by James Witherite, Meadowlands racing media
East Rutherford, NJ — Huntsville ($3.60) used a bold middle move to secure command in a fast pace before heading off two challengers—including rival Downbytheseaside—to capture the $600,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings in 1:49.1, missing the stakes record by a fifth of a second.
Tim Tetrick settled the son of Somebeachsomewhere and Wild West Show into midfield early on, remaining in the two-path before accelerating to clear Downbytheseaside (David Miller) with nine-sixteenths to go. Unfazed by a strenuous :54.1 first half mile, Huntsville would be pressed through a :27.4 third quarter by the first-over Filibuster Hanover (Brett Miller), turning him aside before facing a late challenge from Downbytheseaside, who found room to vacate the pegs and make a late bid upon cornering for home.
Despite Downbytheseaside’s ability to push to within half a length in mid-stretch, Huntsville responded at first asking to repel that foe, edging away to prevail by two lengths. Downbytheseaside held second, and Miso Fast (Matt Kakaley) rallied from third-over to take third.
Trainer Ray Schnittker, who shares ownership with Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo, and Steven Arnold, was worried by the fast pace, but his 7-time winner quelled any concerns in the last yards.
“I got a little concerned at the :54.1 half, and around the last turn,” he said, “I said ‘Well, let’s separate the men from the boys,’ and he was the man.”
Huntsville has one more dance for his freshman campaign before coming back at three.
“He’s got the Governor’s Cup up in Canada, and that will be it [for the season],” concluded Schnittker.
The win with Huntsville earned Tetrick his second Breeders Crown title of the weekend.
Brian Brown obviously wanted to win this contest, but was pleased with how Downbytheseaside came home.
“I feel pretty good,” he said.” I’m disappointed we didn’t win, but my horse raced great, Ray’s was just better. Everything was perfect, we were right where we wanted to be, we just couldn’t catch him. I thought my horse sat well tonight, he’s been a little tough to handle at times, and the fractions were right. At the top of the stretch I thought we were pulling up to him and I thought we were in good shape, but Ray’s horse paced away from us.”
- Ariana G rallies late to capture Breeders Crown freshman filly trot (Saturday, October 29, 2016)
Ariana G (Yannick Gingras) came out of the clouds to win the $600,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old trotting fillies by 1-1/4 lengths on Saturday (Oct. 29) at The Meadowlands.
- Someomensomewhere upsets, gives Miller first Crown (Saturday, October 29, 2016)
Someomensomewhere, by Somebeachsomewhere from the Western Hanover mare Omen Hanover, angled towards the center of the track into the stretch and rallied by pacesetter and 1-2 favorite Roaring To Go to win the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old filly pace on Saturday (Oct. 29) in 1:51.2 at odds of 17-1.
- Walner sets track and stakes record in Breeders Crown freshman trot (Saturday, October 29, 2016)
Walner (Tim Tetrick) was the easiest kind of winner in the $600,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings in a track and stakes record 1:53 by 4-1/2 lengths on Saturday (Oct. 29) at The Meadowlands.
- Bar Hopping equals stakes record in Breeders Crown sophomore trot (Saturday, October 29, 2016)
Bar Hopping, the 4-5 favorite, kicked off cover and won by 1-1/2 lengths to capture the $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Saturday (Oct. 29) at The Meadowlands.
- Broadway Donna rides again, captures Crown filly trot (Saturday, October 29, 2016)
Broadway Donna and David Miller continued to sail through the division by earning an easy win in the $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old trotting fillies at the Meadowlands in 1:53.1.
- Call Me Queen Be lights up the toteboard in Crown filly pace (Saturday, October 29, 2016)
October of 2016 has been quite a month for Scott Zeron — first, a Trotting Triple Crown with Marion Marauder, and now his first ever Breeders Crown title. Zeron sustained a first-over push through the far turn with Call Me Queen Be ($27.80) to duel down Jugette winner L A Delight for a 1:49.4 score in the $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday at The Meadowlands.
- Racing Hill impressive in Breeders Crown pace (Saturday, October 29, 2016)
In an impressive and record fashion, the last Breeders Crown winner of the season is Racing Hill. Racing Hill took the lead with an eighth of a mile to go and held off 60-1 Manhattan Beach to capture the $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings in a stakes record of 1:48 on Saturday (Oct. 29) at The Meadowlands.