by Moira Fanning, publicity director, the Hambletonian Society

Cranbury, NJ — Nine eligible mares and one supplement will comprise the field for the $331,500 Breeders Crown Mare Pace on Saturday, August 22, at the Meadowlands.

Darlin’s Delight, the richest pacing mare racing with $2.8 million in earnings, will seek her first Crown victory after finishing second three out of four times in the past five years. Her nemesis, three-time Crown winner My Little Dragon, was retired from racing earlier this year.

Competition for Darlin’s Delight comes in the form of defending divisional champ and Golden Girls winner Southwind Tempo and 2008 sophomore Crown champ A And G’sconfusion. Dreamfair Eternal, a recent winner of the Roses Are Red stakes was supplemented for a tag of $37,500.

Six of the 10 mares entered opted for a prep race on Saturday, August 15. The field from the rail out in that race (race five on the Meadowlands card) is: 1. Tidewater Dragonfly, 2. Tug River Princess, 3. Go On BB, 4. Dreamfair Eternal, 5. Darlin’s Delight, and 6. A And G’sconfusion.

Btwnyurheartnmine, who sizzled in the first race on Hambletonian Day with a 1:48.3 clocking, opted for the week off as did Southwind Tempo and Cuz She Can, while Hana Hanover is entered in a Filly and Mares Open at Mohawk on Friday, August 14.

Since no eliminations were necessary an open draw will be televised live on Big M TV during the Saturday, August 15, card. The track is dark Friday, August 14.

The Breeders Crown Mare Pace is one of four open events worth a combined $1.6 million, along with the $400,000 Woodrow Wilson and the $350,000 Sweetheart, scheduled for closing night at the Meadowlands, Saturday, August 22.

Here is the field for the $331,500 Breeders Crown Mare Pace, in alpabetical oder.

Mare–Trainer–Declared Driver
A And G’s Confusion–Casie Coleman– David Miller
Btwnyurheartnmine–Ross Croghan–Brian Sears
Cuz She Can–Mark Harder–Daniel Dube
Darlin’s Delight–Jeff Stafford–Yannick Gingras
Dreamfair Eternal–Patrick Fletcher–Tony Kerwood
Go On BB–Ron Burke–Jim Morrill, Jr.
Hana Hanover–Mark Steacy–George Brennan
Southwind Tempo–Ross Croghan–Tim Tetrick
Tidewaterdragonfly–Kelly O’Donnell–Ron Pierce
Tug River Princess–Ross Croghan–John Campbell