by Moira Fanning, publicity director, the Hambletonian Society
Cranbury, NJ — 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.
Funknwaffles, fresh off a win in the $225,000 Blue Chip Farms New York Sires Stakes final at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday, has racked up $553,942 in earnings this year for trainer John Butenschoen and owner Crawford Farms Racing of Syracuse, N.Y.
“He was second in the (Little Brown) Jug, he’s made money, and the Crawfords are in this business to race horses,” said trainer John Butenschoen. “They watched Huntsville fall by the wayside and a lot of horses in this division raced some very tough heats. This horse is coming off a break and he’s fresh.”
One of four Breeders Crown male events slated for Hoosier Park on Saturday (Oct. 28), the Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt and gelding pace will now race for $527,000.
International Moni, a son of French stallion Love You and two-time Horse of the Year and Breeders Crown winner Moni Maker, also paid the $62,500 fee for ineligible 3-year-old trotting colts. He is trained by Frank Antonacci for the family concern of Moni Maker Stable, comprised of Antonacci’s father, also Frank, Gerald Antonacci, David Reid and KR Breeding.
International Moni has earned more than half a million lifetime, winning heats of the Kentucky Futurity and Hambletonian but suffered horrendous luck in the finals of both events. International Moni was interfered with in the first turn of the Hambletonian and went off stride, and in the recent rain-drenched Futurity final at Red Mile, made a break at the start.
“I think the rail hurt him there at Lexington. Obviously, the conditions were less than perfect, but I don’t want to make excuses for him,” said trainer Frank Antonacci. “He’s had a lot of bad luck, most of it not of his making, but otherwise has been one of the most consistent and I think the best of the class. We want to race him next year, so we have an eye to the future as well.”
In the open divisions, Michelle and Al Crawford of Crawford Racing anted up another $62,500 for their 5-year-old trotter Homicide Hunter to start in the Breeders Crown Open Trot, now worth $526,250. Though he finished seventh in his most recent start, the $250,000 Harry Harvey Trot at Yonkers Raceway, trainer Chris Oakes was eager to turn the page on that effort.
“Nothing worked out too good at Yonkers, and the post position (post 10) was the bottom line — he never got a chance to really do anything,” said Oakes. “But Brett (driver Miller) said he was good and he has shown to really like the track at Hoosier. He has rarely lost at the track. Over there he has more of a home field advantage and it suits him. The Crawfords are part of it too, they are good about wanting to race, so we are going.”
Sintra, whose mark of 1:47.2 in the Graduate final at the Meadowlands made him one of the fastest 4-year-olds in the sport, was supplemented to the Breeders Crown Open Pace for a $50,000 fee by his owners, despite a fifth place finish as the favorite in the $250,000 Dan Rooney Pace at Yonkers Raceway Saturday.
“The horse made the decision for us,” said trainer and co-owner Dave Menary. “For a 4-year-old, he has exceeded all of our expectations. I thought I had a small-track horse at the beginning of the year and it turned out he has been huge on the big tracks. Throw out his last race at Yonkers — the post position just didn’t work out for us, the horse was on his toes, but he got stuck in the two-hole and finished fifth. I’ve had it in my mind to supplement him and thanks to the support of some great owners — Brad Gray and Michael Guerriero — we couldn’t be more excited to be in the Breeders Crown at Hoosier. I think it’s the track that will suit him perfectly.”
Regular entries for eligible trotters and pacers are due by 10 a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 17), at the Hoosier Park Race office.
The contestants for the 12 Breeders Crown finals will be determined through elimination races, if needed, this Friday and Saturday night at Hoosier Park.
Eliminations for all female events will be raced on Friday (post time 6:30 p.m.) and eliminations for all male events will be Saturday (post time 6:30 p.m.). Elimination winners draw for inside post positions one-five for the finals.
For more information go to www.hoosierpark.com/racing/2017breederscrown or www.Hambletonian.com.
- 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.
- Fear The Dragon leads male starters in Breeders Crown (Tuesday, October 17, 2017)
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.
- 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.
- 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.