by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Anderson, IN — Stay Hungry charged off the final turn to overtake Western Passage and then held off Shnitzledosomethin by a neck to win Saturday’s (Oct. 28) $600,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male pacers in 1:50.4 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Closing Statement was third.
Shnitzledosomethin, Karpathian Kid, and Western Passage all spent time in front during the first three-quarters of the race, with the quarter in :26.1, half in :54.3, and three-quarters in 1:22.3.
Stay Hungry was sixth up the backstretch and three wide coming off the final turn.
Doug McNair guided Stay Hungry to victory and earned his first Breeders Crown win. It was the third trophy for trainer Tony Alagna.
“It worked out but I moved him pretty early down the backstretch,” McNair said. “This track with the long stretch it worked out pretty good. This colt, I moved him and he knew what to do and he raced awesome.
“It’s exciting. I think I’ve driven in five or six of these Breeders Crowns and never won so it’s a big thrill for me.”
Stay Hungry has won six of eight races and earned $437,964 for owners Brad Grant and Irwin Samelman. It was the first Breeders Crown win for both.
“At the head of the lane I was a little worried having to go three wide,” Grant said. “But he’s showed up every race for us this year. Dougie gave us a great drive.
“We were confident. Tony and I talk a lot and we were very confident with the colt and believed he deserved to be here and could get it done and he did.
“It’s rewarding. My dad won this with Bettor’s Delight and to win it tonight means a lot.”
Stay Hungry is a son of Somebeachsomewhere out of the mare My Little Dragon, who was a three-time Breeders Crown champion. The colt was bred by AV & Son Bloodstock.
Sent off at odds of 9-2, Stay Hungry paid $11.00 to win.
Favorite Lost In Time was sixth-placed-fifth because of interference.
Hoosier Park, in conjunction with Roberts Communications, will offer live steaming and replays of the Breeders Crown races at www.hoosierpark.com/racing/2017breederscrown/.
- Hannelore Hanover scores in Breeders Crown Open Trot (Saturday, October 28, 2017)
Hannelore Hanover became the first female winner of the Breeders Crown Open Trot in 19 years, beating Crazy Wow by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.1 in Saturday’s (Oct. 28) $526,250 final at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Marion Marauder was third.
- Fiftydallarbill upsets in Breeders Crown freshman male trot (Saturday, October 28, 2017)
Fiftydallarbill won the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old colt and gelding trot at Hoosier Park on Saturday night (Oct. 28) by 1-1/4 lengths over Met’s Hall in 1:55. Trace Tetrick drove the winner.
- What The Hill posts 1:52.3 victory in Breeders Crown 3-year-old male trot (Saturday, October 28, 2017)
What The Hill dominated his divisional foes again as he won the $527,500 Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt and gelding trot at Hoosier Park Saturday night (Oct. 28) in 1:52.3. David Miller drove the winner.
- Beckhams Z Tam stops Downbytheseaside in Breeders Crown (Saturday, October 28, 2017)
Beckhams Z Tam out-dueled favorite Downbytheseaside down the stretch to win Saturday’s (Oct. 28) $527,500 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male pacers by a quarter-length in 1:51.1 and touch off an emotional celebration at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Miso Fast was third.
- Longshot Split The House captures Breeders Crown Open Pace (Saturday, October 28, 2017)
Split The House made his second move worthy of winning the $421,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace at Hoosier Park Saturday night (Oct. 28) in a sparkling 1:48.1. Brett Miller drove the winner, who hit the finish one length in front of McWicked.
- Indiana shines during Breeders Crown at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino (Sunday, October 29, 2017)
It was definitely Indiana’s time on many platforms Saturday (Oct. 28) during the second of two nights of action for the Breeders Crown Championships.