Bulldog Hanover - Open Pace
Ontario’s world-class ace: Bulldog Hanover unleashes record-setting performance
Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms
MILTON, October 29, 2022 – Bulldog Hanover blazed his way into the record books with yet another jaw-dropping tour de force, this time in the $810,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace, Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
In the curtain-closing event of the 2022 Breeders Crown finals, it was standardbred racing’s show-stopping superstar who delivered a primetime performance in front of an appreciative crowd and his proud connections.
Sent on his way as the 2-5 choice, Bulldog Hanover, with Dexter Dunn at the controls, settled into fourth spot into the first turn as Tattoo Artist stamped himself as the leader, followed by Allywag Hanover and American Courage.
After guiding his 10 rivals through an opening quarter in :26.0, Tattoo Artist yielded the lead to Allywag Hanover, who was then quickly engaged by Bulldog Hanover, the latter striking front then reaching the half in :53.1.
Armed with a 1 ½-length advantage after three-quarters in 1:20.3, Dunn called upon the four-year-old son of Shadow Play-BJs Squall for his best and the bay responded by rocketing away from his rivals down the lane en route to a 3 ¾-length score.
The final time of 1:46.4 was a Breeders Crown stakes record and also equalled the track and Canadian record. Tattoo Artist was second, Allywag Hanover third, and Abuckabett Hanover was fourth.
Bulldog Hanover paid $2.40 for the win.
“He felt great tonight,” said Dunn. “The fractions were fast, we had a good helmet, and took him to the backstretch right after the first quarter and when he merged on there he got to the front, he grabbed a hold of me like he has most of the year. I could feel him [Allywag Hanover] on my helmet there. I know he had to do pretty good tonight to try to get past me. I probably didn’t feel the same as I did at Lexington. It’s a bit of a shame, but he’s an amazing horse.”
Arriving at the final off a runner-up finish to Allywag Hanover in the Allerage Farms Open on October 9, Bulldog Hanover, in his final start in Canada, put on a stellar show for the crowd on a cool Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
‘Bulldog,’ who paced the fastest mile ever, 1:45.4, in July, has 27 wins, along with four seconds and a third, from 36 starts and earned in excess of $2.6 million.
Not bad for a horse who was a $28,000 purchase at the 2019 Harrisburg Sale as Hip No. 795.
For trainer Jack Darling, who co-owns with Brad Grant, his first Crown coronation couldn’t have come with a more special horse, one who launched his racing life with a series of Ontario Sires Stakes successes in the summer of 2020.
“It’s been exciting, but I mean the pressure going into this race for me was excruciating,” admitted Darling. “The fans, I just wanted him to win so badly for the fans. It felt so good when we started to step away. I felt really good about it. I knew he was right back to himself, and I’ve seen him do it so many times that I’m kind of counting on him.”
The horse who has garnered widespread attention from racing fans and media alike will now travel south of the border to conclude his racing season.
And he’ll head to the U.S. off a crowning achievement on his home turf.
“It’s been just amazing all the way along and every night gets better,” said a beaming Brad Grant.
Purse $600,000
October 29, 2022 | Woodbine Mohawk Park - Milton, ON, CA
Photos By Jim Lisa for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Photos By Jessica Hallett for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Ecurie D - Open Trot
Ecurie D DK ties stakes record in Breeders Crown Open Trot Championship
Jerry Connors, for Woodbine Communications
MILTON, October 29, 2022 – Ecurie D DK became the first repeater of the Breeders Crown Open Trot Championship in nineteen years on Saturday night at Woodbine / Mohawk Park, tying the stakes record of 1:51 in winning the $600,000 event while matching the successive scores of Fool’s Goal in 2002-2003, the latter win at Woodbine.
Trainer Åke Svanstedt, winning his second Crown of the night and third of the weekend, selected Dexter Dunn to handle Ecurie D DK (the “DK” indicates he is Danish-bred; the breeder is Jean Pierre Dubois) as one of four horses he sent out in this Crown. Ecurie D DK had gotten “hot” in the Yonkers International in his last start and tired after setting scalding fractions; the son of Infinitif was much more tractable in his Crown, going right out to the lead ahead of 2021 sophomore Crown winner Jujubee, and set fractions of :27.1, :55.2, and 1:23, at the last pole starting to go clear of his field.
No one was able to get near Ecurie D DK in the stretch, with Jujubee three lengths behind in closest pursuit of the winner at the finish. Unfortunately, Jujubee made a break nearing the wire, and after an inquiry he was placed back to fourth, with Amigo Volo (ironically, the 2020 3YO Crown winner, and let go here at 102-1) elevated from third to second and It’s Academic moved up from fourth to third. But they were all trotting for the minor honors behind Ecurie D DK, who gave Dunn his third Crown win of the night, which put him equal with Svanstedt as the only three-time 2022 Crown winners at the time.
Ecurie D DK is owned by Marko Kreivi Stables, Suleyman Yuksel Stables, and Åke Svanstedt Inc. Ecurie D DK was two-for-two when he came to North America last season, and in 2022 he now has two wins, two seconds and a third in six starts (his only off-the-board finish in North America was in the International). The six-year-old has earned $966,389 in his eight North American starts, and $1,356,757 lifetime, as he was 15-for-21 on the Continent. He took his mark of 1:49.1 while setting a world record in his first start of the year, in the Cutler at The Meadowlands on May 21, and his 1:51 mile in the Crown equals the stakes record held by Market Share (2013) and Commander Crowe (2014).
Ecurie D DK was sent off as the 6-5 favorite of this outstanding field, bringing the count of winning favorites to five in the first eleven Crowns, with three seconds and two thirds over the weekend.
Purse $600,000
October 29, 2022 | Woodbine Mohawk Park - Milton, ON, CA
Photos By Jim Lisa for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Photos By Jessica Hallett for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Pebble Beach - 3CP
Pebble Beach skips to impressive score
Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms
MILTON, October 29, 2022 – Pebble Beach shored up his rock-solid resume with another classic Canadian performance, this time in the $911,250 Breeders Crown (presented by the Libfeld/Katz Breeding Partnership) for three-year-old pacing colts & geldings.
He didn’t go off as the post-time choice, but the son of Downbytheseaside-Santa Rosa was on top when it mattered most, trouncing his nine rivals to the tune of a brilliant 3 ½-length score on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
And with the win, the bay made it a perfect five-for-five in Canada.
Ponda Warrior, leaving from post eight, crossed over to take the early lead with longshot Greatest Ending also getting away smartly and tucking into second. Todd McCarthy slotted 7-5 Pebble Beach into third with Captain Cowboy in fourth.
Pebble Beach, who took the $1 million Pepsi North America Cup in June, was guided to the front after a quarter in :25.4 and assumed a 1 ½-length lead at the half in :54.1. Bythemissal, at even money, and riding a five-race win streak, was eighth and had his work cut out for him as the field approached the three-quarters mark.
Reaching three-quarters in 1:21.2, McCarthy and Pebble Beach looked large and in charge in early stretch, gliding away from their foes with ease down the lane, stopping the teletimer in 1:48.1. I Did It Myway was second, Bythemissal rallied for third and Greatest Ending was fourth.
Pebble Beach paid $4.90 for the win.
“He does very well up here, he feels happy when I sit behind him, and he shows it when he races as well,” said McCarthy. “He was certainly very impressive tonight.”
A shoeing change proved to be the perfect fit.
“They’re usually better if they have the aluminums on and the last time he raced in Lexington, I raced him with no shoes and he won,” offered trainer Noel Daley. “He was no more impressive than he’d been, but last week was the most impressive he’s been. Just looking for that extra edge, I put the four aluminums on him rather than just the two.”
Joe Sbrocco was equally pleased with the outcome for more than one reason.
“Noel and Todd just know this horse and they do such a great job for us,” he started. “And the other part is the same ownership put the horse in second, I Did It Myway, and I’m a breeder on that one too, so it was so thrilling to have that.”
With the victory, Pebble Beach, owned by Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Country Club Acres and Laexpressfoderadeovolente, is now 8-6-1 from 15 starts on the season.
Overall, the colt, bred by Brittany Farms, is 15-8-3 from 26 engagements.
Known as “Bam Bam” in the barn, Pebble Beach was purchased for $85,000 at the 2020 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. His second dam is Hall of Fame broodmare Arts Vintage, who produced millionaires Vintage Master and Great Vintage.
Purse $675,000
October 29, 2022 | Woodbine Mohawk Park - Milton, ON, CA
Photos By Jim Lisa for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Photos By Jessica Hallett for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
King Of The North - 3CT
King Of The North Gets His ‘Crown’
Ray Cotolo, for Woodbine Communications
MILTON, October 29, 2022 – Off his 28-1 powerhouse performance in the elimination, King Of The North followed that effort with total destruction of his competition to win the $810,000 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Trot on Saturday night (Oct. 29) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Driver Mark MacDonald hustled King Of The North to the lead to a :26.2 first quarter with World At War Deo in second and Cool Papa Bell third. Though he didn’t hit the breaks up the backside and clicked the half in :54.3 as Cool Papa Bell angled to race first over into the final turn.
With King Of The North striking hot on the lead, MacDonald decided to let his charge “go down swinging.” He spurted by three-quarters in 1:22.1 and punched the wind out of his competition’s sails through the lane to register a 4-1/4-length victory in 1:50.3 and smash the stakes record, as well as the Canadian record he set just last week.
“I did not think I could relive the American Ideal moment again, where I just was asking a horse at the head of the stretch to please not stop. But it happened,” Mark MacDonald said after the race. “The first quarter was a little hotter. When the half popped up, I planned on tapping the breaks to the last turn to try and race Cool Papa Bell, because I didn’t like the one behind me. He just felt so good, I thought ‘You know what, it’s all or nothing now.”
King Of The North’s 1:50.3 mile crushed the stakes record of 1:51.2 set last year by Jujubee as well as the 1:51.1 Canadian Record set by King Of The North in his elimination. The time also beats the all-age record for a trotting male and comes just a fifth of a second off the all-time Canadian trotting record of 1:50.2 set in 2019 by a then 4-year-old Atlanta.
The annihilation of his peers and the Breeders Crown hardware notched an eighth win on King Of The North’s 23-race card and propelled him to millionaire status with $1,234,255 earned for owners Schnittker Ward, Arden Homestead Stable and Nolamura Racing LLC and Steven Arnold. The victory also marked a continued turnaround for the Walner colt, out of former Ray Schnittker star trotting filly Check Me Out, who demonstrated high promise as a 2-year-old which had yet to reach fruition in his sophomore season.
“I didn’t know why it wasn’t clicking earlier in the year,” trainer Ray Schnittker said after the race. “He raced really good in Lexington and in the Canadian Trotting Classic. I kind of thought he was coming [around] but I didn’t think he was going to be this good. Now he’s showing what I really thought he was.”
Mark MacDonald collected his fourth Breeders Crown trophy and his first since winning the 2017 Mare Pace with Pure Country. Ray Schnittker, who bred King Of The North along with Steven Jones, added a fourth Breeders Crown trophy to his resume – his first in this event – and his first since Huntsville won the 2016 2-Year-Old Colt Pace.
King Of The North paid $12.90 to win.
Purse $600,000
October 29, 2022 | Woodbine Mohawk Park - Milton, ON, CA
Photos By Jessica Hallett for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Photos By Jim Lisa for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Treacherous Dragon - 3FP
Treacherous Dragon Terrific In Exciting Crown Final
Heather MacKay, for Woodbine Communications
MILTON, October 29, 2022 – Treacherous Dragon found room late and hauled down favourite Niki Hill in the final strides to take the $810,000 Breeders Crown final for three-year-old pacing fillies tonight at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
With Scott Zeron at the controls Treacherous Dragon was on top at the quick :26 second opener. Niki Hill, parked from the start from post 10, came calling but Zeron was reluctant to give up the lead too quickly. Dexter Dunn and Niki Hill cleared by the :54.1 half.
Niki Hill, who was making just her fifth sophomore start, paced by the three-quarters in 1:22 but had company all around her down the stretch. In a close finish Zeron threaded the needle to get Treacherous Dragon to the wire first in 1:49.1, a neck in front of a game Niki Hill who won the Breeders Crown final last year at two. Boudoir Hanover was third for Todd McCarthy with the two stablemates from the Nick Gallucci barn, Silver Label and Prohibition Legal, next across.
It was the ninth win in 14 attempts this year for Treacherous Dragon who came into the contest having swept the coveted Jugette last month at Delaware. A daughter of Captaintreacherous from the multiple Breeders Crown winner, My Little Dragon, Treacherous Dragon earned millionaire status with the win. Nancy Taker trains for Hot Lead Farm of New Jersey.
“I actually thought she was the filly to beat,” Nancy admitted. “She’s been super since the Jugette. Since we put her on Lasix she’s been a different horse. She’s been on the bit and ready to go to work. I thought she had a very big shot tonight.
“She likes to pass horses and it was just a matter of finding room down the stretch and I ‘m happy that Scotty found it, I was getting a little worried there, I didn’t think we were going to win. I don’t think I’ve screamed that loud on a race, ever. She’s a nice big sized filly, she’s going to race next year and hopefully she’s got a bright future.”
Zeron, a former regular on the WEG circuit, didn’t even expect to be competing in this year’s Breeders Crown after suffering breaks in his pelvis and wrist following an accident at the end of July at Pocono.
“Honestly, I didn’t even think I’d be here; when I was injured I kind of gave up the dream of making it to this year’s Breeders Crown. A couple of people pushed me to do it, Mark MacDonald and Nancy, and I’m happy I did it and obviously it’s a great win,” said Zeron who just returned to the bike a few weeks ago.
As for the trip he noted: “I felt great, just to have the opportunity to race late in the mile. Looking on paper I dreamed of following Niki Hill and it came to fruition. I didn’t have a lot of room and when I did she’s an exceptional filly to sprint up into gear with 100 feet left.
“It’s not a bad phone call when they ask you to drive the current Jugette winner,” he laughed.
Tonight’s victory was the eighth Breeders Crown final for Takter and second for her in this division with a filly bred by White Birch Farm having won in 2020 with Peaky Sneaky.
Purse $600,000
October 29, 2022 | Woodbine Mohawk Park - Milton, ON, CA
Photos By Jessica Hallett for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Photos By Jim Lisa for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Jiggy Jog S - 3FT
Jiggy Jog S continues hot in trotting filly Crown
Jerry Connors, for Woodbine Communications
MILTON, October 29, 2022 – Jiggy Jog S and driver Dexter Dunn waited as long as they could, then moved first-over in the $675,000 (U.S.) Breeders Crown Championship for three-year-old trotting fillies Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park. But the difficult journey through the last half hampered the daughter of Walner not at all, as she went on strongly to record a stake, track, and Canadian record of 1:51.1 – and made the discussion about Trotter of the Year become that much more interesting.
Misswalner Fashion went to the front at the race’s start, while her stablemate and Oaks winner Fashion Schooner erred right as the gate sprung. Raised By Lindy left strongly from the outside and settled in the two-hole before the :27.1 quarter, and there were no bursts of speed going down the backstretch, as Misswalner Fashion reached the half in a relatively soft :56.1.
Jiggy Jog S, at 2-1, got away third, with 4-5 favorite Joviality S, the top-ranked filly most of the year, right behind her and the talented closer Warrawee Xenia ready to join the flow. That flow started early on the turn, with Jiggy Jog S, Joviality S, and Warrawee Xenia in first-, second-, and third-over position as the field raced mid-far turn towards the 1:24.1 three-quarters.
It was around that point that pacesetter Misswalner Fashion broke and was taken to the infield, with Raised By Lindy (at 53-1) and Jiggy Jog S coming out of the last turn on equal terms. The two covered horses in the outer flow looked well-placed, but with Jiggy Jog S able to come home in :27 on the 45oF/7oC night, neither of those horses could make a great impact; indeed, it was Raised By Lindy who proved most resilient nearing the wire, staying within a length of the winner to the finish. Joviality S went what she could to be third, only another half-length behind, with 117-1 shot Bare My Soul fourth, three parts of a length ahead of last year’s divisional leader Venerable, who completed the top five by winning a three-way photo.
Driver Dunn, who won eight Breeders Crowns in his first three years of full North American driving (winning Driver of the Year each time), picked up his second Crown win of the evening after Bella Bellini – whom Jiggy Jog S succeeded as the winner of this event. “(Jiggy Jog S) was so good last week,” said Dunn after the race, “I came into the race with a lot of confidence. I knew I had Joviality S on my back on the far turn, but my filly went on strong.”
Indeed, Jiggy Jog S was the faster elimination winner last week, beat Joviality S in the Filly Futurity, and won in quicker time in the first Grand Circuit week of Lexington. If the great twosome do not meet again this year, voters will be putting on their thinking caps when the ballots come in December.
Jiggy Jog S is a daughter of super sire Walner (as is Raised By Lindy) out of Hot Mess Hanover; as the “S” at the end of her name indicates, she was bred in Sweden, by Vestmarka AB 531 91. The sophomore provided trainer Åke Svanstedt picked up his second Crown win of the weekend (both with trotting fillies after last night’s Special Way), and she raised his career bankroll to $1,132,185 for owner Jorgen Sparredal Inc. with her eighth win in thirteen seasonal starts.
Purse $675,000
October 29, 2022 | Woodbine Mohawk Park - Milton, ON, CA
Photos By Jessica Hallett for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Photos By Jim Lisa for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Grace Hill - Mare Pace
Grace Hill Holds Off Test Of Faith In Mare Pace
Ray Cotolo, for Woodbine Communications
MILTON, October 29, 2022 – Driver Doug McNair asserted Grace Hill to the fore and used every inch of her speed to keep the furious stretch kick of Test Of Faith at bay to steal the show in the $540,000 Breeders Crown Mare Pace on Saturday night (Oct. 29) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Amazing Dream and No Win No Feed battled through a :27.2 first quarter with Grace Hill gapping the pair from third into the backside. Once No Win No Feed abandoned her challenge to sit in the pocket, McNair launched Grace Hill for the front and seized control before a :54.3 half.
So Much More followed Grace Hill’s move and raced uncovered into the final turn, pressing the pacesetter. Mikala caught cover to race second over with Test Of Faith, the 2-5 favourite, placed third over in the sprint to three-quarters, timed in 1:21.3. Grace Hill spun for home still with a barrage at her back of So Much More and soon with Test Of Faith towering down the center. As Test Of Faith hit her best stride, the finish line came in time for Grace Hill, who had a head in front to stop the clock in a lifetime-best 1:48.4. So Much More survived her first-over blitz to take third and Amazing Dream finished fourth.
“We had a pretty good post and I thought a lot of the better ones were to the inside of her,” Doug McNair said after the race. “Leaving the gate, there wasn’t a whole ton of speed right off the bat. I took advantage of that, but she did all of the work and she deserved to win.”
The 1:48.4 mile matches the stakes record first set in 2009 by Hana Hanover, a time when the Breeders Crown final for aged pacing mares was contested before the fall. Kissin In The Sand matched that record when she won at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in 2020. Grace Hill’s victory also gave driver Doug McNair his second Breeders Crown trophy, with his first coming from Stay Hungry in the 2017 2-Year-Old Colt Pace.
“It feels great [to win a Breeders Crown],” McNair said. “These trophies are very tough to get for sure. They’re tough to get into races and to win them is even tougher, so it’s a thrill.”
Grace Hill, a 4-year-old Always B Miki mare out of the Western Terror mare Western Silk, also gave trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. his second Breeders Crown trophy to add to his win in the 2008 Open Pace with Mister Big. Tom Hill owns Grace Hill, who was bred by White Birch Farm, and added a third Breeders Crown trophy to his record. Her Breeders Crown win added an 18th victory to her 45 starts and pushed her bankroll into millionaire status at $1,174,790.
Off as the third choice, Grace Hill paid $13.30 to win.
Purse $400,000
October 29, 2022 | Woodbine Mohawk Park - Milton, ON, CA
Photos By Jessica Hallett for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Photos By Jim Lisa for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Bella Bellini - Mare Trot
Back To Back Breeders Crowns For Bella Bellini
Heather MacKay, for Woodbine Communications
MILTON, October 29, 2022 – Harness racing’s newest two million dollar winner is the four-year-old trotting mare Bella Bellini who overcame a flat tire before the race to capture the first of eight Breeders Crown finals at Woodbine Mohawk Park on a beautiful fall evening in Campbellville on Saturday night.
Eight of the best trotting mares faced the gate in the $472,500 contest which saw Next Level Stuff and Tim Tetrick lead the parade by the opening quarter in :27. Atlanta, the richest performer in the race with $3.6 million on her card, came out from third to challenge for Yannick Gingras and was comfortably on top at the :55.3 half.
In the first up position as they hit the 1:24.1 three-quarters was When Dovescry followed by Bella Bellini. As they trotted for home Dexter Dunn gave Bella Bellini open road and she responded with an impressive victory in 1:51.1.
Atlanta finished a brave second. Tonight’s race was her final career start on Canadian soil as she is to be retired at the end of her 2022 campaign. The seven-year-old Chapter Seven mare won many of the top races during her illustrious career, but the Breeders Crown title eluded her. In a total of six appearances her best finishes were a second tonight and in last year’s Crown final as well.
Doug McNair got Refined up for third while When Dovescry held on for fourth for Dave Miller and Next Level Stuff took fifth.
Owned by breeder David McDuffee of Florida, Bella Bellini is trained by Nifty Norman who admitted the flat tire on his mare’s race bike before the post parade had him a little rattled.
“We didn’t have the spare, which is my responsibility and Dexter gets a little nervous when he doesn’t have his own bike,” he explained. The setback obviously didn’t bother Bella in the least.
“She was picture perfect, just the way you want. She’s very special, she’s a beautiful animal, so nice to be around, just a really, really nice horse,” added Norman who is quite familiar with Bella’s family having also trained her dam, the top Kadabra mare Bella Dolce who earned over $750,000 during her career.
A daughter of Bar Hopping, Bella Bellini was notching her second straight Crown title having won last year as a three-year-old at The Meadowlands. This was her 19th lifetime win and eighth from 17 tries this year. She has $925,000 earned in 2022 and just over $2 million lifetime.
Purse $350,000
October 29, 2022 | Woodbine Mohawk Park - Milton, ON, CA
Photos By Jessica Hallett for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Photos By Jim Lisa for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Sylvia Hanover - 2FP
Sylvia Hanover fit for a Breeders Crown
Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms
MILTON, October 28, 2022 – Sylvia Hanover, with Bob McClure at the controls, was at the top of her game down the lane to take Friday’s $810,000 Breeders Crown final for two-year-old pacing fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
It was a pair of longshots, Bellisima Hanover and Sweet Amira, who got away sharply from the outside with the former leading the field into the first turn, as Sylvia Hanover, riding a six-race win streak, also got away smartly, tucking into third.
Bellissima Hanover, at 46-1, called the shots through an opening quarter in :27.3, but McClure had the daughter of Always B Miki-Shyaway on the march and on top through a half in :57.0. But the lead was short-lived as Charleston and Strong Poison then traded shots and placing on the front end.
As the field rounded the turn for home, Sylvia Hanover, after three-quarters in 1:23.4, found herself hemmed in along the rail as Charleston and Strong Poison continued their up-front battle. McClure was able to find daylight in mid-stretch and popped the bay filly out to take aim at her rivals.
Once they cleared to the outside it was game over, as the Hudson Standardbred Stable (Quebec) miss poured it on late to notch a 1 ¼-length triumph in a time of 1:51.1. Charleston was second, Strong Poison was third and Sweet Amira fourth.
“Actually, I fully intended to just come from off cover with her, I figured second over, third over, with the inside forward leave,” said McClure. “I knew there would be a couple leavers from the outside, but I got up on the gate and then some of the outside horses were pushing out and I couldn’t get away seventh or eighth and give them that advantage, so I decided to try my luck at that trip again and she got caught again. And luckily, we got really lucky. I wouldn’t call it any skill, I just got extremely lucky to get out.
“From the three-quarter pole on, there’s no driving her. She gives you everything she’s got. She’s great leaving the gate, it’s just that middle half. You can sit there and knock her down for that trait and the odd trait – she is finicky, she is lazy – but man, she definitely knows how to get her nose to the wire first. And she’s proving it. If it weren’t for the 11-hole one week, she would’ve been undefeated this year. I’m just extremely lucky to be along for the ride with her.”
It was the latest top-shelf performance from the Shawn Steacy trainee, who now sports a record of 8-1-0 from nine starts.
Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Sylvia Hanover was a $135,000 purchase at the 2021 Harrisburg Sale. She made her debut a winning one, taking the first leg of the Whenyouwishuponastar at Woodbine Mohawk Park on July 26, returning $20.70 for the win.
“It’s very, very special after all those decades of being in this,” said owner Tony Infilise. “It’s a fabulous business. It gives not as many highs as lows, but they’re really worthwhile when they happen and this is a phenomenal one, probably our best in the business so far.”
A multiple stakes winner, Sylvia Hanover, who now has in excess of $900,000 in career earnings, paid $3 for her Breeders Crown victory.
Purse $600,000
October 28, 2022 | Woodbine Mohawk Park - Milton, ON, CA
Photos By Jim Lisa for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Photos By Jessica Hallett for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Extras
Ammo - 2CP
Ammo fires off Breeders Crown shocker
Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms
MILTON, October 28, 2022 – Ammo, sent on his way at 52-1, pulled off the stunning upset in Friday’s $810,000 Breeders Crown two-year old pace, at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The tote board suggested Ammo didn’t have much of a shot at taking all the spoils, but one of the sport’s all-time top drivers had other ideas.
It was outsider Ervin Hanover, from the outside post, who swept across and to the front, as David Miller, in rein to Ammo, followed suit from post nine, and took up residence in second going into the first turn.
Ervin Hanover held a short-lived nose lead after an opening panel in :27.1, as Ammo was then sent to the front, only to be passed by Combustion, who held a two-length advantage through a half in :56.0. Confederate, the popular 1-2 choice, sat eighth of 10.
Reaching three-quarters in 1:23.3, Combustion was three lengths clear of Stockade Seelster, now second, while Ammo, another quarter-length behind, dug in as the pace quickened down the lane. Miller had his charge rolling along the inside, while Confederate, to the far outside, was picking off rivals with every stride.
At the wire, Ammo staved off Confederate – both of them sons of Sweet Lou – to win by half-length in a time of 1:50.4. Combustion was third and Stockade Seelster finished fourth.
Trained by Joe Holloway, Ammo made his debut at The Red Mile on September 19, notching a half-length score in 1:52.4. He arrived at Friday’s final off a third to Confederate in their Crown elim on October 21.
“I thought he raced well last week, and I thought racing him back in a week might suit him, and David just drove him great,” said Holloway, who sent out history’s first 1:50 2-year-old, in the 1998 Breeders Crown winning with Badlands Hanover. “And sometimes it works out. I tried to map it out for him [Miller] as best I could, told him to do all that and then he just kind of handled it from the head of stretch home.”
Not that Holloway needed to tell Miller what to do.
“Oh, I think he knows his way around there,” quipped the decorated conditioner.
It was just the fifth start for the bay colt owned by Val D Or Farms and Theodore Gewertz. Bred by Sergent Stables LLC, Ammo was a $90,000 purchase (Hip No. 23) at the 2021 Lexington Select Sale.
Now 2-1-1 from five starts, Ammo, who came into the Crown final with just over $38,000 in earnings, paid $106 for the win.
Purse $600,000
October 28, 2022 | Woodbine Mohawk Park - Milton, ON, CA
Photos By Jim Lisa for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Photos By Jessica Hallett for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Special Way - 2FT
TRULY A SPECIAL FILLY IN RECORD PERFORMANCE
Heather MacKay/Woodbine Communications
MILTON, October 28, 2022 – The $810,000 Breeders Crown Final for freshman trotting fillies was billed as a face off between Special Way and Righteous Resolve and it certainly lived up to expectations resulting in a track and Canadian record. Both talented misses came into the contest riding winning streaks, seven straight for Righteous Resolve and six in a row for Special Way.
Righteous Resolve, the lone Ontario-sired miss in the race, went straight to top from post seven for Paul MacDonell. That pair hit the opener in :27.1 and no one challenged them through the next quarter as Righteous Resolve tripped the halfway timer in :56.
Ake Svanstedt, sitting fourth with Special Way, pulled out to challenge just past the half and was closing in on the leader at the 1:24.1 three-quarters. Down the stretch she wore down Righteous Resolve and went on by to win in a sparkling 1:52, a new track and Canadian record. Walner Payton also got by to take second with Righteous Resolve holding for third. Mambacita and Instagram Model were next across.
Special Way was an impressive victor in last weekend’s eliminations for the Crown while Righteous Resolve earned a bye in the final as the richest filly in the field.
Svanstedt also trains Special Way, and after the race called her the best filly he has had, high praise considering some of his stable stars. The daughter of Walner is owned by breeders Brittany Farms and the Breeders Crown presenting sponsors Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. Unfortunately, Al was unable to be at the track to witness Special Way’s performance and both Katz and Brittany’s owner George Segal commented on how much he was missed in the winners’ circle.
Special Way’s family is well known to the partners. “We trained the grandmother of this filly and her mother, it’s a family we have a great deal of faith in and we developed together and that’s what makes it exhilarating to develop something like this,” explained Katz who added that winning a Breeders Crown event at his home track is “as good as it gets.”
Segal, who has several Crown trophies at his home in Kentucky noted that it never gets old winning a Breeders Crown, it just gets tougher.
Winning Breeders Crown finals is bred into Special Way as her third dam, Honorable Daughter, won this exact final in 2008 at the Meadowlands.
Purse $600,000
October 28, 2022 | Woodbine Mohawk Park - Milton, ON, CA
Photos By Jim Lisa for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Gaines Hanover - 2CT
Popular Victory For Gaines Hanover
Heather MacKay, for Woodbine Communications
MILTON, October 28, 2022 – Gaines Hanover kicked off the 2022 Breeders Crown Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park and scored an impressive victory in the $810,000 final for two-year-old trotting colts giving his driver, Louis-Philippe Roy, and trainer, Richard Moreau their first Crown victories in their very successful careers.
Oh Well, the winner of the Mohawk Million last month at the Campbellville track, made a break as the gate left for tonight’s Crown opener. Dave Miller had Dire Straits up to the top from post 10 and hit the first quarter in :27.2. He was passed by Kilmister and Brian Sears just past that point and they trotted by the half in a tepid :57.
Down the backside Yannick Gingras had the favourite Celebrity Bambino in full stride in the outer lane and was neck and neck with the leader at the 1:25.4 three-quarters. Celebrity Bambino took over the lead mid stretch but Roy and Gaines Hanover, who had followed them in the outer flow, tipped off cover and went on by to win in 1:53.2. Celebrity Bambino held for second with Kilmister third.
Roy and Moreau are both multiple O’Brien Award winners as the best driver and trainer in Canada respectively for several seasons, but they had yet to put a Breeders Crown trophy on their mantles until tonight and were thrilled with the outcome.
“It was great, the trip felt pretty good. I just had in my mind I said, ‘please win, we didn’t do all that just for a second,’ it was just a great moment,” said Roy who was thrilled with the trip he was able to work out for Gaines.
“I feel like Yannick was the same way as me, we didn’t want anyone in front to have too easy fractions, but we didn’t want to have to use our horses too early. He knew he had a pretty good horse on his backside and he didn’t want to tow me in too early. I think he drove his perfectly but mine when he showed up was a little bit better.”
Coming into the race Roy noted his only concern was the post Gaines had drawn. ”The rail is a tough spot here; I didn’t know how it would turn out but it actually worked pretty well. I’m coming into the weekend with a few good drives and I never really had the chance to win a Breeders Crown before now so I’m just excited for the whole weekend.”
A Cantab Hall gelding, Gaines Hanover is owned by Gestion Blais of Montreal. Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Gaines was purchased for $50,000 at the Harrisburg Sale last year. He is the fourth foal from Gatka Hanover, a winner of $262,000 in her career.
Gaines Hanover, who won his Crown elimination by two lengths last weekend, now has four wins, a second and a third in eight starts so far in his young career. He came into the contest with just under $90,000 on his card but now has an additional $405,000 in his bank account.
The freshman trotting colts kicked off the 2022 edition of the Breeders Crown, the 39th installment of the year end series, which was introduced in 1984. The two-year-olds are spotlighted tonight with the three-year-olds and open performers taking their turns tomorrow evening.
Purse $600,000
October 28, 2022 | Woodbine Mohawk Park - Milton, ON, CA
Photos By Jim Lisa for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
Photos By Jessica Hallett for Ⓒ Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown
