Dragon's Lair - 2CP
bay colt, by Tyler B
In perhaps the most memorable event of the 1984 harness racing calendar, the Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Colt Pace, contested at The Meadows racetrack outside Pittsburgh, was won by the hometown favorite, Dragon's Lair, who turned in a magnificent 1 :54.1 world record mile in defeating the previously unbeaten ( and, up to that point, leading candidate for Horse of the Year honors) Nihilator, who finished third.
In the first elimination, Nihilator, benefiting from a perfect journey and a strong drive by Bill O'Donnell, headed the pacesetting Dragon's Lair in 1 :54.3, breaking Dragon's Lair's world record for age and freshmen pacers on a five furlong oval. Following the game pair across the finish line and also qualifying for the final were Marauder and Flight of Fire.
In the second elim, Nihilator's stablemate and fellow son of Niatross, Pershing Square, set a leisurely pace for the most of the mile and popped a 28.2 final panel to remain ahead of the roan Broadway Express. In addition to these two, Witsend's Wizard and longshot Warm Kessel, another hometown interest from The Meadows, would return for the Crown.
The final was as dramatic a horse race as has ever been contested, with far more than a rich purse at stake. Should Nihilator win, he would undoubtedly be voted Horse of the Year, a rare honor indeed for a freshman. If any horse should beat Nihilator, he would be forever remembered as the first horse to ever cross the finish line ahead of the fastest two-year-old in the history of the sport. As the gate sprung, trainer-cf rivet Jeff Mallet sent the Dragon after the lead, but Tommy Haughton, driving Pershing Square, wanted that role equally as much, and the two blazed to the quarter in an astonishing 26.3 before Mallet wrestled command of the racetrack, with Pershing Squareinthe two-hole and Nihilatorfavorably ensconced in third .
Mallet eased on the throttle nursing the Dragon through a second quarter of an even thirty seconds and it was virtually enough to refresh the son of Tyler B. When O’Donnell called the mighty Nihilator and sent him toward the leader, Dragon’s Lair was up to the test. Nihilator challenged but could not reach. In the stretch, it was Dragon’s Lair and Pittsburgher Jeff Mallet in front, with Broadway Express edging a tiring Nihilator for 2nd. The champion, co-owned by Gary Kornfeld, Harvey Heller and trainer-driver Mallet was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.
Owners
Mallet, Kornfeld & Heller
Trainer | Driver
Jeff Mallet
Purse $772,500
The Meadows, Washington, PA
Extras
| Chart |
