by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Toronto, ON — Owners Arlene and Jules Siegel and trainer Jim Campbell will have ample opportunities to add to their Breeders Crown trophy collection Saturday (Oct. 24) at Woodbine Racetrack.

The Siegels, who have won three Breeders Crown titles and rank No. 2 in series history with $2.5 million in purses, and Campbell, who has two titles to his credit, will send out five finalists in Saturday’s eight Breeders Crown events.

It is the most finalists for the Siegel-Campbell team since 2002, when the owner-trainer duo sent six horses into the championships, which also were held at Woodbine. Broadway Hall and Livorno finished 1-2 that season in the 2-year-old colt trot while Whatanartist was third in the 2-year-old colt pace.

The Siegels were voted harness racing’s Owners of the Year in 2002.

Broadway Hall also figures into Saturday’s races — he is the father of the Siegels’ Broadway Bistro, Broadway Schooner and Fashion Feline. He also is a half brother to the Siegels’ Tom Cango.

“We’ve been fortunate to have a very good year and then to cap it off with five in the finals of the Breeders Crown is special,” Campbell said. “It’ll even be more special if we do a little bit of good on Saturday night.”

Broadway Schooner, a 3-year-old filly trotter who won the $783,042 Hambletonian Oaks in August, has been no worse than second in 11 of 15 races this season.

Jim Campbell gets ready to take Broadway Schooner out on the track.

“I thought she raced really good in her elimination (finishing second to Elusive Desire) and handled the track very well,” Campbell said. “She got post seven, which isn’t horrible here and hopefully she’ll get a decent trip. She’s been very dependable all year.”

Fashion Feline, who is in the Breeders Crown for 2-year-old filly trotters, has won seven of 11 races this season. She is the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion. She went off stride in her Breeders Crown elimination last weekend, but rallied to finish fourth.

“I think she’s one of the top contenders in her group,” Campbell said. “She didn’t really care for the track last week. We made a couple changes on her and she trained better (Wednesday). Hopefully, that will work for us.”

Tom Cango and Broadway Bistro are both in the Breeders Crown for 3-year-old colt trotters, where they will look to upset unbeaten Muscle Hill. Tom Cango is coming off a win in a division of the Bluegrass Stakes while Broadway Bistro is coming off a second-place Bluegrass effort.

Breeders Crown photos

Broadway Bistro will compete in the Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt trot.

“With a big purse like $600,000, if both of them can pick up a nice check it will be a nice payday,” Campbell said.

The lone pacer in the Siegel-Campbell group is 3-year-old colt Dial Or Nodial, who returned to action in September after being sidelined for a couple months because of a bruised foot.

“Dial Or Nodial is just a class horse to come back from where he’s been,” Campbell said. “He raced good last week and raced good in Lexington. He’s got a nice draw, so we’re hoping for a good race from him.

“I think five or six colts could capitalize on a good trip and be there. He’s one of them.”

Below are the full fields for the four Breeders Crown races with Arlene and Jules Siegel-owned and Jim Campbell-trained horses.

Breeders Crown 2FT-PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Costa Rica, Ron Pierce, Jimmy Takter
2. Christiana Hanover, Steve Condren, Rina Rekila
3. Tequila Slammer, Paul MacDonell, John Bax
4. Poof She’s Gone, David Miller, Richard Norman
5. Fashion Feline, Brian Sears, Jim Campbell
6. Ultimate Cameron, Mike Lachance, Robert Stewart
7. Southwind Samurai, John Campbell, Bernie Noren
8. Action-Broadway, Tim Tetrick, Virgil Morgan Jr.
9. Spicy Wings, Steve Condren, Darren McCall
10 Levi’s Lady, Brian Sears, Dewayne Minor
AE1. Impressive Kemp, Andrew McCarthy, Mike Vanderkemp
AE 2. Croquet Style, P. Wallinder, Anette Lorentzon

Breeders Crown 3FT-Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Margarita Momma, Ron Pierce, Jan Johnson
2. The Ice Queen, Jim Morrill Jr., Trond Smedshammer
3. Yursa Hanover, Tim Tetrick, Ben Baillargeon
4. Elusive Desire, Paul MacDonell, Mike Keeling
5. Raising Rachel, Jack Moiseyev, John Kopas
6. Sirenuse, John Campbell, Jerry Silverman
7. Broadway Schooner, Brian Sears, Jim Campbell
8. Seaside, David Miller, Jonas Czernyson
9. Windsong Soprano, Steve Condren, Bob McIntosh
10. Dont Wear PJs, Mike Lachance, Harald Lunde
AE1: Littlemscantbewrong, Jody Jamieson, Per Henriksen

Breeders Crown 3CT-Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Muscle Hill, Brian Sears, Greg Peck, 1-5
2. Hot Shot Blue Chip, Mike Lachance, Jonas Czernyson, 25-1
3. Tom Cango, Tim Tetrick, Jim Campbell, 25-1
4. Striking Lindsey, Doug McNair, Gregg McNair, 40-1
5. Neighsay Hanover, John Campbell, Trond Smedshammer, 20-1
6. Triumphant Caviar, Luc Ouellette, Chris Beaver, 25-1
7. Swan For All, Jody Jamieson, Erv Miller, 8-1
8. Howthehaloareyou, Dave Palone, Anette Lorentzon, 20-1
9. PJ Clark, Andy Miller, Julie Miller, 20-1
10. Broadway Bistro, George Brennan, Jim Campbell, 20-1

Breeders Crown 3CP-Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Keep It Real, Steve Condren, Joey Shea, 20-1
2. Mr Wiggles, Corey Callahan, Brenda Teague, 9-2
3. Vertical Horizon, Jim Morrill Jr., Tracy Brainard, 25-1
4. Dial Or Nodial, Brian Sears, Jim Campbell, 5-1
5. Annieswesterncard, Dave Palone, Joe Seekman, 25-1
6. If I Can Dream, Tim Tetrick, Tracy Brainard, 6-1
7. Carnivore, Jody Jamieson, Jack Darling, 15-1
8. Bay Of Sharks, Mario Baillargeon, Ben Wallace, 10-1
9. Well Said, Ron Pierce, Steve Elliott, 8-5
10. Vintage Master, Daniel Dube, Jimmy Takter, 5-1