by Emily Gaskin, for Hoosier Park
Anderson, IN — Rain settled into the area and made racing conditions muddy, but the inclement weather didn’t come close to dampening the spirits of racing fans as they witnessed history in the making. The first of two nights of the Breeders Crown Championships at Hoosier Park brought in a full house ready to see the best horses in North America vie for divisional honors.
The evening played host to six of the 12 divisional races, including Open Mares Trot and Pace, the 2- and 3-year-old filly trotters, and the 2- and 3-year-old filly pacers.
Many favorites proved why they were tagged as favorites throughout the night with Manchego establishing a little history of her own. The 2-year-old trotting filly tied her sire’s record, matching Muscle Hill‘s perfect season of 12-for-12 in 2009. It also marked one of three wins on the card for trainer Jimmy Takter, who also scored wins with the 3-year-old trotting filly Ariana G and the Open pacing mare Pure Country, who was a surprise to fans, paying $31.00 to win.
“Despite the inclement weather, we are amazed at the enthusiasm for our attendance and competitive racing on our first Breeders Crown night at Hoosier Park,” said Jim Brown, president and COO of Centaur Gaming. “We value and appreciate all of the partnerships that had a part in tonight’s successful event. Together, we have elevated the Indiana racing industry and for that, we are so grateful.”
The program included 14 races, with race seven through race 12 dedicated to the Breeders Crown Championships. An international audience through simulcast venues, added to the racing fans in attendance at Hoosier Park, wagered a total of $1,773,829 for the night. A total of $1,028,238 was wagered on the six Breeders Crown races.
The second evening of Breeders Crown Championships resumes Saturday (Oct. 28) at 6 p.m. Once again, races seven through 12 will feature the Breeders Crown races, which will include the 2- and 3-year-old colt trotters, the 2- and 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, the Open Pace, and the much anticipated Open Trot.
A total of 10 Indiana sired horses have been scattered throughout the Breeders Crown Championships and will be capped off with the appearance of the standout Indiana sired trotting mare, Hannelore Hanover, who will go up against her male counterparts in the Open Trot, kicking off the first Breeders Crown Championship in race seven with an estimated post time of 8:12 p.m.
- Emoticon Hanover wires the field in Breeders Crown Mare Trot (Friday, October 27, 2017)
Emoticon Hanover and driver Dan Dube went to the front and never looked back to win Friday’s (Oct. 27) $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot by three-quarters of a length over Caprice Hill in 1:53.4 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
- Manchego remains unbeaten with Breeders Crown triumph (Friday, October 27, 2017)
Manchego became the first undefeated 2-year-old female trotter to win a Breeders Crown, capturing Friday’s (Oct. 27) $600,000 final by 4-1/4 lengths over Seviyorum in 1:54.4 over a sloppy track at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Phaetosive finished third.
- Blazin Britches scores in 1:52.1 in Crown filly pace (Friday, October 27, 2017)
Blazin Britches, one of last week’s beaten elimination favorites, won the $500,000 Breeders Crown 3-year-old filly pace by a half-length at Hoosier Park Friday night (Oct. 27). The time for the mile was 1:52.1 over a sloppy track. Trace Tetrick was in the sulky.
- Ariana G romps to easy Breeders Crown victory (Friday, October 27, 2017)
As co-owner Marvin Katz made his way to the winner’s circle for another celebration with Ariana G, the word he used to best describe the 3-year-old female trotter was “fantastic.” He could have chosen others, including dominant. Ariana G won Friday’s (Oct. 27) $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old female trotters by 5-1/4 lengths over Ice Attraction in 1:54.3 over a sloppy track at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Dream Together finished third. Ariana G joined Shake It Cerry as the only trotting fillies since 2002 to win the Breeders Crown at ages 2 and 3.
- Youaremycandygirl captures Breeders Crown 2-year-old filly pace (Friday, October 27, 2017)
Youaremycandygirl, the heavy 2-5 public choice off a strong elimination score last week, won the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old filly pace by 4-1/2 lengths at Hoosier Park Friday night (Oct. 27). The time for the mile was 1:53.2 over a sloppy track. Yannick Gingras drove the filly for trainer Ron Burke.
- Pure Country wins wild finish in Breeders Crown Mare Pace (Friday, October 27, 2017)
Eight horses fanned across the track in a battle down the stretch, with Pure Country surging in the closing strides to capture Friday’s (Oct. 27) $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Pace by 1-1/4 lengths over Bedroomconfessions in 1:52.1 over a sloppy track at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Lady Shadow was third.