,” said M. Kelly Young, executive director, Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund. “We are looking forward to an exciting evening of racing.”

New York-bred horses participating in the Breeders Crown include:

Six Pack, who trotted a world record mile of 1:50 in this year’s Stanley Dancer Memorial, and then lowered that mark with a 1:49.1 performance at the 126th Kentucky Futurity. The 3-year old trotter has earned $970,573 this year and nearly $1.17 million in his career. Six Pack (Muscle Mass-Pleasing Lady) was bred by Brittany Farms of Kentucky, is trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt, and owned by Svanstedt with Little E LLC, Stall Kalmar FF and Lars Berg.

Atlanta’s victory over the weekend was her eighth in 13 starts. The 3-year-old became just the 14th filly to win the Hambletonian this year, capturing harness racing’s richest prize in 1:50.4 and taking her over $1 million in career earnings. Atlanta (Chapter Seven-Hemi Blue Chip) was bred by Order By Stable, is trained by Rick Zeron, and owned by Zeron with Crawford Farms, Howard Taylor, Brad Grant and Holland Racing Stable.

Dan Patch Award winner Youaremycandygirl became the fastest 2-year-old female pacer in history with a 1:50 at last year’s International Stallion Stakes at Lexington’s Red Mile. She was voted the best 2-year-old female pacer of 2017 by the U.S. Harness Writers Association after winning nine of 11 races and earning $895,615. This year she scored in the Empire Breeders Championship and the Shady Daisy. Youaremycandygirl (American Ideal-Sweet Lady Jane) was bred by Birnam Wood Farm and is trained by Ron Burke. Owner Bill Donovan bought the filly as a yearling for $150,000 at the 2016 Standardbred Horse Sale.

Plunge Blue Chip became the fastest 3-year-old trotter in history, regardless of sex, with her 1:49.4 performance in the Del Miller Memorial this year. She went on to be crowned New York Sire Stakes champion with a seven length win at last month’s finals. Plunge Blue Chip (Muscle Mass-Dunk The Donato) was bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock, is trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt, and owned by Svanstedt with Blue Chip Bloodstock, Tomas Andersson, and Rick Zeron Stables.

Gimpanzee (Chapter Seven-Steamy Windows) remains undefeated after eight starts including last Friday’s Breeders Crown 2-year-old colt and gelding trot elimination. The New York Sires Stakes champion was bred by Order By Stable and fetched $170,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. He has earned $291,358 to go with his untarnished record.

Woodside Charm (Chapter Seven-Fireworks) is unbeaten in six races as a freshman after winning her Crown elimination in 1:53. She turned heads in September when she set an astounding 1:53.4 world record on the half-mile track at Saratoga in a division of the New York Sire Stakes. The trotter is trained, driven and owned by Verlin Yoder and was bred by AV & Son Bloodstock LLC.

New York-breds also securing a place in this weekend’s finals are Guardian Angel AS, Top Flight Angel, Dunbar Hall, American History, Celebrity Ruth, All Bets Off, Zero Tolerance, Prescient Beauty, Brady Bunch, Stella Jane, Dance Blue, I’m Trigger Happy, St Somewhere, Solitary, Tequila Monday, Supergirl Riley, Ciao Dolce, Springsteen, Hitman Hill, and Barn Bella.