With Lather Up breaking stride around the first turn and placed towards the back of the pack, Shnitzledosomethin (David Miller) swept past pacesetter Hayden Hanover heading to the three-quarters and maintained control from a closing Grand Teton to take the third of three $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Lather Up recovered to finish third.

Stay Hungry took the lead with Hayden Hanover between horses and Lather Up carried three-wide attempting to clear the lead around the turn. Lather Up broke stride heading to a :26.3 opening quarter and got back on gait into the stretch. He was in fifth while Hayden Hanover brushed to the lead.

Shnitzledosomethin launched his first-over move heading to a :55.2 half. As Hayden Hanover faltered towards the inside, the Dylan Davis-trained colt by Fred And Ginger darted to the lead with Done Well chasing first-over and Lather Up second over to a 1:22.3 third-quarter. Shnitzledosomethin, slowing into the stretch, held a wide enough margin to best Grand Teton.

Returning $81.00 to win, Shnitzledosomethin won his third race in 15 starts this season and his ninth in 28 overall, earning $536,087. The Aaron Dale Stutzman-bred colt from the Sand Shooter mare Summer N Sand races for owners Bfj Stable, Thomas Lazzaro, Edwin Gold and Abraham Basen.

Brushing to the lead before the half, the Ron Burke-trained Somebeachsomewhere gelding Dorsoduro Hanover held off the passing-lane bid from pocket-sitter Thinkbig Dreambig to take the first of three $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

Driver Matt Kakaley positioned Dorsoduro Hanover fourth to the quarter as Hitman Hill swooped to the top from post seven. Thinkbig Dreambig, away second, pulled from the pocket approaching the quarter and cleared past the :27.1 opening marker while Dorsoduro Hanover made his move first over in progress to a :55.2 half.

Dorsoduro Hanover controlled the pace heading to three-quarters with Ideal Feeling, tracking the favorite’s stand-side brush, advancing into second through the 1:22.4 clip. Thinkbig Dreambig, off the pocket trip, thrust into the passing lane after Dorsoduro Hanover through the stretch but settled for second in the 1:50.1 mile. Springsteen, trailing the field throughout, fanned widest of all into the stretch and stormed home for third.

“I just didn’t want to be first up tonight,” Kakaley said after the race. “I had him first up in his last couple of starts, so I just controlled things my own way (and) he was really good. When they get to his bridle, he usually digs in and fights — when Yannick (Gingras on Thinkbig Dreambig) shot into the passing lane he just hit another gear; he was super.”

Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Silva Purnel And Libby, Weaver Bruscemi and Wingfield Five, Dorsoduro Hanover won his ninth race from 17 starts this season and his 11th from 31 overall, earning $991,856. The Hanover Shoe Farms-bred gelding from the Artsplace mare Deer Valley Miss returned $4.60 to win.

Here is the draw for the $530,000 Breeders Crown 3-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 – *Dorsoduro Hanover – Ron Burke – Matt Kakaley
2 — *This Is The Plan – Ron Burke – Yannick Gingras
3 – Springsteen – Rene Allard – Simon Allard
4 – Thinkbig Dreambig – Jimmy Takter – Yannick Gingras
5 — *Shnitzledosomethin – Dylan Davis – David Miller
6 – American History – Tony Alagna – Andrew McCarthy
7 – Grand Teton – Jimmy Takter – Andrew McCarthy
8 – Lather Up – Clyde Francis – Montrell Teague
9 – I’m A Big Deal – Chris Ryder – Brett Miller