from the Breeders Crown

Wilkes-Barre, PA — No Mas Amor, with Matt Kakaley in the bike, rolled swiftly on the inside through the stretch to win the first elimination of the Breeders Crown 2-year-old colt pace in 1:50.3. The winners of the other two eliminations were Proof and Captain Trevor.

Curtis Salonick photo

No Mas Amour slid up the rail with late pace to capture the first Breeders Crown elimination for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

No Mas Amor, a son of Sweet Lou-No More Loving, stayed in the back early as Air Force Hanover passed De Los Celos Deo when the gate launched the small field of five (American Mercury was a scratch) into action.

Air Force Hanover stayed afloat to a :26.4 quarter with De Los Celos Deo tracking him in second and race favorite Lyons Night Hawk following in third. Air Force Hanover kept the pace going through a half in :55.3 and began to open up on the field.

Lyons Night Hawk came to the outside as three-quarters clocked in 1:22.4 with Mangogh picking up his cover. Still, Air Force Hanover rolled on easily into the stretch and seemed to be coasting to the win.

From the inside, though, No Mas Amor soared down the lane and picked off Air Force Hanover to win in 1:50.3.

Air Force Hanover held the place and Mangogh took the show spot, the first three finishers qualified for the final.

“The last two week his trips worked out perfectly,” said driver Matt Kakeley in the winner’s circle. “I took my chances staying on the inside and it worked out good.”

Linda Toscano trains No Mas Amor for owner Kenneth E. Jacobs. Sherri K. Meirs and David A. Meirs bred the colt who paid $21.80 to win.

Proof, driven by David Miller, was a 1:52.1 winner of the second elimination.

The A Rocknroll Dance-Ginger And Fred homebred let the field fly early as race favorite Captain Crunch left with three others and took the lead to a :26 first quarter. Moving early to get involved with the leader, Shake That House took to the outside, followed by Yacht Week and Semi Tough.

The half was reached in :55.4 as Shake That House took over the lead, aiming forcefully to three-quarters in 1:23.2. He was challenged in the speedy route by Semi Tough, who led the second tier and rolled side by side with Shake That House as the stretch approached.

Those two were burning out on top as Proof picked off pacers on the outside with ease and flew to the finish first. Captain Crunch was tough on the outside in the stretch and kept the second spot while passing tired ones to finish third was Love Me Some Lou. Those three go to the final.

Brian Brown trains Proof, who is owned by Diamond Creek Racing and bred by Diamond Creek Farm.

Proof paid $7.80 to win.

Captain Trevor, with Andrew MacCarthy at the reins for trainer Tony Alagna, won the third Breeders Crown elimination in 1:52.3.

Captain Trevor left with two others off the gate and settled behind Sugar Factory as that one captured the top. From the outside, race favorite Workin Ona Mystery roared first-over to challenge the leader with a half of :57.

Sugar Factory struggled but kept the lead until Captain Trevor came out of the pocket to replace Workin Ona Mystery as that one tired and faded by three-quarters in 1:24.1.

Captain Trevor was all out in the stretch, passing the rest and keeping ahead of a fast closing Blood Money, who paced enough to get second ahead of Lyons Johnny JNR, who passed Sugar Factory to get third.

Stag Party scratched from the race.

Captaintreacherous is the sire of Captain Trevor, who is owned by Brittany Farms LLC, Marvin Katz, J. Grant and Captain Trevor Racing, and was bred by Bay’s Stable and Riverview Breeding. His dam is It Was Fascination.

Trainer Tony Alagna said the colt is “tactical, a handy horse, really laid back and easy to drive,” calling Captain Trevor’s last few efforts “phenomenal.”

The winner paid $9.80 to win.

Here is the draw for the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old pacing colt and gelding final, to be held next Saturday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono (* – elimination winner), followed by trainer and the driver in the elimination:
1 – *Proof – Brian Brown – David Miller
2 — *No Mas Amor – Linda Toscano – Matt Kakaley
3 – Lyons Johnnyjnr – Jeff Gillis – Brian Sears
4 – Captain Crunch – Nancy Johansson – Scott Zeron
5 – *Captain Trevor – Tony Alagna – Andrew McCarthy
6 – Air Force Hanover – Brian Brown – David Miller
7 – Love Me Some Lou – Tom Cancelliere – Corey Callahan
8 – Mangogh—Bruce Saunders – Andrew McCarthy
9 – Blood Money – Jimmy Takter – Yannick Gingras