2012 Road to the Breeders Crown
For the second straight year, all 12 Breeders Crowns will be staged on a one night extravaganza at Woodbine, Saturday, October 27 [eliminations on Friday, October 19 and Saturday, October 20]. Here’s a glance at some of the major players and highlights in each division.
2YO Filly Trot
To Dream On remained an undefeated four-for-four with a 1:54 Big M track record in the Merrie Annabelle. The $200,000 Harrisburg yearling by Credit Winner reeled in Royal Assets with an effortless, eye-catching rally for Dave Miller. Trainer Jimmy Takter said she’s a filly born with unbelievable natural talent, and Miller noted with her speed it’s like driving a pacer. Perry Soderberg picked her out for Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. True Day Dream was impressive in two divisions of the Kindergarten Series at the Big M and then took a mark of 1:56.3 in KYSS at Lexington for Dan O’Mara. Southwind Cocoa won the NJSS Final in a 10-1 upset equaling the stakes record of 1:55.3 held by Act Of Grace. Shared Past, a NJSS winner in 1:55.4, finished third in that final. Frau Blucher is a PASS star and PA All-Stars winner for Chris Oakes.
2YO Colt Trot
Aperfectyankee pulled a 4-1 upset in the Peter Haughton Memorial for Swedish trainer Jim Oscarsson in 1:54.1. Corky finished second and came right back to make it a three-ply sweep of the NJSS Series for Jimmy Takter, who also has Dontyouforgetit. That Cantab Hall colt won his first three starts in PASS before getting disqualified for a late break, then rebounded with a 1:56 score at Harrah's Philadelphia. Major Athens was placed first in a division and won again in 1:55 at Harrah's Philadelphia. Aperfectyankee followed up the Haughton with an easy 1:55 triumph in PASS at Pocono Downs. Takter has another nice colt by Donato Hanover out of the Oaks champion Blur - Bluto was a PASS winner in 1:57.2.
2YO Filly Pace
The Brittany Farms homebred Authorize made it a four in a row with one of her sterling rallies in the NJSS Final in 1:52.3, then failed to qualify for the She's A Great Lady. Brian Sears drives the Western Ideal filly for trainer Tony Alagna, who also has the prominent Somebodythatiustono and Sweetheart runner-up Nikki Beach. Jerseylicious upset Nikki Beach in the Sweetheart in 1:52.1 and finished second in the NJSS Final. L Dees Lioness won her division of the Eternal Camnation, then romped in her elimination for the She's A Great Lady for Casie Coleman. That filly is from the great first crop of Somebeachsomewhere. I Luv The Nitelife won her division of the Eternal Camnation, then the Rocknroll Hanover filly set a world record of 1:50.1 in her She's A Great Lady elimination for Chris Ryder.
2YO Colt Pace
Captaintreacherous romped in a Woodrow Wilson stakes record of 1:49.3, then beat Vegas Vacation in 1:51.3 in the Nassagawaya before making it four in a row with a 1:49.3 Metro elimination score. Tim Tetrick drives this outstanding Somebeachsomewhere colt for trainer Tony Alagna. Vegas Vacation is an improving son of Bettor’s Delight for Casie Coleman who was second for the fourth straight time in his Metro elimination. Johny Rock dominated the NJSS Final in 1:51.1, then finished second to Captaintreacherous and drew the rail in the Metro. Odds On Equuleus carried a four-race winning streak into the Metro Final. Apprentice Hanover won his Metro elimination in 1:49.4 off a nine-length romp in the Nassagaweya. Tarpon Hanover took an OSS Gold Final in 1:51.4 and the Battle of Waterloo. Doctor Butch has won five NYSS events in a row for Linda Toscano, following in the footsteps of Heston Blue Chip.
3YO Filly Trot
Check Me Out reeled off six in a row before taking a rare bad step in the Hambletonian Oaks. The daughter of Donato Hanover bounced right back in PASS at The Meadows, then equaled her own world record of 1:51.3 in the Zweig at Vernon Downs. She hooked up with Maven in a PASS Final on September 1. Maven had won four of five going into that $200,000 event. Yannick Gingras guided her to a 1:52.3 romp in the Moni Maker. Personal Style blew up the toteboard in the Oaks nailing Win Missy B in 1:53.1. Win Missy B made a miscue in the Moni Maker, then bounced back to finish second to Check Me Out in the Zweig. Jimmy Takter has a couple of good ones in Valdonna and Superstar Hanover, who were fourth and sixth behind Check Me Out in the Zweig. Valdonna won a division of the Duenna in 1:52.2.
3YO Colt Trot
World champion GooGoo GaaGaa rebounded to win the Colonial in a track record of 1:52.1 at Harrah’s Philadelphia, beating Hambletonian winner Market Share by a neck. Market Share set a Vernon Downs track record of 1:52.1 in the Zweig. Little Brown Fox was third in the Colonial after winning the Townsend Ackerman in 1:52 and a Hambletonian elimination in 1:51.2. Yonkers Trot world record setter Archangel followed up a fourth in the Hambletonian with another NYSS win at Saratoga, then finished sixth behind Mart Share in the Zweig. Knows Nothing, a Hambletonian elimination winner and fifth in that final, was a close second to Prestidigitator in an OSS Gold Final. Breeders Crown champion Uncle Peter, a 1:53.3 Hambletonian elimination winner, faltered in that final, then finished sixth in the Colonial and seventh in the Zweig.
3YO Filly Pace
American Jewel won the Fan Hanover in a world record of 1:48.2, and the James Lynch winner in 1:49.2 lost her next three, including a close second to Major Look in the Mistletoe Shalee, then Romantic Moment upset her in the Valley Forge. Sarandon Blue Chip won the NJSS Final and Miss New Jersey. Bettor B Lucky nosed out Romantic Moment in 1:50 in the Empire Breeders Classic. Big McDeal was a three-time PASS winner this season going into the final on September 1 at Pocono, and sports a mark of 1:49.1 taken at The Meadows. Economy Terror, last year’s Breeders Crown champion recently won a PASS in 1:50.3 at Pocono, then faded to sixth in the Valley Forge. That daughter of Western Terror was the 5-2 morning line favorite in the PASS Final on September 1.
3YO Colt Pace
Since his 1:48.3 win in the Hempt at Pocono, A Rocknroll Dance emerged as the number one sophomore colt for Yannick Gingras and trainer Jim Mullinix. The son of Rocknroll Hanover wired them in the Meadowlands Pace, finished second in the Adios, and also won the Battle of Brandywine in a Harrah's Philadelphia track record of 1:48.1. A Rocknroll Dance and Time To Roll both took byes into the Cane Pace Final at Tioga Downs on September 3. Pet Rock was the Pace runner-up who followed up a close third in the two-heat Confederation Cup with a second in the Battle of Brandywine just a week later. Pet Rock, Heston Blue Chip and State Treasurer all supplemented to the Cane Pace. Michael’s Power had won 11 of 13 this season and went past the $1 million mark winning an OSS Gold Final at Rideau Carlton in 1:50.2. The son of Camluck took the Confederation Cup for Casie Coleman. Bolt The Duer tripped out to win the Adios in a world record 1:47.4, then won a KYSS division in 1:50.2 with a :25.3 final quarter. Hurrikane Kingcole, Pace Consolation winner in 1:47.3 was nailed by Panther Hanover in the 1:47.2 New Jersey Classic after a 1:18.2 three quarters. A refreshed North America Cup winner Thinking Out Loud recently came back with a 1:49.2 KYSS division at The Red Mile.
Older Trotting Mares
Cedar Dove, last year’s 3yo Breeders Crown champion and Dan Patch Award winner, got on a roll coming back as a four-year-old for Ron Pierce and Noel Daley. The daughter of Andover Hall romped in the Ima Lula at the Big M and swept all three legs of the Miss Versatility before fading to sixth in that series at Tioga Downs. Action-Broadway, last year’s Crown runner-up, was a game second to Cedar Dove from post eight in the Miss Versatility, then finished second to upset winner Beatgoeson Hanover at Tioga. Armbro Flight winner Pembroke Heat Wave bounced back with a third in the Miss Versatility leg at the Big M and was third at Tioga. China Pearls was an impressive winner in an Ima Lula division, and will try to come back in time from injury this Fall. Last year’s Breeders Crown winner in this division, Frenchfrysnvinegar won the Ontario Masters. Firstclassprincess was a solid second in the Ima Lula Final.
Older Pacing Mares
The Quebec bred sensation Rebeka Bayama finished a close second to Put On A Show in the 1:47.3 world record Lady Liberty, then powered past Drop The Ball in the Golden Girls in 1:49. Put On A Show became the fastest female of all-time with a 1:47.3 upset in the Lady Liberty. Anndrovette won last year’s Crown in a Woodbine track record of 1:48.4, and set a world record of 1:48.1 in the Roses Are Red at Mohawk, yet came up short in the Lady Liberty and Golden Girls. Drop The Ball, second to Monkey On My Wheel in last year’s 3yo Crown, won the Green With Envy Final. Swinging Beauty caught fire in the Mares Open at Mohawk and was fourth in the Golden Girls.
Older Trotting Horses
Defending champion and Horse of the Year, San Pail recently came back from injury, winning a Mohawk qualifier on August 24 in 1:57.3. Chapter Seven reeled off back-to-back world records of 1:50.4 in his first two starts as a 4yo, winning the Titan Cup, lowered his mark to 1:50.1 in the Nat Ray and also won the Maxie Lee in a stakes record of 1:52.1. The son of Windsong’s Legacy was a close to second to Mister Herbie in the Maple Leaf Trot. Mister Herbie upset San Pail in the Glory’s Comet, won the Cutler in 1:51.3 and was rebuffed by Chapter Seven in the Titan Cup. The Ontario-bred son of Here Comes Herbie won the Frank Ryan Memorial in 1:54. Daylon Magician was third in the Nat Ray, took a mark of 1:51.1 in a Mohawk Open, made a break and finished fourth in the Frank Ryan Memorial. Anders Bluestone was a game runner-up in the Maxie Lee. Arch Madness finished eighth in the Maple Leaf Trot, and resurfaced with two winning qualifiers at Harrah's Philadelphia in 1:554.1 and 1:53.2. Wishing Stone has returned to America.
Older Pacing Horses
Golden Receiver has carved out an amazing 7yo season. The son of Village Jolt paced the fastest January mile ever, 1:48, when he was Horse of the Month and won the Presidential. The Mark Harder trainee also captured the Spring Championship, Graduate, US Pacing Championship and William Haughton Memorial. Betterthancheddar reeled off five straight, including the Canadian Pacing Derby elimination. We Will See, third in last year’s Crown, beat Betterthancheddar in the Mohawk Gold Cup, and finished second in the Ben Franklin and the Haughton. Aracache Hanover was very consistent this season until his eighth in the Canadian Pacing Derby elimination. Foiled Again hasn’t won since the Molson Pace back on May 25.
