by Ellen Harvey, for the Breeders Crown

2013 Breeders Crown — Open Pace from USTA on Vimeo.

Wilkes-Barre, PA — The 9-year-old Foiled Again became the oldest horse to ever win a Breeders Crown when he held strong to the wire to win the $500,000 Breeders Crown for open class pacers on Saturday at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Foiled Again prevailed at the wire to become the oldest horse ever to win a Breeders Crown in the Open Pace on Saturday at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

The $5.65 million now in his bank account makes him the richest pacer of all time and second richest Standardbred worldwide after Ready Cash. The victory was his ninth in 25 starts this year, with 2013 earnings of $1,024,109.

He was driven by Yannick Gingras to the win by a nose in 1:49.2 over the sloppy track. Pet Rock was second and Modern Legend was third.

Foiled Again is owned by Burke Racing, Weaver Bruscemi and JJK Stables and trained by Ron Burke.

Golden Receiver (Corey Callahan) was first off the starting gate and into the lead in :25.3, but by the :53.4 half, he’d relinquished the lead to Foiled Again who held it to the 1:21.4 three-quarter-mile mark.

He was tracked by Modern Legend, third and on his wheel as the field turned for home and Pet Rock, who was second, behind Foiled Again and along the rail, waiting for the passing lane.

With Pet Rock inside and Modern Legend outside, Foiled Again ($3.80) dug in all the way down the stretch to stay ahead at the wire for the win by a nose.

“He definitely fought him off,” said Gingras. “He fought them all off. They were coming from everywhere. I was doing my best to get him to go. He got it done tonight and I really, really love this horse. He was used really hard tonight. That’s the way the race played out. I know if there’s any horse in history, or on the racetrack tonight, that you can use, he’s definitely the man.

“I knew that Jody (Jamieson, driving Warrawee Needy, who made a break on the last turn) was three deep coming off the last turn and his horse got a good trip too. I couldn’t really see on the outside until right at the wire. I was doing my best to get him to go, that’s for sure. He got it done tonight and I really, really love this horse. He’s been a pleasure to drive and he’s definitely one of the greatest. Last week he was super sharp in the elimination and what can you say after this performance? If people don’t rate him, if not the greatest, as one of the greatest in history, I don’t know what else he has to do.”

“When he was moving back to the front,” said trainer Ron Burke, “I had confidence that David (Miller, driving Pet Rock) would have to let him go; they’d already gone a big half. From the top of the lane, I started thinking maybe Clear Vision was our better shot, but then you keep an eye on (Foiled Again) and he just keeps digging. He wouldn’t let him by. He saved the night. He’s been unbelievable. I can’t say enough about him and what he’s done for our family and for our whole stable.”

Burke said that Foiled Again’s next start is expected to be Nov. 9 in the American-National at Balmoral Park in Illinois.