2021 Breeders Crown Elim Saturday Recap
Perfect Sting powers, Charlie May motors in Crown eliminations
by Ray Cotolo, for the Breeders Crown
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Millionaire Perfect Sting and near-millionaire Charlie May put together strong performances to leave their competition behind and win the $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace on Saturday (Oct. 23) at The Meadowlands.
Charlie May charged first-over into the final turn to blitz leader Southwind Gendry and scoot clear to a 1:49.1 win in the second of the two eliminations.
Heart Of Chewbacca hustled to the point with Water Sports Teen settling into second to a :26.4 first quarter. Southwind Gendry raced third to the backstretch before angling off the pylons and circling stablemate Heart Of Chewbacca to lead into a :54.4 half.
Driver Brett Miller sat fourth with Charlie May to the final turn, but soon launched the McArdle gelding towards the top as Southwind Gendry attempted to slow the tempo to three-quarters, timed in 1:22.3. Charlie May grabbed the front off the corner and stayed firm on the lead while Southwind Gendry cut into his deficit to the inside to secure second, beaten by three-quarters of a length. Rockyroad Hanover ripped off cover from third over to finish third with Heart Of Chewbacca and Water Sports Teen holding fourth and fifth, respectively, to make the $600,000 final.
“We were real excited today,” owner Don Tiger said after the race. “Glad to come back here, thankful for the opportunity. The horse raced great, Brett said he was super. He is one of those horses that when he clears and he doesn’t hear anybody he slows down a bit. But he was super today, had a lot of pace left.
“He definitely loves a target,” Tiger also said. “You could see it today pulling first-up. Southwind Gendry is a nice animal and he engaged him and went right by. He’s a beast and we are really looking forward to the Perfect Sting showdown next weekend. The best part about it is I can’t draw the nine-hole.”
Conditioned by Steve Carter, Charlie May collected his ninth victory from 18 starts this season and his 16th from 27 overall, earning $950,652. Don Tiger’s homebred paid $3.60 to win.
Starting from the pylon post, driver David Miller pushed for position with Perfect Sting to race third to a :26.2 first quarter set by Chase H Hanover. Miller slid Perfect Sting off the pegs to the backstretch and overtook Chase H Hanover to commandeer the field before a :55 half. The Joe Holloway pupil remained headstrong to the final turn, gaining separation on Chase H Hanover to three-quarters in 1:22.3 and widening his lead through the stretch. He stayed to task in a straightaway sprint to stop the clock in 1:49.2 and finish three lengths better than Chase H Hanover.
Abuckabett Hanover ground first over through the mile to take third, holding off a late charge from Southwind Petyr kicking off his cover in fourth. I’ll Drink To That rounded the finalists in fifth.
“It was but this was different from what it has been of late,” trainer Joe Holloway said after the race. “He got home well today. He paced through the wire strong today – I was happy to see that. I don’t think he gets the respect he deserves. Last year certainly he did. But this year he has danced every dance and been there at the wire but he probably lost a few he should have won. He has been the most consistent of the 3-year-olds.”
Perfect Sting, a colt from a family of Holloway graduates in sire Always B Miki and dam Shebestingin, won his sixth race from 15 starts this season and his 16th from 25 in his career. The homebred for Brittany Farms LLC and Val D’Or Farms has banked $1,508,147 and returned $2.40 to win.
Ambassador Hanover, Cuatro De Julio spring minor upsets
by Frank Cotolo, for the Breeders Crown
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ambassador Hanover and trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt took control of the first of two $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings from the start, and dictated the fractions to win in a career best 1:51.2.
With Logan Park finding the pocket and Plumville Prince behind him, Ambassador Hanover dominated through quarters of :27.1, :55.1 and 1:23.3 before striding clear to win by 2-1/4 lengths. Logan Park, who never left the pylons, finished second, and Ritson was best of the rest, including Fly Light, Svanstedt’s other entry, who closed from far back to get fourth. In Range finished fifth to also secure a berth in next Saturday's (Oct. 30) $650,000 final.
Ambassador Hanover is a Hanover Shoe Farms-bred son of Chapter Seven who has now earned $551,114. Svanstedt shares ownership with Order By Stable, Howard & Judith Taylor and Diamond Creek Farms. Ambassador Hanover paid $9.40 to win.
Svanstedt said he was a little surprised by his colt:
“He was the best I ever felt him.”
About the equipment change, he said, “I like to race them without shoes,” and he makes the decision to do so on the day of the race.
In the second elimination for sophomore male trotters, Cuatro De Julio, with Lucas Wallin driving, closed from third-over to upset 1-5 favorite Jujubee in 1:52.2. The Trixton colt settled behind Jujubee mid-pack as Balenciaga and Inaminute Hanover rushed to the top early. Johan Palema sat in the catbird seat through the :27.2 first quarter with Delayed Hanover behind him.
Johan Palema left his cozy spot and, at the :56.1 half, was challenged for the lead in a brief duel by Delayed Hanover, who took over down the stretch to cut three-quarters in 1:25.1. Jujubee, who crept behind Delayed Hanover, had plenty of trot left late in the stretch and closed before Cuatro De Julio, on Jujubee’s tail throughout, stepped easily to the front to win by a neck.
Jujubee finished second with Delayed Hanover third. Dancinginthedark M shook loose late to catch the fourth spot, and Inaminute Hanover made the final finishing fifth.
Marie Ortolan Bar trains Cuatro De Julio, who paid $15,000 to win, for D Farm LLC. Dream With Me Stable is the breeder.
Ortolan Bar said that she has “special shoes for him. We had issues with his feet. We now have shoes he likes. He is a very sensitive, strong horse.”
Bella Bellini rebounds; Altar impresses in Crown trot elims
by Jerry Connors, for the Breeders Crown
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Hambletonian Oaks winner Bella Bellini won her $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 23) at The Meadowlands — but Altar, the winner of the other elimination, went over a second faster.
Now 9-for-16 for the season but coming off two close second-place finishes, Bella Bellini was sent off as the 3-5 favorite from post seven in a field of 10, and driver Dexter Dunn got her in sixth as the three horses to her outside all blasted away. Herculisa bypassed the three-hole to the :27.4 quarter and went by Adirondack; You Ato Dream was soon on the attack and made the lead near the half in :56. Bella Bellini moved outside entering the far turn behind the cover of Donna Soprano, but when that one came up flat, she had to tip three-deep at the 1:24.4 three-quarters. The daughter of Bar Hopping was powerful through the lane, chewing up ground to the lead with ease, and went on to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.4.
Herculisa put in a big rebounding mile from a break in the Filly Futurity to take second; 124-1 shot Chablis, one of the outside leavers, came through for third, ahead of You Ato Dream and Shirley Goodness.
Bella Bellini is owned by breeder David McDuffee; she is out of the top mare Bella Dolce, a daughter of Pizza Dolce, whom McDuffee also raced with great success.
Trainer Richard "Nifty" Norman continued his fantastic season, and he won this Crown division in 2013 with Horse of the Year Bee A Magician. While he wasn’t thrilled with Bella Bellini's cover, he indicated that “she only needs a little cover to set up her late move.”
Altar, who was sent off as the 6-5 favorite in this elimination after two stakes wins at Lexington, left from post seven in the field of nine and eyed the three-hole as pacesetter Amazone Duharas approached the :27.1 quarter. But Yannick Gingras bypassed the tuck and sent her to the lead nearing mid-backstretch, passing the half in :55.4. The victorious daughter of champion racehorse and sire Muscle Hill sped things up to a 1:23.2 three-quarters, then still was strong in a :28 quarter to complete a 1:51.2 mile 3-3/4 lengths ahead – and three-fifths of a second faster than the Championship record for this division set by Next Level Stuff last year.
Iteration and Splash Blue Chip, who sat third and fourth much of the mile, angled out for room in upper stretch and closed for second and third, respectively; Anoka Hanover, out the mile from an outer post, did well for fourth, with Amazone Duharas lasting for the last qualifying spot.
Altar ran her record to six for 11 this year, with the homebred’s lifetime earnings going to $219,373, with another $325,000 possibly awaiting another seven days hence. Gingras has won this division of the Breeders Crown three times, while “trainer Takter” has also worn this Crown three times – Altar’s trainer Nancy hopes to set out on the road to match her father Jimmy’s triple in this classification.
$650,000 Breeders Crown — 3-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
1. Amazone Duharas (James MacDonald, Denis Gueriel)
2. Shirley Goodness (David Miller, Melanie Wrenn)
3. Bella Bellini (Dexter Dunn, Nifty Norman)
4. Chablis (Yannick Gingras, Jonas Czernyson)
5. Altar (Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter)
6. Anoka Hanover (Andy McCarthy, Noel Daley)
7. Splash Blue Chip (Åke Svanstedt, Åke Svanstedt)
8. Iteration (Brian Sears, Marcus Melander)
9. You Ato Dream (Jeff Gregory, Jeff Gregory)
10. Herculisa (Brett Miller, Virgil Morgan Jr.)
AE1. Donna Soprano (Bob McClure, Luc Blais)
AE2. May Karp (Tim Tetrick, Lucas Wallin)
Norman fillies sweep exacta in Crown elimination
by Jay Bergman, for the Breeders Crown
Trainer Richard “Nifty” Norman’s dynamic sophomore fillies Grace Hill and Fire Start Hanover put on a thrilling stretch duel, finishing one-two in Saturday’s (Oct. 23) $25,000 single elimination for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old filly pace at The Meadowlands. Todd McCarthy guided Grace Hill to a 1:50.3 score, gamely holding off her stablemate to prevail by a head.
Grace Hill left sharply for the front at the start, but yielded to Notorious Pink before making a regaining move for McCarthy past the :27.4 opening quarter. Fire Start Hanover overcame post 10 to settle in a spot on the first turn, and she was flushed without cover near the :56 opening half. Grace Hill and McCarthy hit the accelerator on the far turn, pacing a solid :27 third quarter while Fire Start Hanover made up ground and towed Blue Diamond Eyes behind her in second-over position.
Grace Hill tried to break away from her rivals, but the tenacious Fire Start Hanover, last year’s Breeders Crown juvenile champion, kept plodding away with driver Dexter Dunn’s encouragement and continued to close in on her stablemate. At the finish line, Grace Hill survived a three-filly photo with Fire Start Hanover to her outside and Blue Diamond Eyes a lane farther out but lapped on the top pair in third.
Grace Hill, a daughter of Always B Miki and Western Silk, won for the seventh time this season for owner Tom Hill and returned $4.00 as the public’s choice.
The single elimination put eight fillies into the final, with Notorious Pink, Think Of Galaxies, Mackie Hanover, Marsala Hanover and Shezafreaklikeme joining the top three finishers in advancing. Division leader Test Of Faith and Jugette champion Scarlett Hanover accepted byes and will join the finalists.
Grace Hill took a misstep in early stretch, but recovered quickly for McCarthy.
“She showed her guts to come back,” said McCarthy of the gritty sophomore filly.
By virtue of her elimination win, Grace Hill drew for a post position between one and five for the final before the remainder of the field took part in an open draw.
The Breeders Crown finals for 3-year-olds and upward will take place at The Meadowlands on Saturday (Oct. 30).
The complete field, with post positions, nominated drivers, and trainers, is as follows:
$600,000 Breeders Crown — 3-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
1. Notorious Pink (Andy McCarthy, Tony Alagna)
2. Marsala Hanover (Scott Zeron, Linda Toscano)
3. Think Of Galaxies (Mark MacDonald, John McDermott)
4. Shezafreaklikeme (Andy Miller, Stacy Chiodo)
5. Grace Hill (Todd McCarthy, Nifty Norman)
6. Mackie Hanover (Tim Tetrick, Tom Fanning)
7. Blue Diamond Eyes (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke)
8. Test Of Faith (David Miller, Brett Pelling)
9. Fire Start Hanover (Dexter Dunn, Nifty Norman)
10. Scarlett Hanover (Yannick Gingras, Ashleigh Hensley)
AE1. Paulas Bet Hanover (Chris Page, Ron Burke)
AE2. Beach Crazy (James MacDonald, Stacy Chiodo)
This Is The Plan in time in Crown elim
by Ray Cotolo, for the Breeders Crown
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ron Burke pupil This Is The Plan fired off stablemate Cattlewash’s helmet coming for home and landed his nose in front at the beam to win the $25,000 elimination for the Breeders Crown Open Pace on Saturday (Oct. 23) at The Meadowlands.
Driver Yannick Gingras fired the 6-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding off the car but took a spot in fourth while Warrawee Vital clicked the first quarter in :27 with Cattlewash in the pocket. Nicholas Beach brushed for the lead out of third approaching a :55.1 half, and maintained his speed to the final turn as Cattlewash started to float off the pegs.
By three-quarters in 1:22.3, Nicholas Beach held a shrinking lead as Cattlewash laid pursuit to the pacesetter heading for home. This Is The Plan stalked Cattlewash’s attack before Gingras moved to strike into the eighth pole. With each stride, This Is The Plan bore down on Cattlewash and, with enough momentum, got by at the line in a 1:49.3 mile. Enavant rallied through traffic to take third and Warrawee Vital popped by Nicholas Beach to snag fourth.
“[Cattlewash is] a nice horse too. This Is The Plan is sharp, still. People think he may be a little on the backside, but Allywag is just so sharp,” Gingras said after the race. “Today, without Allywag in there, he took advantage of it. [All] credit goes to the Burke Brigade. They do a great job of keeping horses, not only for a year, but able to come back year after year.”
This Is The Plan scored his sixth victory from 22 starts this season and his 20th win from 91 starts in his career, earning $2,553,469. Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Lawrence Karr own the $19.40 winner.
Workin Ona Mystery, Nicholas Beach and Ruthless Hanover also advance to the $600,000 final, joining bye recipients Allywag Hanover, Catch The Fire and Ocean Rock.
$600,000 Breeders Crown — Open Pace
1. Warrawee Vital (Trevor Henry, Rob Fellows)
2. Workin Ona Mystery (Tim Tetrick, Ron Burke)
3. Enavant (Bob McClure, Luc Blais)
4. This Is The Plan (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke)
5. Cattlewash (David Miller, Ron Burke)
6. Nicholas Beach (Joe Bongiorno, Jennifer Bongiorno)
7. Ocean Rock (Dan Noble, Christi Noble)
8. Allywag Hanover (Todd McCarthy, Brett Pelling)
9. Catch The Fire (Scott Zeron, Todd Luther)
10. Ruthless Hanover (Andy McCarthy, Tom Cancelliere)
AE1. Dorsoduro Hanover (Brian Sears, Ron Burke)
AE2. Captain Barbossa (Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna)
Rocknificent repels arch rivals in Mare Pace elimination
by Frank Cotolo, for the Breeders Crown
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Rocknificent finally defeated 1-2 favorite Lyon Sentinel after following her home second in six races since July this season, winning the lone elimination of the Breeders Crown Mare Pace on Saturday (Oct. 23) at The Meadowlands.
The field left evenly with the outside mares leaving quickly but unable to find good spots as Indiana Sires Stakes champion Rockin Nola grabbed the lead over Rocknificent and Peaky Sneaky. Atop for fractions of :26.2, :55 and 1:21.4, Rockin Nola was challenged going into the stretch as Peaky Sneaky came out from her cover and Lyons Sentinel made a move on the outside.
Rocknificent and driver Scott Zeron had no trouble shaking those two off, leaving Rockin Nola behind to win in 1:48.4. Peaky Sneaky held for second; Lyons Sentinel got third.
”She’s the picture of consistency; she’s just a sweetheart,” said Toscano. “It’s absolutely amazing that she can leave as many weeks as she does and still come back to him with two fingers.”
Linda Toscano trains the Captaintreacherous filly, who was bred by Deo Volente Farms LLC and TLP Stable. Rocknificent, who paid $7.60 to win, has now earned $968,662 for owners Enviro Stable LTD, South Mountain Stables and Little E LLC.
In addition to the top three elimination finishers, JK First Lady, Rockin Nola, Keep Rockin A and Marloe Hanover also made next Saturday's (Oct. 30) $330,000 Breeders Crown final, along with Drama Act, Racine Bell and So Much More, who were awarded byes.
$330,000 Breeders Crown — Mare Pace
1. Rocknificent (Scott Zeron, Linda Toscano)
2. Peaky Sneaky (Dexter Dunn, Nancy Takter)
3. So Much More (James MacDonald, Don Beatson)
4. Lyons Sentinel (Tim Tetrick, Jim King Jr.)
5. JK First Lady (David Miller, Nancy Takter)
6. Keep Rockin A (Andy McCarthy, Nifty Norman)
7. Racine Bell (Jason Bartlett, David Dewhurst)
8. Rockin Nola (Joey Putnam, Joe Putnam)
9. Marloe Hanover (Brian Sears, Nifty Norman)
10. Drama Act (Chris Page, Ron Burke)
AE1. Treacherous Reign (Bob McClure, Tony Alagna)
AE2. Sweet Lucy Lou (Todd McCarthy, Robert Cleary)
Atlanta stands tall in Crown Mare Trot elim
by Jay Bergman, for the Breeders Crown
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — World champion Atlanta, in search of her first career Breeders Crown victory, secured an inside position for next Saturday's (Oct. 30) $300,000 Mare Trot final with a powerful 1:52.1 victory in the lone $25,000 divisional elimination, held Saturday afternoon (Oct. 23) at The Meadowlands.
Atlanta, the 2018 Hambletonian champion, won for the 31st time in her storied career, holding her ground amid a bevy of late challengers by a determined three-quarter-length margin.
Leaving from the pole position, regular pilot Yannick Gingras had Atlanta away smoothly, yielding just to the speedy early sprint of Felicityshagwell S into the first turn. After Felicityshagwell S and Åke Svanstedt led the way through the opening quarter of :27.3, Gingras moved Atlanta on the backstretch ahead of When Dovescry to get the front end. Atlanta waltzed to the half in :56.4 as When Dovescry and her driver, David Miller, accepted the first-over grind through the final half mile.
Atlanta cruised to three-quarters in 1:24.3 with When Dovescry on her flank and Felicityshagwell S positioned behind her in the pocket. She then hit high gear in the homestretch, leaving those two battling for minor spoils. A :27.3 final quarter secured victory for the 6-year-old daughter of Chapter Seven, whom Ron Burke trains.
Atlanta, sent off as the 2-5 choice in the field of 10, returned $2.80 to win. When Dovescry held bravely for second, with Refined closing sharply late for third. Following the top three into next week's final were Felicityshagwell S, Ramona Hill, Sorella, Next Level Stuff and Thankful NO. Hypnotic AM and Weslynn Quest, whose respective connections accepted byes on their behalf, will complete the 10-mare field.
Owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Bradley Grant and Howard Taylor, Atlanta will look to surpass $3 million in career earnings in the Breeders Crown final.
“She wasn’t nearly on her game today,” said Gingras following the victory. “But she’s a champion.”
The complete field, with post positions, nominated drivers, and trainers, are as follows:
$300,000 Breeders Crown — Mare Trot
1. Refined (Brett Miller, Virgil Morgan Jr.)
2. Atlanta (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke)
3. Thankful NO (Trond Smedshammer, Trond Smedshammer)
4. Sorella (Dexter Dunn, Nancy Takter)
5. Ramona Hill (Andy McCarthy, Tony Alagna)
6. Felicityshagwell S (Åke Svanstedt, Åke Svanstedt)
7. When Dovescry (David Miller, Brett Pelling)
8. Hypnotic AM (Brian Sears, Marcus Melander)
9. Weslynn Quest (Kasper Foget, Per Engblom)
10. Next Level Stuff (Tim Tetrick, Jim Campbell)
AE1. Absattitudexpress (Scott Zeron, Lucas Wallin)
AE2. May Baby (James Yoder, James Yoder)
