Kentucky Spur - 2CP
The two-year-old pacing colt division has furnished some of the greatest thrills in Crown competition. The vivid images include Dragon's Lair knocking Nihilator off his lofty perch at the Meadows, the diminutive Robust Hanover gutting out a head win over towering a Barberry Spur, Sunset Warrior's shocking upset of Redskin, the richest freshman pacer of the '86 season and finally, Camtastic's brilliant dismissal of his foes at Rosecroft.
This year would be no exception. Trainer Steve Elliott had already sent out two Breeders Crown champions in Sweet Reflection and Valley Victory. No trainer had ever won three Crown championships in one season, and only Team Nordin and the W. R. Haughton stable had campaigned two Crown victors in one year. Elliott's weapon in this final Crown contest of the year was Totally Ruthless, victorious in 12 of his 14 starts with over $800,000 to his credit. Though Ruthless had raced from the Goshen Cup in June through November, Elliott was intent on having a fresh colt for the Breeders Crown and skipped the rich Governor's Cup at Garden State. That race was taken by Tom Haughton and How Bout It.
Totally Ruthless, driven by John Campbell, eas y won his elimination of the Breeders Crown, taking a new lifetime marx of 1 :55. 1 in the process. That twelfth driving trophy was just about a reality for Campbell. The second place finisher in the Woodrow Wilson, Nukes Image, made the cut, as did Sudden Sonshine and San Andre.
The other elimination was a hard fought contest between Kentucky Spur, third in the Governor's Cup after an overland route and Shipp's Scorch, a hard knocking son of Big Towner who could light up the front end. At the wire Kentuci<y Spur spun out a 27 .3 last quarter to stretch a neck in front of Shipp's Scorch. Hostile Takeover and a lackluster How Bout It would provide the filler in the final the next week.
Roy Davis, owner of Kentucky Spur, wanted a Breeders Crown trophy badly, and his longtime trainer and friend Dick Stillings had promised hlm one before the year was out. He was down to his last chance. In 1985 Barberry Spur, co-owned by Davis, had Jost his Breeders Crown event by a scant head and in the Breeders Crown for Horse Pacers this year at Scioto Downs, Can For Rain had bested Jaguar Spur also, co-owned by Davis, by a neck.
With so much at stake the tension was almost palpable and when the starting gate released the colts it was How Bout It who sprinted for the lead though it cost him a 27. 4 quarter to get it. Shipp's Scorch, driven by Bill O'Donnell, was poised on the outside and immediately took over the front end from How Bout It as soon as they straightened up, with Kentucky Spur tucked in third and Totally Ruthless behind him.
Past the half in 56.1 and into the second turn Stillings wheeled Kentucky Spur out confidently to set out first over against Shipp's Scorch. It was a bold move that caused a collective intake of breath among the viewers, as Totally Ruthless scooted right out behind him to take his cover. But Spur was up to the task. The son of Albatross seized the lead from a tiring Shipp's Scorch and Stillings did not feel the need to raise his whip till they spun out of the final turn and passed the head of the stretch.
The two colts battled every step of the 608 feet that constitutes the Pompano stretch. Campbell and Stillings, two extraordinary drivers, Totally Ruthless and Kentucky Spur game to the wire, but only one could win. This was too great a contest to go undecided.
At the wire it was Kentucky Spur's head that crossed first, followed closely by Totally Ruthless. The time of 1 :53.2 was a new world record for a five-eighths mile track, an honor Kentucky Spur also held on a half-mile oval. Dick Stillings had made good his promise to Roy Davis.
Despite his impressive Breeders Crown triumph, Kentucky Spur would not be awarded divisional honors. Totally Ruthless would end up the divisional champion, by virtue of his earnings of just under a million, the most of his peers and his consistency throughout the year with wins in the Metro Final. Kentucky Pacing Derby and the Presidential. Steve Elliott would be awarded the coveted Glen Garnsey training award for his handling of three divisional champions in one year.
