by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Cranbury, NJ — Breeders Crown eliminations for male pacers and trotters will be held Saturday (Oct. 21) at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino, with harness racing’s No. 1-ranked star, Fear The Dragon, leading the way.
Eliminations for female trotters and pacers will be contested Friday. Racing begins at 6:30 p.m. (EDT) both nights.
A total of 166 horses entered this year’s $6 million Breeders Crown. The finals for the female trotters and pacers will be held Friday (Oct. 27) and the finals for the male trotters and pacers are Saturday (Oct. 28) at Hoosier Park.
All of the events for male pacers and trotters require eliminations.
There are two eliminations for each the $526,250 Breeders Crown Open Trot, $421,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace, $527,500 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male pacers, and $600,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male trotters. The top five finishers from each elimination advance to their respective finals on Oct. 28.
There are three eliminations for both the $527,500 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male trotters and $600,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male pacers. The top three finishers from each elimination plus the fourth-place finisher with the highest seasonal earnings advance to their respective finals.
Fear The Dragon and Downbytheseaside, both from the stable of trainer Brian Brown, are among the 17 entries for the 3-year-old male pacers. Fear The Dragon is the sport’s leading money-winner this year, with $1.26 million, while Downbytheseaside is second, with $1.07 million.
For the year, Fear The Dragon has won 12 of 15 races and finished worse than second only once. Downbytheseaside, last year’s runner-up to recently retired Huntsville in the Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male pacers, has won nine of 16 starts this season.
The group also includes Little Brown Jug winner Filibuster Hanover and New York Sire Stakes champion Funknwaffles, who was supplemented to the event for $62,500.
Nineteen horses were entered in the Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male trotters, including Kentucky Futurity winner Snowstorm Hanover, Canadian Trotting Classic winner What The Hill, Earl Beal Jr. Memorial champion Devious Man, Goodtimes winner International Moni, Yonkers Trot winner Top Flight Angel, and Stanley Dancer Memorial division winner Long Tom.
International Moni was a supplemental entry.
Hannelore Hanover, who won last year’s Mare Trot, was among 13 horses entered in this year’s Open Trot against the boys. She will try to become the first female winner of the Open Trot since Moni Maker in 1998. The only other mare to win the Open Trot was CR Kay Suzie in 1996.
The group also includes Harry Harvey Trot winner Crazy Wow, Yonkers International Trot runner-up Marion Marauder, 2014 Breeders Crown 2-year-old champion Pinkman, and supplemental entry Homicide Hunter.
Another 2014 Crown winner, McWicked, is among the 12 horses entered in the Breeders Crown Open Pace. The field also features stakes-winners All Bets Off, Check Six, Dealt A Winner, Keystone Velocity, Mach It So, and Sintra, who was supplemented to the event.
Metro Pace winner Lost In Time is among the 19 participants in the Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male pacers. Lost In Time, the leading money-winning pacer among all 2-year-olds, has won three of five races and finished second in the remaining two while earning $375,555.
Stakes-winner Hayden Hanover, the Metro runner-up, also is in the field along with Closing Statement, who won the Elevation Stakes at Hoosier Park, and Ontario Sire Stakes champion Western Passage.
The 13 horses in the Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male trotters include Peter Haughton Memorial winner You Know You Do, Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Fashionwoodchopper, who brings a five-race win streak to his elimination, and Kentucky Sire Stakes champion Hat Trick Habit.
Following are the fields for Saturday’s eliminations with named drivers and trainers.
$20,000 2-YEAR-OLD MALE PACE ELIMINATION 1
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Nutcracker Sweet-Tim Tetrick-Jimmy Takter
2. Babes Dig Me-Scott Zeron-Tony Alagna
3. Keystone Tenacious-Mark MacDonald-Paul Kelley
4. Courtly Choice-Yannick Gingras-Blake MacIntosh
5. This Is The Plan-Tim Tetrick-Chris Ryder
6. Lost In Time-Scott Zeron-Jim Mulinix
$20,000 2-YEAR-OLD MALE PACE ELIMINATION 2
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Western Passage-Brian Sears-Casie Coleman
2. Hayden Hanover-Andy Miller-Julie Miller
3. Stay Hungry-Doug McNair-Tony Alagna
4. Whos Better-Tim Tetrick-Brian Brown
5. Grand Teton-Mark MacDonald-Jimmy Takter
6. Shnitzledosomethin-Peter Wrenn-Dylan Davis
$20,000 2-YEAR-OLD MALE PACE ELIMINATION 3
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Rockin Away-Tim Tetrick-Brian Brown
2. Dorsoduro Hanover-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke
3. Twin B Tuffenuff-Brett Miller-Steve Elliott
4. Odds On Lauderdale-Scott Zeron-Tony Alagna
5. Karpathian Kid-David Miller-Erv Miller
6. I’m A Big Deal-David Miller-Chris Ryder
7. Closing Statement-Brian Sears-Joe Holloway
$25,000 OPEN TROT ELIMINATION 1
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. JL Cruze-David Miller-Eric Ell
2. Pinkman-Brian Sears-Jimmy Takter
3. Crescent Fashion-Ricky Macomber Jr.-Jamie Macomber
4. Hannelore Hanover-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
5. Il Sogno Dream-David Miller-Chris Beaver
6. Mambo Lindy-Tim Tetrick-Frank Antonacci
$25,000 OPEN TROT ELIMINATION 2
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Lookslikeachpndale-Daniel Dube-Luc Blais
2. Hill Of A Colt-Doug McNair-Gregg McNair
3. Resolve-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt
4. Crazy Wow-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
5. Homicide Hunter-Brett Miller-Chris Oakes
6. Gural Hanover-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke
7. Marion Marauder-Scott Zeron-Paula Wellwood
$25,000 OPEN PACE ELIMINATION 1
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Rock N’ Roll World-John DeLong-Jeff Cullipher
2. Missile J-Tim Tetrick-Scott DiDomenico
3. Check Six-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
4. Mach It So-David Miller-Jeff Bamond Jr.
5. Sintra-Jody Jamieson-David Menary
6. McWicked-Brian Sears-Casie Coleman
$25,000 OPEN PACE ELIMINATION 2
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Split The House-Brett Miller-Chris Oakes
2. Mel Mara-Corey Callahan-Dylan Davis
3. All Bets Off-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke
4. Dealt A Winner-David Miller-Mark Silva
5. Manhattan Beach-Sam Widger-Walter Haynes Jr.
6. Keystone Velocity-Daniel Dube-Erv Miller
$25,000 3-YEAR-OLD MALE TROT ELIMINATION 1
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Long Tom-Tim Tetrick-Marcus Melander
2. Rubio-Brian Sears-Jimmy Takter
3. Dover Dan-Corey Callahan-John Butenschoen
4. Seven And Seven-David Miller-Tom Durand
5. Top Flight Angel-Andy Miller-Julie Miller
6. International Moni-Scott Zeron-Frank Antonacci
$25,000 3-YEAR-OLD MALE TROT ELIMINATION 2
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Giveitgasandgo-Corey Callahan-John Butenschoen
2. Snowstorm Hanover-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke
3. Moonshiner Hanover-David Miller-Chris Beaver
4. New Jersey Viking-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt
5. Lindy The Great-Tim Tetrick-Frank Antonacci
6. King On The Hill-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter
$25,000 3-YEAR-OLD MALE TROT ELIMINATION 3
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Yes Mickey-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt
2. What The Hill-David Miller-Ron Burke
3. Guardian Angel As-Tim Tetrick-Anette Lorentzon
4. Jake-Daniel Dube-Luc Blais
5. Bill’s Man-Corey Callahan-John Butenschoen
6. Devious Man-Andy Miller-Julie Miller
7. Enterprise-Brian Sears-Marcus Melander
$20,000 2-YEAR-OLD MALE TROT ELIMINATION 1
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Moosonee-David Miller-Chris Beaver
2. Fiftydallarbill-Trace Tetrick-William Crone
3. Crystal Fashion-David Miller-Jim Campbell
4. Samo Different Day-Brian Sears-Jimmy Takter
5. Hat Trick Habit-Scott Zeron-Frank Antonacci
6. Dawson Springs-Joe Bongiorno-Tony Alagna
$20,000 2-YEAR-OLD MALE TROT ELIMINATION 2
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Missle Hill-Joe Bongiorno-Tony Alagna
2. Skyway Torpedo-Peter Wrenn-Alvin Miller
3. Met’s Hall-Andy Miller-Julie Miller
4. You Know You Do-Yannick Gingras-Jimmy Takter
5. Fashionwoodchopper-David Miller-Jim Campbell
6. Wolfgang-Mark MacDonald-Jimmy Takter
7. Fourth Dimension-Brian Sears-Marcus Melander
$25,000 3-YEAR-OLD MALE PACE ELIMINATION 1
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Miso Fast-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke
2. Photobombr Hanover-Tim Tetrick-Tom Fanning
3. Ocean Colony-Mark MacDonald-Jimmy Takter
4. Boogie Shuffle-David Miller-Mark Harder
5. Hurricane Beach-Daniel Dube-Luc Blais
6. Western Hill-Brett Miller-Tony Alagna
7. Chip Walther-Marcus Miller-Erv Miller
8. Downbytheseaside-Brian Sears-Brian Brown
$25,000 3-YEAR-OLD MALE PACE ELIMINATION 2
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1. Filibuster Hanover-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
2. Funknwaffles-Corey Callahan-John Butenschoen
3. Fear The Dragon-David Miller-Brian Brown
4. Eddard Hanover-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke
5. Mac’s Jackpot-Aaron Merriman-Jim Campbell
6. Rock N Tony-Trace Tetrick-Erv Miller
7. Blood Line-Mark MacDonald-Jimmy Takter
8. Beckhams Z Tam-Ricky Macomber Jr.-Jamie Macomber
9. Art Scene-Scott Zeron-Tony Alagna
- Four supplement to $6 million Breeders Crown events at Hoosier Park (Monday, October 16, 2017)
The connections of four of the top horses in their divisions — Funknwaffles, Homicide Hunter, International Moni and Sintra — have supplemented to their Breeders Crown events at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Oct. 28.
- Breeders Crown draws 166 in inaugural Hoosier Park event (Tuesday, October 17, 2017)
The $6 million Breeders Crown events at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino attracted 166 entries for the championship finals on Friday (Oct. 27) and Saturday (Oct. 28). Eliminations will be needed in every division with the exception of the $250,000 Mare Trot, which drew just five mares as defending Breeders Crown champion Hannelore Hanover opted in against the males in the $526,250 Open Trot.
- Four previous champions lead Breeders Crown female starters (Tuesday, October 17, 2017)
Four previous champions will be in action Friday (Oct. 20) as the road to this year’s Breeders Crown finals begins with eliminations for female trotters and pacers at Hoosier Park Casino & Racing. Eliminations for male trotters and pacers will be contested Saturday. Racing begins at 6:30 p.m. (EDT) both nights.
- Breeders Crown eliminations lead busy Grand Circuit weekend (Wednesday, October 18, 2017)
The Grand Circuit heads to Hoosier Park this Friday (Oct. 20) and Saturday (Oct. 21) for Breeders Crown eliminations in 11 divisions. Eliminations will not be required for the mare trot.
- Key seeks return to Breeders Crown winner’s circle (Wednesday, October 18, 2017)
Bob Key has been a longtime participant in the Breeders Crown and an ardent supporter of the Grand Circuit. He knows what it takes to win at the sport’s top level and appreciates the opportunities for success. “This is what you’re shooting for,” said the 84-year-old Key, who has won twice in the Breeders Crown series and sends three horses to this year’s event at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
- Special Breeders Crown debut for John DeLong (Thursday, October 19, 2017)
When driver John DeLong makes his Breeders Crown debut Friday, it will be special. Of course, such an occurrence would be exceptional under any circumstances, but the fact his appearance will come with a homebred horse at his adopted hometown track makes the moment even more extraordinary. DeLong will drive Seventimesavirgin on Friday in the second of two Breeders Crown Mare Pace eliminations at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
- Team effort helping Hoosier Park rise (Thursday, October 19, 2017)
The Hoosier State, known much more for hoops than hobbles, has everybody on board as Hoosier Park, not a major player in the sport historically, now has management, government, patrons and horsemen all on the same page, as the seven-eighths-mile track continues to make its way toward the sport’s mainstream.
- Pasithea Face scratched from Breeders Crown (Thursday, October 19, 2017)
It has been announced that Pasithea Face has been scratched from the $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot.
- Breeders Crown victory took Stohlers to the “Extreme” (Friday, October 20, 2017)
It’s hard to believe that one race could make such an enormous difference, but to Trent Stohler, being part of Extreme Velocity’s upset victory in the 1997 Breeders Crown Mare Pace was a life changing experience.Stohler will start Rock On Ladys in an elimination of the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace on Friday (Oct. 20) at Hoosier Park, but the memory of his first Crown experience is still fresh, 20 years later.
- Lost In Time’s Breeders Crown appearance could bring restitution and retirement for Mulinix (Friday, October 20, 2017)
Lost In Time is certainly following in his world champion father’s hoofprints, as he hails from the same barn as A Rocknroll Dance, possesses a similar demeanor and has thrived in an identical program.