by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — Shark Gesture, the No. 1-ranked horse in harness racing, and defending Breeders Crown winner Won The West headline the $500,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on October 9. Eight horses entered the event, so eliminations will not be necessary. Joining Shark Gesture and Won The West are Bettor Sweet, Blueridge Western, Clear Vision, Foiled Again, Hypnotic Blue Chip, and Lisagain.

Last week, Shark Gesture tuned up for the Breeders Crown with a 1:50.3 qualifier at Pocono Downs. The 7-year-old horse has won seven of 11 races this season, including the $702,500 William R. Haughton Memorial and $228,000 Bettor’s Delight, and earned $918,875. He went off stride in the $748,800 Canadian Pacing Derby on September 4 at Mohawk Racetrack and finished last, marking the first time he finished worse than second this year.

“He’s in good shape,” trainer Larry Remmen said. “I would have liked to have had a prep race, but this will work out all right. He qualified in hand over there (at Pocono Downs). He’s easy to train and can go whatever you want by himself. He’s not one of those horses that need a race.

“I’m just looking forward to getting straightened away and kicking it into gear and seeing who can catch him.”

World Wide Racing Photos

Shark Gesture will be seeking his second Breeders Crown title.

Remmen and driver George Brennan, who on Saturday became the 11th driver in history to eclipse $100 million in career purses, were unable to determine why Shark Gesture went off stride in the Canadian Pacing Derby.

“I don’t think he was on the bit like usual and I don’t think George was able to help him,” Remmen said. “Usually, he’s really aggressive and for some reason he was underaggressive that night. Those things happen. But there was nothing we could pinpoint. I’m not going to say it will never happen again, but I don’t expect it to happen again.”

Shark Gesture won the 2006 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male pacers and has won $2.81 million in his career.

Won The West is seeking to join Boulder Creek (2004-05) and Red Bow Tie (1998-99) as the only repeat winners of the Breeders Crown Open Pace. He won last year’s event in a stakes-record 1:47 at the Meadowlands. Won The West has won five of 15 races this year and finished no worse than third in any start while earning $1 million. His triumphs include the Canadian Pacing Derby and the $293,280 Molson Pace.

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Won The West was a 1:51.2 winner in the Canadian Pacing Derby.

The 6-year-old gelding is trained by Ron Burke and driven by David Miller. Won The West was the 2009 Dan Patch Award winner for best older male pacer. He has won $3.12 million in his career. He has two wins, three seconds and a third since being scratched from the Ben Franklin Pace final on July 18 because of leg swelling.

Won The West’s last race was a second-place finish to stablemate Foiled Again in the $354,000 Bobby Quillen Memorial on September 20 at Harrington Raceway.

“Ever since the Ben Franklin we’ve had to monitor his races,” Burke said. “I’m glad he didn’t have an elimination. He’s coming into the race good; his last mile was probably his best. We’re very happy with him. Both my boys are coming off sharp efforts.”

Foiled Again has won seven of 19 races this season, including the $460,000 George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series final, and banked $676,510. He is trained by Burke and driven by Yannick Gingras.

“Small-track racing suits him great, and (Won The West) too,” Burke said. “I think it might bring Shark Gesture back to us a little bit more, too. I think we have a good chance depending on the draw of maybe upsetting.”

Hypnotic Blue Chip, a 4-year-old horse, has won seven of 22 races this year and earned $718,399. He won a division of the U.S. Pacing Championship in a world-record 1:47.2 on August 7 at the Meadowlands and was second in the Haughton Memorial and Canadian Pacing Derby. He is trained by Kevin McDermott and driven by Jody Jamieson.

Buck I St Pat back to defend Breeders Crown Mare Trot title

Buck I St Pat will try to join Mystical Sunshine, Peace Corps, and Grades Singing as a multiple winner of the Breeders Crown Mare Trot. She will face six rivals in the $250,000 final on October 9 as eliminations were unnecessary. Joining her in the field are Autumn Escapade, Elusive Desire, Jersey As, Southwind Wasabi, Windsong Soprano, and Yursa Hanover.

Fotowon photo

Buck I St Pat will take on six rivals in the $250,000 Mare Trot.

Last week, Buck I St Pat was third in the $93,500 Ms Versatility at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Ohio. She finished behind Autumn Escapade and Windsong Soprano in a world-record-equaling 1:53.2 mile.

For the year, Buck I St Pat has won six of 16 races, including the $340,470 Armbro Flight and $100,000 Maxie Lee Memorial, and earned $483,695. She has won 46 of 89 career races and banked $1.88 million and was voted the best trotting mare the last two years by the U.S. Harness Writers Association.

“I was a little disappointed with her last start, but she went first up into a world-record mile,” trainer Ron Burke said. “We were a little bit worried we over-raced her. She really doesn’t respond to being raced a lot. I was thrilled there were no eliminations this week; I think that really plays much better for her to just come right in and race.”

Yursa Hanover won the $150,000 Conway Hall at Vernon Downs on September 10. Windsong Soprano is winless since June, but has finished second in her last six starts.