by Ray Cotolo, for the Breeders Crown

Toronto, ON — Division leader Pinkman failed to go wire-to-wire in the $500,000 Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt and gelding trot, with stablemate The Bank and David Miller grinding by from first over to win in 1:54.3 on Saturday (Oct. 24) at Woodbine.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

The Bank edged by Pinkman in the stretch to score in 1:54.3.

Yannick Gingras sent Pinkman to the lead through a :27.2 first quarter, with Muscle Diamond tucking into the pocket and The Bank parked out early. The Bank edged closer first over while Pinkman passed the half in :57.2.

With the plugs pulled, Pinkman passed three-quarters in 1:26.4, while The Bank crept closer on the outside. Into the eighth pole, Pinkman’s lead diminished to a neck as The Bank became a threat, proving so by driving by and progressing to the wire in front of Pinkman, Muscle Diamond, and French Laundry.

The Bank, a colt by Donato Hanover out of the Viking Kronos mare Lightning Kronos, competes for the interests of Christina Takter, Goran Falk, and Goran Anderberg. Trained by Jimmy Takter, the Falkbolagen Ab-bred colt paid $30.50 to win.

“Around the last turn, Yannick (began) to ask his horse and I was just sitting on mine,” Miller said. “At that point, I thought that he might be second for sure, but he went a big trip; he hung a long ways and he got the job done.”

Takter, who has won four Breeders Crowns on the night and 25 lifetime, said the victory was a good one for The Bank.

“He’s been racing tremendous all year and chasing Pinkman and, you know, Pinkman was just a little more excited today. Normally, he’s very laid back,” Takter said. “In the warm up, I told Yannick, ‘either it’s a good thing or bad thing’ but he’s very different. He was very aggressive today and normally he’s very much the opposite.”

Miller, who has won three Breeders Crowns on the night and 17 lifetime, said the rain-soaked track was holding up relatively well.

“It’s a little sticky, but under the conditions, it’s pretty good.”