Contenders Make Final Preps for ‘Crown’ Eliminations

By Frank and Ray Cotolo

(BC) denotes Breeders Crown eligible

In the final week of preparations before the eliminations for the Breeders Crown at Hoosier Park, “Crown” eligibles were in competitions at Hoosier Park and Yonkers Raceway along the Grand Circuit, readying for the two nights of eliminations on Friday, Oct. 20 and Saturday, Oct. 21. 

Fillies highlighted the Thursday, Oct. 12 stakes at Hoosier Park, with the freshmen competing in the $53,800 Madison County Pace and the $73,600 Madison Country Trot, and sophomores going in the $50,000 Circle City Pace. 

Odds-on favourite Aims Whisper (BC-Bettor’s Delight) was bested in the final strides by long-shot Gate Speed in the Madison County Pace, timed in 1:52.2. Gate Speed, sent off at 47-1, returned $97.40 to win. 

Msnaughtyashill (BC-Muscle Hill) went wire to wire in the Madison Country Trot, winning in 1:56 over Deschanel (BC-Yankee Glide) and Baby Wants (BC-Conway Hall). owned by Denise Dennis and Dolne Farm Services LLC, trained by Jeff Edwards, and driven by Sam Widger, she paid $17.40 to win. 

Agent Q (BC-Western Terror) won the Circle City Pace in 1:52.1 going wire to wire. The $2.20 winner, owned by Martin Scharf, Rochetti Cassar Racing and Robert Muscara, is trained by Aaron Lambert and was driven by David Miller. 

Colts competed Saturday, Oct. 14 at Hoosier Park, with freshmen going in two divisions of the $92,000 Madison County Trot and one $73,300 dash of the Madison County Pace, and sophomores going in two splits of the $70,000 Circle City Trot and $75,500 Circle City Pace. 

Samo Different Day (BC-Cantab Hall) won the first division of the Madison County Trot in a track-record 1:54.4 over Moosonee (BC-Explosive Matter) and Banker Twentyfive (BC-Break The Bank K). Owned by Christina Takter and Samo Partners and  driven by trainer Jimmy Takter, he paid $3.00. 

Sweeping into contention late, Johny Victory (BC-Andover Hall) took the other division of the Madison County Trot, winning in 1:56.1. Conditioned by John Butenschoen for owners William Wiswell, Jean Goehlen, and Eugene Schick, David Miller drove the $6.80 winner. 

Tony Alagna-trainee Stay Hungry (BC-Somebeachsomewhere) took control after the quarter and paced through the wire on top in the Madison County Pace, going a mile of 1:52.1 in front of favorite Karpathian Kid (BC-Somebeachsomewhere) and Antagonist (BC-A Rocknroll Dance). Owned by Brad Grant and Irwin Samelman and driven by Trace Tetrick, he paid $5.20 to win. 

Rubio (BC-Cantab Hall) won as the favorite in the first division of the Circle City Trot, winning in 1:53.4. Owned by Christina Takter, John Fielding, Brixton Medical Inc., and Jim Fielding and driven by trainer Jimmy Takter, he paid $5.40 to win. 

Division two of the Circle City Trot was taken by favorite Two Am, besting Moonshiner Hanover (BC-Andover Hall) by a head, with Shake It Off Lindy (BC-Crazed) behind in third. Two Am paid $4.40 to win. 

Eddard Hanover (BC-Dragon Agaain) rallied from off cover to win the first division of the Circle City Pace in 1:51, finishing a half length in front of Independent One (BC-Rocknroll Hanover). Owned by Burke Racing Stable, JJK Stables, Lawrence Karr, and Weaver Bruscemi, trained by Ron Burke, and driven by Ricky Macomber Jr., he paid $6.20 to win. 

Sent the even-money favorite, Major Moe (BC-Art Major) finished third in the second Circle City Pace division, with Jk Parlay, a $9.60 winner, winning in 1:52.2. 

Aged horses went in two $250,000 invitational events at Yonkers Raceway on the undercard of the International Trot Saturday, October 14. 

All Bets Off (BC-Bettor’s Delight) fanned off cover from Keystone Velocity (BC-Western Hanover) and edged to a nose victory in the $250,000 Dan Rooney Invitational Pace, going in 1:51.4. Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Farnk Baldachino and The Panhellenic Stable Corp., trained by Ron Burke, and driven by Matt Kakaley, he paid $8.00 to win. 

Crazy Wow (BC-Crazed) commandeered the field and went wire to wire going a mile-and-a-quarter in the $250,000 Harry Harvey Invitational Trot, besting pocket-rider Lookslikeacpndale (BC-Muscle Hill) in 2:25. Owned by Our Horse Cents Stables, Stable 45, Jerry and Theresa Silva Stables, and Deo Volente Farms, trained by Ron Burke, and driven by Yannick Gingras, he paid $5.00.