by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Traceur Hanover and driver Andy Miller won the $500,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old pacing colts on Saturday at the Meadowlands by a half-length in a time of 1:51.

The early going was marred by breaks by Lyons Levi Lewis and Franzo in the first turn. Sicily was in front of them going to the quarter in :26.2, but the rest of the field had to re-adjust after the breaking horses.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Traceur Hanover and Andy Miller won the Breeders Crown for 2-year-old pacing colts by a half-length in 1:51.

In The Arsenal (Brian Sears) rushed to the lead past the first quarter-mile mark and kept that lead until Traceur Hanover came up to challenge on the outside with Go Daddy Go (John Campbell) three wide. Those two hit the half-mile mark together in :55.2.

Traceur Hanover and Go Daddy Go were still jousting for the lead at the 1:23 three-quarters and into the home stretch. Traceur Hanover closed strongest of all for the win, his fifth in 14 starts.

In The Arsenal tipped out from third along the rail on the turn and paced hard down the stretch late to take the second spot and Lyons Levi Lewis withstood an inquiry into leaving the course to finish third.

Traceur Hanover is owned by Richard Berthiaume of Quebec and trained by Corey Johnson. He is a son of Western Ideal-Transference.

“There were a lot of breakers, a lot going on there,” said Andy Miller. “We just had to bide our time and wait to get through it all. I was a little worried about making the move I did, but I beat (In The Arsenal) last week and he (Sears) knew I had a good horse and he was willing to follow me. He (Traceur Hanover) was good last week and came back with the same effort this week.”