Sutton is an upset winner; Bar Hopping is odds-on victor in Breeders Crown eliminations
October 22, 2016,by Ray Cotolo for The Breeders Crown
East Rutherford, NJ — Trained by Julie Miller, Sutton (Donato Hanover-I Wanted Wings) sat in the pocket before edging up the pylons to win at 6-1 in the first of two $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt and gelding trot on Saturday (Oct. 22) at the Meadowlands in 1:54.2.
Sutton sat in the pocket before edging up the pylons to win at 6-1 in the first of two $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt and gelding trot.
Taking the lead in :28.1, Sutton soon took the pocket as Marion Marauder brushed to the lead. He remained in control through fractions of :56 and 1:25.3 before bracing for pressure from Southwind Frank who was traveling uncovered.
Marion Marauder was clinging to control in the stretch, drifting off the rail while Southwind Frank was gaining ground to his outside and Sutton was sliding alongside at the pylons. Sutton inched to the front to win by a neck over Marion Marauder, Southwind Frank, Lagerfeld, and Double L Lindy.
Racing for Andy Miller Stable Inc. and Jason and Douglas Allen, Sutton won his seventh race in 23 career starts, amassing $382,431 in earnings. He was driven by Andy Miller and paid $15.40 to win.
“He has been good all year,” Miller said. “(He’s) just had a lack of luck I guess. In the (Kentucky) Futurity, he had the outside in a 12-horse field; he was four deep in the first turn and three deep in the last turn and only got beat five lengths. And in the Hambo, he just missed. He’s been knocking at the door, so next week hopefully will be his turn.”
Lisa photos
Bar Hopping flew to the lead heading down the backstretch and coasted to a 1:52.4 score in the second of the two $25,000 eliminations.
Bar Hopping flew to the lead heading down the backstretch and coasted to a 1:52.4 score in the second of the two $25,000 eliminations.
The Jimmy Takter-trained colt by Muscle Hill from the Credit Winner mare Cocktail Hour settled into fourth as Southern Cross trotted the first quarter in :28.1. After a :57.2 half, Bar Hopping tipped first over and rushed alongside Southern Cross and took the lead heading into the far turn.
He kicked away at three-quarters in 1:25.1 and remained in front as Waitlifter K chased him home in second. Muscle Hustle, Winter Harbor, and Love Matters also qualified for the final.
Driven by Tim Tetrick, Bar Hopping won his eighth race in 25 career starts, earning $913,033 for owners Christina Takter, Hatfield Stables, Marvin Katz, and Al Libfeld. He paid $2.60.
“I thought this was a magnificent mile for him,” Jimmy Takter said. “You look at all the times here tonight, and everybody understands the wind is very hard in the stretch and it’s freaking freezing. He’s just learning how to race and has a lack of confidence, but one day he’ll get it.”
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Walner and Tim Tetrick were the unchallenged winners by three lengths in 1:53.3 in the first $20,000 elimination for the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old colt and gelding trot on Saturday (Oct. 22) at The Meadowlands.
- Huntsville wins fifth straight, punches Crown ticket to meet Downbytheseaside (Saturday, October 22, 2016)
After settling in the mid-division from his outside post, Huntsville ($2.40) sustained first-over gains to wear down pacesetter Odds On Delray and draw clear by 2-1/4 lengths in his $20,000 Breeders Crown elimination for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday (Oct. 22) at The Meadowlands, carded as the evening’s second event.
- Pure Country wins thrilling Breeders Crown elimination (Saturday, October 22, 2016)
Pacing off the gate into fourth, Jimmy Takter trainee Pure Country was flushed first over heading to the half and sustained her uncovered bid to win the first of two $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old filly pace on Saturday (Oct. 22) at the Meadowlands in 1:51.
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Brett Miller drove Roaring To Go to an aggressive final half-mile to win the first $20,000 Breeders Crown elimination for the 2-year-old filly pacers at The Meadowlands on Saturday (Oct. 22).
- All The Time is back and will face Broadway Donna in Breeders Crown final (Saturday, October 22, 2016)
All The Time (Yannick Gingras) trotted down the middle of the track in the final eighth to take the lead and win in 1:55.1 by a half-length in her $25,000 elimination race for the $500,000 Breeders Crown 3-year-old filly trot on Saturday (Oct. 22) at the Meadowlands.
- Check Six and Western Fame resolute in sophomore Crown eliminations (Saturday, October 22, 2016)
Pace made the race in the first $25,000 Breeders Crow elimination event for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, as Check Six ($12.40) had plenty left after rating a :56.2 first half-mile to parry a trio of late challengers in the evening’s sixth event at The Meadowlands
- Per Henriksen seeks fourth Breeders Crown title with Muscle Hustle (Tuesday, October 25, 2016)
Trainer Per Henriksen is old enough to know that you’re never too old to take a shot in the Breeders Crown. The 70-year-old native of Norway, who is based out of Norwood, Ontario, is back in this year’s Breeders Crown presented by Mullinax Ford at the Meadowlands in New Jersey on Saturday night (Oct. 29), seven years since he last raced in the championship event.