Columbus, OH – Brandon Blvd stamped himself as the top 3-year-old pacing colt in harness racing on Saturday night (Oct. 24), winning the $664,500 Grade 1 Breeders Crown final for sophomore male pacers by 1-1/4 lengths over Al Papi in 1:48 at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
Things heated up quickly in the race when Melillo (driven by Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), Brandon Blvd (Dexter Dunn) and Al Papi (Yannick Gingras) left alertly. Melillo was able to secure the lead entering the first turn but felt immediate pressure from Al Papi. The latter tried to save ground but was locked out of a hole by Brandon Blvd.
Al Papi and Brandon Blvd began to attack Melillo through a :26.4 opening quarter. By the stands for the first time, Al Papi had worked his way to the lead, but Brandon Blvd powered past as the field approached a :54.2 half.
Entering the backstretch, Wrenn pulled Melillo and dueled with Brandon Blvd. The pair were noses apart until the three-quarters in 1:21.1, when Brandon Blvd kicked clear.
Last week in the eliminations, Melillo had the upper hand on Brandon Blvd, but this week it was reversed.
Gentleman’s Club (Andrew McCarthy) came off cover three-wide around the final turn, and Al Papi tried to surge late, but Brandon Blvd proved to be the strongest, with his winning time of 1:48 establishing a divisional track record. Al Papi was followed by North America Cup champion Odds On Mr Mamba (James MacDonald), who rallied to finish third.
“Once he gets to the lead, they’ll never go by him,” said winning trainer Andrew Harris. “He’s all heart and wants it more than anyone else.”
The colt, a son of Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith, pushed his career earnings to $1.9 million with his 17th win in 24 races. His ownership group, Punisher 11 Stable, which consists of Bruce Areman, Andrew Harris and William Pollock, was named in honor of Pollock’s success as a major slow-pitch softball player; The Punisher was his nickname and 11 was his number.
This win is the cherry on top of a season that included victories in the Meadowlands Pace (G1), Max C. Hempt Memorial (G2), and Paul Revere Pace, Somebeachsomewhere and Bluegrass (all G3). He also won the Kentucky Championship Series final and finished second in the North America Cup (G1).
“I think he’s made a case for Horse of the Year now,” Harris said. “I think he’s that good and I think that it’s so amazing that he’s been able to go all year, dancing all the races, and he’s still, at the end of the year, as sharp as he was at the beginning of the year.”
Brandon Blvd gave driver Dexter Dunn his fifth Breeders Crown victory on the weekend, one shy of the record he set in 2024.
Andrew Harris also won a Breeders Crown on Friday with 2-year-old filly pacer Seaside Ubeaut. She is also owned by the Punisher 11 Stable. His first Breeders Crown win was in 2025 with Yo Tillie.
It was recently announced the star will be standing stud at Hanover Shoe Farms in 2027. The Breeders Crown may have been his final start.
“He won’t do the FanDuel,” Harris said. “I’ll talk to the team, but this, more than likely, is the way to go out. Go out on top, I think that’s the way to go, but I’ll talk to the team. Nothing is set in stone, but I would imagine this is the last one for him.”