Jim Linscott photo.

Luckyisasluckydoes, fresh from his sixth consecutive win in the $200,000 Dan Patch at Hoosier Park, is the horse to beat in the $85,000 Pacing Classic.

The two Classic Series paces are loaded with extreme speed. The Classics Distaff includes 2003 champion Eternal Camnation, with Eric Ledford, who also won the Breeders Crown from among her 11 wins which pushed her career earning to $3.3 million for Eternal Camnation Stable trained by Jeff Miller. Cuzzins Stable’s Burning point, Breeders Crown and Matron winning sophomore, with George Brennan. 2000 Horse of the Year Bunny Lake, owned by trainer John Stark and W.Springtime Racing Stable, will be driven by Hall of Famer John Campbell. Shari Watchman and Let It Ride Stable’s Carolina Sunshine, with Brian Sears, 2004 leading money winning female pacer, is also among the nine going to post.

The Classic Distaff lineup includes Bill Loyens’ Jasper Avenue, who drew the rail with Luc Ouellette driving, Julie, Francene and Cotton Nash’s Artistic Vision with Tony Morgan, Stormies Girl, piloted by Ron Pierce, owned by JML and Three Ring Circus Stable, Howard Taylor’s homebred Jennie Fanetta with Jim Morand, and Hanover Chance N, with Rick Zeron driving for Black Horse and Varty Racing stables.

In The $85,000 Pacing Classic, Cliff and Herb Siegel and John Fodera’s Luckyisasluckydoes, driven by Mike Saftic, fresh from his sixth consecutive win in the $200,000 Dan Patch at Hoosier Park, and Gregg Pistochini’s Eaton Road Kill (Eric Ledford), a winner of nine of 12 this year lead a field of 10 starters. Richard Banca’s Life Source with Cat Manzi in the bike, Martin Scharf’s Armbro Animate, George Brennan driving, are joined by several who are familiar to local fans, Laham, Franklin and Crystal Ball Stable’s Crystal Art, with Travis Bowman, winner of the Matron Final last year, Jerry Silva and Let It Ride Stable’s The Globe (Brian Sears) and M&M Harness Racing’s Image Of Dawn with Hall of Fame driver Mike Lachance.

The other Pacing Classic starters include The Zdravo Maria Stable’s Life Sizzles (Eric Ledford), Jones, Machiela and L&L DeVisser’s Dr. Drew (David Miller) and Eash Racing Stable’s Foxy Maneuver, with driver Don Eash.

There are two $60,000 Classic Oaks splits. Last season’s Breeders Crown and Matron champion Stroke Play (Brian Sears) drew the rail in the first division with six starters. Valley High Stable’s Sunday Yankee (John Campbell), Northmedo Stable’s Medoland Miracle (David Miller) and Richard and Joyce McClelland’s Under My Thumb are among the contenders. Bob Key’s Americansnowqueen K (David Miller), and Andray and Lindwood Farm’s Lost Lady One (George Brennan) are the other starters.

Last year’s winner, Trillium Racing Stable’s Scully FBI (Luc Ouellette) leaves from the rail with Charles Keller III and IV, and Dan Bittle’s super sharp Windylane Hanover, in hand to Ron Pierce, Canadian standouts Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz’s Gypsy Balance, with John Campbell, Christoforou, Banjo Farms and L&L DeVisser’s For The Luva Moni, with Chris Christoforou, and CA Burns’ Dresden Dolly, Trevor Ritchie in the bike, are among the seven in the second $60,000 division. Nunzio Geniti and Bill Schiffer’s Tagapine, handled by Dave Palone, and Bob Key’s Fast Lane K (David Miller) are the other starters.

Dover Downs photo

Last season’s Breeders Crown and Matron champion Stroke Play drew the rail in the first division of the Classic Oaks.

$2.6-million winner Fool’s Goal, owned by Bruce McElven and Ron Allen, with Jack Moiseyev at the controls and O’Neil, Larrabee and Franklin’s Y Chance It, with Ron Fritz, a winner for six of seven starts this year in Ontario, lead a select field of seven in one of two $60,000 Trotting Classic sections. Midwestern standout Lifes A Holiday, owned by Homer and Jay Hockstetler, with Tim Curtin at the helm, and Crystal Ball Stable’s local standout Notorious Buck with Travis Bowman head the competition. Cat Manzi-driven Center Field, owned by Ted Gewertz and Fair Winds Farm, Ira Kristel’s Bubba Dunn, driven by Rick Zeron, and Paul Chambers and John Mello’s JM VanGogh, reined by Jim Morand, are the challengers.