Category: Grand Circuit News

When it comes to Saturday’s $600,000 Breeders Crown final for 3-year-old female pacers, the adage that “It all comes down to the Breeders Crown” seems particularly relevant to trainer Brett Pelling. Pelling will send out four fillies in Saturday’s field of 10 at The Meadowlands. Ron Burke-trained My Girl EJ is the 2-1 morning-line favorite, followed by five horses listed at no more than 8-1, including three from Pelling’s stable: Rocket Deo, Direction, and Disney.

Emoticon Hanover was a success in the Breeders Crown during her racing career, and her impact on the event has continued as a mom. Her first foal, filly Drawn Impression, won a Breeders Crown elim last year at age 2 and finished fourth in the final. Last week, Drawn Impression captured her Breeders Crown elim again and will head to Saturday’s $600,000 final for 3-year-old female trotters at The Meadowlands as the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

When female pacer That’s The Ticket was retired seven years ago because of an injury, owner Craig Henderson thought he would sell the 2016 Three Diamonds Stakes winner. That was until he received input from the filly’s trainer, Chris Ryder. “He told me not to sell her,” Henderson recalled. “He said she was going to have a great foal someday. He literally talked me into keeping That’s The Ticket. Her first two foals were fine; they both made over $100,000. But then along comes Miki And Minnie and it’s been phenomenal.” On Friday afternoon, she will compete in the first of two $25,000 eliminations of the Breeders Crown for 2-year-old female pacers at The Meadowlands.