Full Breeders Crown Elim Recap
PEBBLE BEACH AND BYTHEMISSAL SKIP TO IMPRESSIVE SCORES IN THEIR BREEDERS CROWN ELIMS
Chris Lomon, Woodbine Communications / @WoodbineComms
Photos By New Image Media
MILTON, October 22, 2022 - Two standout sophomore colts, Pebble Beach and Bythemissal, punched their tickets to the big dance in a pair of $33,750 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Pace eliminations, Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
In a week’s time, Pebble Beach and Bythemissal will find out if they are fit for a ‘Crown.’
On this night, each showed they have the credentials to lay claim to that coronation.
The first division saw an absolutely dominating performance courtesy of Pebble Beach.
Birthday, 35-1, was sent to the front early with fellow longshot 33-1 Dalby Hanover picking up the chase in second, Magical Arthur sat third and 1-5 choice Pebble Beach tucked in fourth through an opening panel in :26.2.
Pebble Beach was then on the move, as Todd McCarthy guided the multiple stakes winner to the front and through a half in :54.1.
Ahead by 2 ½ lengths after three-quarters reached in 1:22.0, Pebble Beach, coming into his Crown elimination off a victory in the $363,500 Tattersalls Pace on October 9, darted away from his rivals with ease down the lane, cruising to a geared down 2 ¾-length triumph in 1:48.3.
Birthday held for second, while a hard-charging Ponda Warrior rallied to net third spot. Also qualifying for next Saturday’s final were Fourever Boy and Dreamfair Arnie B, who finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
WITH THE WIN, PEBBLE BEACH IS UNDEFEATED IN FOUR STARTS AT WOODBINE MOHAWK PARK, WITH HIS BIGGEST WIN COMING IN THE $1 MILLION PEPSI NORTH AMERICA CUP ON JUNE 18.
“This was the best he’s been,” said trainer Noel Daley. “He finished it off. Todd said he was like a different horse tonight. I don’t know if it was the Lasix that made the difference but tonight, that was even better than he was earlier in the year. He was really sharp during the week here, literally kicking his shoes off in the paddock. So, I’m glad he just finished it off and showed that he’s back to form.”
After some tough recent results at The Red Mile, Pebble Beach was back on track and back in the winner’s circle.
“You know, it was disappointing all the time,” offered Daley. “I just knew he was better than that.”
A son of Downbytheseaside, Pebble Beach posted his 14th win in 25 starts this season and has now amassed over $1.4 million in lifetime earnings for owners Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Country Club Acres and LAExpressFoderaDeoVolente.
Bred by Brittany Farm, the bay colt was an $85,000 purchase at the 2020 Lexington Select Sale as Hip No. 710.
Bythemissal continued his dream season with a strong effort in the second elimination.
It was second choice on the tote board I Did It Myway who overtook Greatest Ending for the lead into the first turn, with Bythemissal sitting third and Mad Max Hanover in fourth, as the pacesetter brought the field to the opening quarter in :27.2.
Chris Page, in rein to Bythemissal, was on the march soon after, and the duo struck front, 1 ½ lengths ahead of I Did It Myway after a half reached in :54.4.
The pair were still one-two after three-quarters in 1:23.0 and began to pull away from their foes down the lane. I Did It My Way looked to reel in his rival in the late going, but Bythemissal wouldn’t be denied, going on to post a three-quarter length score in 1:49.1. Greatest Ending, Mad Max Hanover and Captain Cowboy also earned a spot in next Saturday’s final.
“I’m always a little apprehensive, who’s on the outside, but the horse felt really good,” said Page. “Kind of got a nice third-quarter breather, so I knew he’d have a pretty good punch coming home.”
It was yet another polished performance from this year’s Little Brown Jug victor, trained by Ron Burke, who co-owns with Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The Downbytheseaside-Dismissal gelding became the first Ohio-bred Jug champion since 1988 winner BJ Scoot.
Now, the bay who won his only two-year-old start, banking $3,000 for the victory, will have the opportunity to add another piece of serious standardbred hardware to his connections’ trophy case.
Bythemissal will also carry a five-race win streak into next Saturday’s showdown with Pebble Beach and eight other rivals.
“Who would’ve thought that from there [Little Brown Jug], I would be here talking to you for the Breeders Crown,” Page told Mark McKelvie after the race. “To win the Jug, that was definitely the top of my bucket list, and this is up there near the top, so we’ve got to finish next week.”
WITH THE WIN, BYTHEMISSAL, WHO PAID $3.50 FOR THE WIN, IS NOW 13-2-0 FROM 15 STARTS.
Bred by Stephen Dey, the gelding was a $135,000 purchase (Hip No. 794) at the 2020 Lexington Select Sale.
KING OF THE NORTH, DOUBLE DECEIVER UPSET IN BREEDERS CROWN ELIMINATIONS
Ray Cotolo, for Woodbine Communications
Photos By New Image Media
MILTON, October 22, 2022 - Double-digit dividends paid off the winners of each $33,750 elimination for the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Trot on Saturday night (Oct. 22) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with King Of The North delivering at odds of 28-1 and Double Deceiver scoring at 7-1.
Leaving from post 9, driver Mark MacDonald hustled King Of The North off the wings and kept him flat to lead to a :26.4 first quarter with Twin B Archie in the pocket and Pretender racing third. King Of The North continued to roll on the lead through a :55.4 half while readying for a first-over challenge from Pretender. MacDonald then uncorked the Ray Schnittker trainee to three-quarters and widened to an open-length lead to three-quarters in 1:23.
Clear coming for home, King Of The North soon faced a diminishing lead with Branded By Lindy closing ground from a second-over trip. Branded By Lindy loomed nearer with each stride, but King Of The North clung to victory by a half length in 1:51.1. Fast As The Wind closed for third with Hambletonian champ Cool Papa Bell and Twin B Archie rounding the finalists.
“He’s a super sure-footed horse, he just kind of touched his knee a little bit and put a bobble in,” Mark MacDonald said after the race. “I was ready for him; he’ll do that sometimes, so I had a good hold of him and he just came right back trotting. He was still wanting to get into gear, so I kept going forward.”
“He’s a good horse,” MacDonald also said. “I think I read his obituary in August on the USTA, but we started the year off and were just trying to target him… and unfortunately, he made a break in the Hambletonian. We were targeting him for the later races. If we come out of here with a Breeders Crown ‘W’, it’d still be a successful year.”
KING OF THE NORTH ADDED TO AN ACCOUNT NOW WORTH $829,255 WITH HIS SEVENTH VICTORY FROM 22 STARTS. THE WALNER COLT, FROM THE DONATO HANOVER MARE CHECK ME OUT, RACES FOR OWNERS SCHNITTKER WAR, ARDEN HOMESTEAD STABLE, NOLAMAURA RACING LLC AND STEVEN ARNOLD. STEVE JONES AND RAY SCHNITTKER BRED THE COLT WHO PAID $59.20 TO WIN.
A lane opened at the pylons for ground-saving Double Deceiver to dash through and outsprint Slay to the finish of a 1:52.4 mile in the first elimination.
World At War Deo darted from the outermost post in the octet to lead the field by a :28.1 first quarter before Temporal Hanover swept to the front up the backside. Temporal Hanover then coasted around the final turn as Golden Wall As pushed uncovered along the rim with Slay in tow and Double Deceiver sticking to the cones in the rear of the field.
Past three-quarters in 1:25.1, the field swarmed Temporal Hanover as he drifted and soon retreated through the pack. Golden Wall As surged to a narrow lead in midstretch until Double Deceiver accelerated through the gap developed at the pylons for a near-last to first blitz in the stretch. Slay slung off Golden Wall As’s cover to give chase but only gave pursuit to take second in a 1:52.4 mile, beaten a head. Golden Wall As finished third with Keg Stand and World At War Deo completing the finalists.
“I never used him, stayed to the inside and when we got room, he exploded,” winning driver David Miller said after the race. “If he’d had gotten room [in the Kentucky Futurity], he would’ve been real close. In hindsight… yeah, it didn’t hurt him. But I’m just glad to see him get into the final and actually win. Now we’re looking pretty good.”
DOUBLE DECEIVER, A GELDING BY CANTAB HALL FROM THE DONATO HANOVER MARE SARCY, COLLECTED HIS 10TH WIN FROM 23 STARTS AND HAS NOW EARNED $568,354 FOR OWNER PINSKE STABLES. CARTER PINSKE TRAINS THE GELDING BRED BY STEVE STEWART AND OAKWOOD FARMS WHO PAID $17.90 TO WIN.
With their elimination victories, King Of The North and Double Deceiver earned a protected draw between posts 1 and 5 for the $675,000 final next Saturday (Oct. 29) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
NEW CANADIAN RECORD FOR JIGGY JOG S: BREEDERS CROWN 3 YEAR OLD TROT ELIMINATIONS
Heather MacKay, for Woodbine Communications
Photos by New Image Media
MILTON, October 22, 2022 - Jiggy Jog S and Joviality S were impressive winners in the two $33,750 Breeders Crown eliminations for three-year-old trotting fillies tonight at Woodbine Mohawk Park with the former establishing a new track and Canadian record with her 1:51.2 performance.
Her division was reduced by one with the scratch of Lilbitalexis. That race saw Doug McNair send Baby Longstocking straight to the front from post 10 but she was quickly passed by Fashion Schooner well before the :28 first quarter.
Tim Tetrick had Fashion Schooner by the half in :56.3 and the three quarters in 1:23.4. He tried to open up a few lengths on the competition but it wasn’t enough to hold off favourite Jiggy Jog S and Dexter Dunn who were first at the wire reached in 1:51.2. Fashion Schooner held for second. Also qualifying for next week’s final were Raised By Lindy, Bare My Soul and Venerable.
The time represents a new track record at the Campbellville oval as well as a Canadian record for two-year-old trotting fillies on a seven-eighths mile track, shaving a tick off the previous standard set two years ago by Sorella.
“We got away in a good spot following Yannick’s horse (Raised By Lindy). We weren’t too far off them and coming to the three-quarters we had a good helmet to follow. Timmy did get away on us but she’s so sharp right now. Her win in the Filly Futurity was massive. As soon as I tipped her off cover she accelerated quick,” explained Dunn.
Heading into next week’s final he noted: “It’s a great bunch, obviously Joviality is an amazing filly, it will be a good race for sure. My filly won on the front at Lexington, she came from behind tonight, she’s very versatile. We’ll see how it goes.”
As for the track record he said: “She was doing it pretty easy, she definitely had a lot more left tonight. It’s exciting going into next week.”
AKE SVANSTEDT TRAINS THE WINNER FOR OWNER JORGEN SPARREDAL OF FLORIDA. TONIGHT’S EFFORT IMPROVED HER SUMMARY TO 7-3-0 IN 12 OUTINGS THIS YEAR.
It was Tetrick on top early in the first elimination as well with Misswalner Fashion who trotted by the opening quarter in :26.4. She was covered up by last weekend’s Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final winner Mischievous Rose well before the :55.2 half and she hit the third quarter in 1:24.3 for Louis-Philippe Roy.
As they entered the lane it appeared to be a three way race between Mischevious Rose, Misswalner Fashion and Pure Countess but never count out a favourite with Brian Sears in the bike.
Joviality S never saw the rail throughout the race getting away in eighth in the early going and picking up some cover in the outer lane on the backside. As the field raced towards the finish Joviality was four or five wide and closing hard causing announcer Ken Middleton to declare: “This filly is flat out flying.” She flew by her competition to win in 1:52.1.
It was a close finish for the remaining qualifying spots in the final earned, in order, by Misswalner Fashion, Pure Countess, Warrawee Xenia and Mischievous Rose.
A DAUGHTER OF CHAPTER SEVEN OWNED BY COURANT INC. OF FLORIDA, JOVIALITY IS TRAINED BY MARCUS MELANDER WHO ADMITTED HE WASN’T TOO CONFIDENT WHEN HE SAW THE TRIP SHE WAS GETTING.
“In the last turn I thought this will be tough. I thought she was going to make the final but it’s so important to win to draw one through five. She’s had such bad luck drawing bad, even tonight she had the nine hole and she overcame it. We will get a good draw for next week.”
For the winner it was her 11th win in 14 trips this year and ups her 2022 bankroll over one million. The Breeders Crown winner during her freshman season, Joviality now has $1.9 million earned in her impressive career to date.
“She’s racing great the whole season. She started out in May and we’re here in October and she’s still in form. She’s just a great horse,” praised Melander.
TEST OF FAITH AND GRACE HILL TAKE BREEDERS CROWN MARE PACE ELIMINATIONS
Jay Bergman, for Woodbine Communications
Photos By New Image Media
MILTON, October 22, 2022 - Test Of Faith and driver David Miller made it interesting but got the job done for the 33rd time in her brilliant career capturing the first of two $33,750 eliminations for the Breeders Crown Mare Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night. The 4-year-old daughter of Art Major held off local favourite So Much More by a nose in a 1:50 1/5 mile.
Test Of Faith had the outside draw in the seven mare field and Miller waited patiently in the early stages allowing first Amazing Dream and then So Much More exchange the lead before moving Test Of Faith with purpose. Following an opening quarter in :26 4/5 Miller and Test Of Faith gained control and from that point set fractions of :55 1/5 and 1:22 4/5 for the middle half with little change in the order as the competition awaited the stretch to tackle the 2021 Horse of the Year.
Amazing Dream and Yannick Gingras pulled first with Chase Lounge second over and Mikala coming up third over while off the leader.
Miller didn’t move a muscle in the stretch but Test Of Faith bore out a bit allowing So Much More and James MacDonald ample room to make a challenge.
So Much More was able to gain ground but Miller confidently nudged Test Of Faith and the brilliant mare responded just enough to keep her nose in front for the win. So Much More would settle for second. Mikala made up good ground for George Brennan to finish third followed by Amazing Dream N and Chase Lounge. The top five will return for the final on October 29.
TRAINED BY BRETT PELLING FOR OWNERS MELVIN SEGAL, KENTUCKIANA RACING STABLE AND EDDIE GRAN, TEST OF FAITH WON FOR THE FIFTH STRAIGHT TIME THIS SEASON AS SHE LOOKS FOR HER SECOND STRAIGHT BREEDERS CROWN TROPHY. SENT OFF AS THE HEAVY FAVOURITE TEST OF FAITH RETURNED $2.40 TO WIN. “SHE DUG IN AND WAS PACING PRETTY HARD TO THE WIRE,” MILLER SAID FOLLOWING THE VICTORY. “SHE HAS A TENDENCY TO WAIT ON THEM WHEN SHE’S ON THE LEAD.”
The second $33,750 Breeders Crown elimination saw driver Doug McNair move from last to first in the homestretch as the 9-5 favourite to get up in a three-mare photo on the wire of a 1:51 2/5 mile. The 4-year-old by Always B Miki found a seam between horses in the final eighth and was airborne crossing the wire for her sixth win of the year.
Easy To Please and Racine Bell both left with purpose with the former grabbing the front into the first turn and the latter taking over as the :27 4/5 first quarter was passed. Brian Sears guided Racine Bell through a pedestrian half of :56 4/5 before Gias Surreal went on the offensive for driver Bob McClure at the half. No Win No Feed A and Dabarndawgswatchin followed second and third over as Racine Bell managed three quarters in 1:24 2/5 and started her sprint home for Sears.
In the homestretch Gias Surreal backed off but No Win No Feed A was closing in steadily on the leader. Easy To Please in the pocket struggled to find racing room as did Fire Start Hanover. In midstretch Grace Hill was able to clear off the pylons and slide into the four path where McNair asked her to pace, and she accelerated instantly.
Grace Hill finished on the far outside just ahead of No Win No Feed A with Racine Bell not far behind in third. Easy To Please cleared late to finish fourth with Gias Surreal holding the final qualifying berth.
GRACE HILL IS OWNED BY TOM HILL OF HAMILTON AND TRAINED BY VIRGIL MORGAN JR. “WE GOT ROOM WHEN WE NEEDED IT,” SAID MCNAIR FOLLOWING THE VICTORY. “SHE DUG IN.” GRACE HILL RETURNED $5.80 AS THE BETTING CHOICE.
CONFEDERATE & HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE TAKE FRESHMAN CROWN ELIMS
Heather MacKay for Hambletonian Society/Woodbine
Photos By New Image Media
MILTON, October 21, 2022 - Two rookie pacing colts, Confederate and Handlelikeaporsche, made their first Canadian starts winning ones in two $33,750 Breeders Crown eliminations tonight at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
One race after his aunt, Charleston, captured her Breeders Crown elimination, Confederate also visited the winners’ circle following the first split for two-year-old pacing colts.
The first division was reduced by one with the scratch of Sounds Good. Ervin Hanover was the swiftest afoot early from post eight and he was covered up by favourite Confederate at the :27.3 first quarter. With Tim Tetrick at the controls, Confederate tripped the halfway timer in :56.2 and was by the third quarter in 1:23.4.
DOWN THE STRETCH SEVERAL COLTS ATTEMPTED TO CHALLENGE BUT CONFEDERATE HELD STRONG AND WAS AT THE WIRE IN 1:50.2
Ervin Hanover took second with Ammo third. Christchurch and Act Fast captured the other spots into next weekend’s final.
It was the fifth straight victory for the son of Sweet Lou owned by breeder Diamond Creek Racing, Pa. and new partner Crossover Racing, Ky. Brian Brown trains Confederate who was making his Canadian debut tonight. His summary improved to 5-0-1 in six starts for just over $300,000 banked.
“My horse is way better at following but the way it shook out I just went ahead and took control. If one of the bettor horses had come I would have followed them. This is a good tightener for him, he hadn’t raced since the (KY) Sires Stakes final in Lexington (September 18). Brian had him ready, he was really sharp tonight. He’s ready to go. I expect him to get through the week healthy. Systems all go, I think he’s a hot horse right now,” praised Tetrick.
There was much talk prior to the race that this was the colt’s first start on Lasix which Tetrick noted: “They’re doing the right thing giving him Lasix to treat him. For me, the horse is very sharp, it didn’t seem to affect him at all, first start Lasix, he paced home really strong.”
Confederate is the first foal of Geothermal, a half-sister to Diamond Creek’s Charleston as well as another of their star pacing mares, Pure Country, a winner of more than $2 million in her career and a Breeders Crown champion during her rookie season in 2015 at Woodbine Racetrack.
The second elimination saw Metro and Ontario Sires Stakes champion Stockade Seelster float out from post 10 to grab the lead for Jody Jamieson just past the opening quarter in :27.2. He paced by the half in :56.2 and the three-quarters in 1:24.
DEXTER DUNN AND HANDLELIKEAPORSCHE, WHO SAT FIFTH THROUGH THE EARLY GOING AND CAME FIRST UP JUST BY THE HALF AND ADVANCED STEADILY IN THE OUTER LANE, PACED HARD ON THE OUTSIDE TO GO BY THE LEADER TO WIN IN 1:51.4
Doug McNair had Huntinthelastdolar flying late to take second while Stockade Seelster held for third. Combustion and Tip Top Cat also advanced to the final.
“He really gives 100 per cent when he’s on the track, tonight he felt great. You can do whatever you want with him, he’s a true professional,” complimented Dunn.
“Every race he’s raced well, he got a little better down in Kentucky. Dexter was thrilled with him tonight, so was I, I thought he raced really good. My horse made his own race coming first over against a very good horse, I’m just thrilled with him,” noted trainer Chris Ryder.
A son of Lazarus N, Handlelikeaporsche is co-owned by Ryder, William Ezzo, Robert Mondillo and Barry Spak. The colt improved his summary to 4-3-0 in just seven starts with $245,000 on his card. He is the first foal of a half-sister to millionaire Vegas Vacation.
$600,000 Breeders Crown – 2-Year-Old Colt Pace
1 – Tip Top Cat (Ron Burke)
2 – Handlelikeporsche (Chris Ryder)
3 – Confederate (Brian Brown)
4 – Christchurch (Nancy Takter)
5 – Huntinthelastdollar (Gregg McNair)
6 – Combustion (Brett Pelling)
7 – Stockade Seelster (Dr. Ian Moore)
8 – Act Fast (Ron Burke)
9 – Ammo (Joe Holloway)
10 – Ervin Hanover (Ron Burke)
AE - Save America (Nancy Takter)
SYLVIA HANOVER AND CHARLESTON TAKE CROWN ELIMINATIONS
Ray Cotolo for Hambletonian Society/Woodbine
Photos by New Image Media
MILTON, October 21, 2022 - The first- and second-place finishers in the Shes A Great Lady last month at Woodbine Mohawk Park are set to spar again over the Campbellville oval after Sylvia Hanover and Charleston took their respective $33,750 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace on Friday night (Oct. 21).
Driver Bob McClure moved Sylvia Hanover out of fourth for the lead after a :26.3 first quarter set by Hungry For Love. McClure kept the reins high and the whip in the air through a :56.3 half as McSeaside swept three wide from the back and began a blitz on the lead to the final turn.
McSeaside cleared Sylvia Hanover into the final turn with Horizontal moving first over from fourth and gaining towards the pacesetter nearing three-quarters. By the third panel in 1:24.2, McSeaside staved the outside challenge of Horizontal all through the stretch, but McClure had ample room to swing off the pegs and to the center of the track with Sylvia Hanover for a final-sixteenth lunge to victory by a length in a 1:51.4 mile. McSeaside held second from Horizontal, with Light And Tight and Proud Mary rounding those advancing to the final next week.
“I kind of let Dexter [Dunn] go,” Bob McClure said after the race. “He was coming really hard, and [Sylvia Hanover’s] been front-ended a lot. I didn’t mind following that one, I figured [she] was going to keep going. And a short field – I was pretty confident we’d get out eventually. I didn’t mind the way it worked out there, but she’s pretty professional. She’s not like most 2-year-olds.”
WINNING HER SEVENTH RACE FROM EIGHT STARTS, SYLVIA HANOVER HAS NOW BANKED $498,300 FOR OWNER HUDSON STANDARDBRED STABLE INC.
The Hanover Shoe Farms-bred daughter of Always B Miki, from the Artiscape mare Shyaway, has been part of a record-setting campaign for the Steacy training operation, which is having its first season with over $2-million in earnings.
“We’ve had a really good year,” said Mark Steacy, father of Sylvia Hanover’s trainer Shawn Steacy. “Hopefully with a win next week, it will make it really impressive. We all work hard at it, and when you do that it usually comes together.
Of Sylvia Hanover, Mark Steacy also said “There’s no end to her. She always seems to give you that little extra. The biggest worry part with her is she gets a little lazy from time to time. And my concern going into this race was [that] it was four weeks from race to race. She schooled a couple times, but it’s not the same as racing.”
Sylvia Hanover paid $2.90 to win.
Charleston, second to Sylvia Hanover in the Shes A Great Lady, posted the faster mile of the two eliminations when she outdueled Strong Poison in the stretch to a 1:50.4 victory.
Strong Poison set an uncontested tempo of :27.4, :56.1 and 1:23.4 with Zanatta drafting from the pocket and Charleston waiting in third. Driver Dexter Dunn pulled Charleston from the pegs midway around the final turn and marched towards Strong Poison, who battled to the inside all through the stretch. The pair scooted well clear of the rest as Charleston kept a neck in front of Strong Poison to the finish. Bellisima Hanover finished well back in third with Zanatta and Sweet Amira rounding the finalists.
“She felt great,” Dexter Dunn said after the race. “She’s been progressing really, really well this year. [We’ve] sort of aimed at this for a long time. [She had] a nice qualifier after the break and a real nice performance tonight. It was a big mile. We got away in a pretty handy spot, but we had to work for it late in the stretch. [Sylvia Hanover] was obviously great again tonight. She’s an amazing filly herself, so we’ll look forward to another battle with her.”
BRETT PELLING TRAINS CHARLESTON, A DIAMOND CREEK FARM HOMEBRED DAUGHTER OF DOWNBYTHESEASIDE FROM THE WESTERN HANOVER MARE WESTERN MONTANA. SHE COLLECTED HER SIXTH VICTORY FROM EIGHT STARTS AND DEPOSITED TO HER ACCOUNT NOW WORTH $186,350. SHE PAID $3.40 TO WIN.
As the elimination winners, Sylvia Hanover and Charleston earn the privilege to draw between posts 1 and 5 for the $600,000 final, which goes to post next Friday (Oct. 28) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
$600,000 Breeders Crown – 2-Year-Old Filly Pace
1 – Charleston (Brett Pelling)
2 – Strong Poison (Ron Burke)
3 – Horizontal (Kevin Benn)
4 – Mcseaside (Ron Burke)
5 – Sylvia Hanover (Shawn Steacy)
6 – Light And Tight (Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman)
7 – Proud Mary (Chris Ryder)
8 – Sweet Amira (Chantal Mitchell)
9 – Bellisima Hanover (Tony Alagna)
10 – Zanatta (Jenn Bongiorno)
AE - Caviart Davia (Tony Alagna)
A SPECIAL FILLY IN BREEDERS CROWN ELIM FOR ROOKIE TROTTERS
Heather MacKay for Hambletonian Society/Woodbine
Photo by New Image Media
MILTON, October 21, 2022 – Special Way extended her winning streak to six with an impressive victory in the lone $33,750 Breeders Crown elimination for two-year-old trotting fillies tonight at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
The top eight finishers from tonight’s elim will be joined by the two talented trotters who received byes into the final. Righteous Resolve, the only Ontario-sired filly in the mix, earned the bye as the highest money earner of the group with well over a half a million on her card from nine starts to date. The Chapter Seven daughter Instagram Model garnered the other spot direct to the final as the winner of the Jim Doherty Memorial final.
As the race got underway it was Secret Volo taking early control for Brian Sears from post eight but they were covered up by Mambacita at the tepid opening quarter in :29. She led the rookies by the easy :58.1 half and just past that point favourite Special Way popped out of third and was at the leader’s wheel at the 1:26.2 third panel.
WITH TRAINER AKE SVANSTEDT AT THE LINES, SPECIAL WAY TROTTED ON BY MAMBACITA AND OPENED UP DOWN THE STRETCH TO WIN BY THREE IN 1:54.1.
Walner Payton got up for second for Dexter Dunn while Mambacita, with Yannick Gingras up for the first time, held for third.
Also qualifying for the final, in order, were Silly Me Hanover, Secret Volo, Life Itself, Blonde Bombshell and Tactical Planner.
A daughter of Walner (who had six offspring in this elimination), Special Way is a homebred of Brittany Farms of Kentucky and Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld of Toronto and Pickering, Ontario. Tonight’s win puts her bankroll just over $400,000 from six wins and a second in eight trips behind the gate so far in her debut season.
This was Special Way’s first start on Canadian soil having contested all of her previous races at the Meadowlands and The Red Mile. She came into tonight’s contest off a victory in the Bluegrass Stake in a life best 1:52, after which co-owner Brittany Farm’s George Segal said she might be the best trotting filly he’s owned which is high praise indeed.
There is history in this event in Special Way’s family as her third dam, Honorable Daughter, won the Breeders Crown final for freshman trotting fillies in 2008 at the Meadowlands with John Campbell up for trainer Larry Remmen.
$600,000 Breeders Crown – 2-Year-Old Filly Trot
1 – Silly Me Hanover (Luc Blais)
2 – Tactical Planner (Dustin Jones)
3 – Instagram Model (Annie Stoebe)
4 – Special Way (Ake Svanstedt)
5 – Mambacita (Tony Alagna)
6 – Walner Payton (Chris Ryder)
7 – Righteous Resolve (John Bax)
8 – Life Itself (Ake Svanstedt)
9 – Blonde Bombshell (Richard ‘Nifty’ Norman)
10 – Secret Volo (Marcus Melander)
AE – Shesundertheradar (Ashley Lendvoy)
GAINES HANOVER AND CELEBRITY BAMBINO SCORE IN CROWN ELIMINATIONS
Photos by NEW IMAGE MEDIA
MILTON, October 21, 2022 - Gaines Hanover and driver Louis Philippe Roy took control of the pace at the quarter pole and then went on to a powerful track record setting (2-Year-Gelded Trotter) performance in capturing the first of two $33,750 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 2-year-old colt and gelding division at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday night.
THE ALTERED SON OF CANTAB HALL SCORED IN A PERSONAL BEST 1:53 CLOCKING.
Sent off as the 5-2 second choice Gaines Hanover and Roy left between horses in the early stages as Gates Hanover left hard inside of him for Ake Svanstedt and The Gruffalo and Winners Bet, the race favorite left outside.
Gates Hanover cleared to the front first followed by The Gruffalo with Todd McCarthy in the bike. With Winners Bet leaving outside of him Roy elected to drive on with Gaines Hanover keeping Winners Bet three deep into the turn and forcing driver Dexter Dunn to settle in fourth before the quarter. Roy and Gaines Hanover drove to the front clocking the opening fraction in :27 4/5.
With much of the field settled in behind him Gaines Hanover and Roy hit the half in :56 2/5 and kept a lively clip going through the third quarter in 1:24 3/5. When rival Gates Hanover pulled on the turn and miscued Gaines Hanover sprinted clear away from his rivals leaving the battle for minor honors and a position in next week’s rich final.
The Gruffalo won the battle for the place spot late as Osceola and driver Doug McNair rallied impressively along the pylons to secure the third spot.
Winners Bet finished fourth guaranteeing a spot in the lucrative final with Spitfire Oversees finishing fifth and reaching the final with the higher earnings of the two fifth-place elimination finishers.
Gaines Hanover is trained by Richard Moreau for owner Gestion J Y Blais Inc of Montreal.
A winner of the Champlain Stakes earlier this year over the Woodbine Mohawk surface, Gaines Hanover won for the third time in six career starts and returned $7.50 as a win mutuel.
“That wasn’t really the plan,” said Roy of a decision to drive on heading into the first turn. “My horse is pretty green it was tough to evaluate him.”
Roy was most impressive by the gelding. “I didn’t know he was going that fast to the half, he trots so efficiently,” Roy said.
Celebrity Bambino and driver Yannick Gingras overcame post nine and posted a minor upset defeating 2-5 favorite and Mohawk Million winner Oh Well in the second $33,750 Crown elimination winning in 1:53 2/5.
The complexion of the race changed early when Crantini broke behind the gate, but Kierkegaard K and Ake Svanstedt left with purpose to take control into the opening bend. Celebrity Bambino and Gingras marched forward to get control at the quarter in :28 1/5.
International Man and driver Dexter Dunn were parked from the outset and needed three-eighths of the mile to clear the front. International Man hit the half in :57 and continued uncontested until Gingras pulled the pocket before the field hit three quarters in 1:25. Celebrity Bambino had favored Oh Well and driver Tim Tetrick breathing down his back into the stretch but the Muscle Hill-sired colt would not be denied on this night trotting powerfully with a :28 2/5 final quarter to win comfortable at odds of 7-1. Oh Well saved ground most of the way but had no answer for the winner in the stretch but did secure the place with early leader Kierkegaard K third over the wire. Dire Straits finished fourth for driver David Miller with fifth place finisher Buckhead Ridge failing to reach the final with limited earnings.
CELEBRITY BAMBINO WAS A WINNER FOR THE THIRD TIME THIS YEAR IN JUST EIGHT STARTS FOR TRAINER RON BURKE. THE MUSCLE HILL-SIRED COLT IS OWNED BY BURKE RACING STABLE LLC, J & T SILVA STABLE, KNOX SERVICES INC., AND PHILLIP COLLURA.
Celebrity Bambino returned $17.40 to win.
“He was my favorite colt training down,” said Gingras of Celebrity Bambino in the winner’s circle. “All credit to Ronnie (Burke). The colt got sick, and Ronnie gave him time to recover.”
Kilmister, the winner of this year’s Peter Haughton Memorial joins the nine qualifiers in the $600,000 final on Friday October 28.
$600,000 Breeders Crown – 2-Year-Old Colt Trot
1 – Gaines Hanover (Richard Moreau)
2 – The Gruffalo (Mark Harder)
3 – Kierkegaard K (Ake Svanstedt)
4 – Celebrity Bambino (Ron Burke)
5 – Kilmister (Marcus Melander)
6 – Spitfire Oversees (Dominic Gladu)
7 – Osceola (Gregg McNair)
8 – Winners Bet (Domenico Cecere)
9 – Oh Well (Marcus Melander)
10 – Dire Straits (Mattias Melander)
AE – Buckhead Ridge (Gregg McNair)
