Before Sunrise - 2FP
bay filly, by Precious Bunny
Owners
Brittany Farms & Daisy Acres
Irony. In horse racing it’s a constant accomplice, tempering every win and leavening every loss. The two-year-old filly pacing Crown event has been a traditional showcase for such greats as Miss Easy, Immortality, Amneris, Town Pro and Leah Almahurst. The $575,533 event at Mohawk Raceway was on course to be another such arena for the standout filly of the group, Michelle’s Jackpot.
The broodmare Jef’s Magic Trick has produced the winners of more than $4 million, an extraordinary amount. Owner Jeffrey Snyder was quick to snap up her foals as they were born, after the success he enjoyed with Cam’s Magic Trick and Horse of the Year Cam’s Card Shark. When Jef’s Magic Trick produced a filly, he named it after his daughter Michelle. A longtime relationship with trainer Mickey McGivern, who seasons and manners his youngsters, has reaped big dividends for Snyder. He then turns to trainers like Bill Robinson to polish his equine gems when they are ready to hit the big money trail.
Eliminations trimmed the original field of 14 fillies to eight. The twelve year-legacy of previous Crown competition wove through the event like a Christmas ribbon. 1984 Crown champ Dragon’s Lair was represented by Dragon So, a chubby yearling who uncovered explosive speed as she raced into shape. Her elimination win in 1:56.1 came as the public’s choice. Artsplace, who won his freshman Crown event and another as a four-yearold over the very same Mohawk racetrack, was represented by eight colts and fillies in the original entries for the freshman events. Now Decor, Michelle’s Jackpot, Fanciful Hanover and Tsunami Hanover all carried the banner for their sire. John Basilio’s Paling Avenue, a full sister to 1995 Crown titlist John Street North, had survived an nasty accident barely a month prior, with no ill effects except perhaps a mental bruise. All ghosts seemed exorcised when Paling Avenue charged to the lead in her elimination, after Sweetheart winner and heavy favorite Stienam’s Place went on an unexplained break. With Ron Waples steering, an upset seemed not only possible but downright predictable.
Gene Riegle and his wife Martha ambled into town with little fanfare, a drastic change for the Hall of Fame trainer who had, ironically, trained Artsplace and was now enjoying watching his first crop of junior speedsters race. However, the Reigle entrant wasn’t by Artsplace. She was by Precious Bunny, who could rightfully be described as the thorn in the side of Artsplace, the colt who spoiled much of Artsplace’s sophomore year. Before Sunrise was a $65,000 Kentucky Standardbred Sale purchase by George Segal’s Brittany Farms and Bill Hayes’ Daisy Acres. Thankfully, they changed her given name from Aaharvest Mooner.
Trainer | Driver
Gene Riegle | Steve Condren
Before Sunrise, an entertaining film about the ironies of romance, was a far better name for a filly with promise. Despite only five starts prior to the Crown eliminations, she had not been worse than third in any of them, and had recorded a seasons record of 1:53 at Lexington in the International Stallion Stakes.
Before Sunrise had been third in her elimination, behind Michelle’s Jackpot and Decor, and it was that closing effort down the middle of the racetrack that gave Steve Condren the confidence to drive her like a winner the next week.
Michelle’s Jackpot was driven by Luc Ouellette, nephew of Hall of Famer Mike Lachance, and an established star in his own right. Known for his aggressive style of driving, it was ironic that he would lose the race because he opted for a conservative position on the rail and ended up locked in.
The eight fillies were stout. They were the only group out of the four divisions that night not to have a single contestant gallop or balk at the extreme weather. Heads down and hooves flying, they went at it from start to finish. Michelle’s Jackpot fired the first salvo, seizing the lead with a :28 first quarter. Despite the rail position, Before Sunrise ended up fifth as Condren eased her away from the gate and considered his options. John Campbell, driving Decor, defined Condren’s decision by offering perfect cover as he went off in pursuit of Michelle’s Jackpot. Condren pulled Before Sunrise and followed. Surprisingly, Ouellete let Decor go, and Before Sunrise was left out to dry on the wet night. However, the half in :57.3 did no harm, and Condren, who knows Mohawk like his own kitchen, let Before Sunrise roll along while keeping Michelle’s Jackpot pinned against the rail. As the threequarter pole came up Dave Miller erupted down the middle of the track with Dragon So, but she could not get past Before Sunrise. Though not thrilled with his trip, Condren’s mood brightened perceptibly when he put away Dragon So and saw Decor begin to labor on the lead while his filly still felt strong.
Luc Ouellete would have given anything for a passing lane as Michelle’s Jackpot boiled over with pace. With steps to go, Ouellete was able to squeeze her out past a fading Decor but Before Sunrise was already under the wire in 1:55.3. Brilliant handling by Condren and a filly with heart made the difference. Though Condren has driven in many Crown events, his first win came with Armbro Officer in 1995. His second trophy came as a result of a last minute phone call from owner George Segal who knew Condren had a map of Mohawk in his head.
Though George Segal has handled plenty of Crown crystal, it was a first for his frequent partner Bill Hayes, a longtime horse owner. Bred by Bill Brooks’ Shallcross Education Trust, Before Sunrise was by Precious Bunny out of the Sonsam mare Moonshaker, a cross which apparently results in speed squared.
Gene Riegle was inducted into harness racing’s Hall of Fame and already owns five trainer trophies because no one is better than he when it comes to generating the maximum effort from his charges at the optimum time. That he did it with a daughter of Precious Bunny, on the first go-round, is truly ironic.
Artsplace was denied a first-crop Breeders Crown credit by his nemesis on the racetrack, Precious Bunny. Runner-up Michelle’s Jackpot took the divisional title by dint of her impressive record, which included seven victories and more than $500,000 in earnings
Purse $575,533
Mohawk Raceway, Campbellville, ON - October 18, 1996
Extras
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