Aged Breeders Crown Contenders Combat In Friday Meadowlands Card

The first round of Breeders Crown finals are set to go on Friday, Oct. 28 at the Meadowlands, which includes the $250,000 Mare Trot, $421,000 Open Pace, $250,000 Mare Pace, and the $500,000 Open Trot.


B R E E D E R S  C R O W N  F I N A L

Mare Trot ($250,000)

Leading the Mare Trot field is Hannelore Hanover, the season-long force of the division who recently branched off to face male foes in the $480,320 Maple Leaf Trot and the $1-million International Trot. Her resume should make her the favorite over Bee A Magician, who will be making her second start since sustaining an injury in June. If she’s a long enough second choice, around 4-1 or up, Bee A Magician could be the value of the race.

However, the outside duo could also bring decent prices. D’One, making her first start in the United States this season, won the 2015 edition of the Mare Trot handily over our other contender, Shake It Cerry. She enters off of sneakily good qualifiers that could inflate her odds when pinned against the main two.

Shake It Cerry has followed Hannelore Hanover’s path and finished third in the Maple Leaf Trot and enters off a horrible trip in the $250,000 Yonkers Invitational Trot. She has always been sharper on the bigger track and is in no way a lower caliber mare than the others.


B R E E D E R S  C R O W N  F I N A L

Open Pace ($421,000)

Always B Miki is the favorite heading into the Open Pace. Making his penultimate start, the universe’s fastest pacer enters off a 1:48 stroll as the 1-9 favorite in an Open at the Meadowlands. His usual foe, Wiggle It Jiggleit, shouldn’t be a much longer price.

Shamballa is the obvious counter choice to the top two. Chasing Always B Miki in his world-record performance he has also beaten these horses in the August US Pacing Championship on Hambletonian day. He’s always a threat from off the pace and a speed scenario could place him into the race easily. If he is sent at his 8-1 morning line or better, he’d be worth a stab.

From the rail, Split The House is a longer-priced contender in the event of a tiring speed showdown. He makes his second start off a sick scratch and enters off a fourth-place finish against “Miki” where he gained ground as Miki sprinted to the wire. Expect him to be forwardly placed and have some allowance of pace to spend in the stretch.


B R E E D E R S  C R O W N  F I N A L

Mare Pace ($250,000)


The Mare Pace appears to revolve around Lady Shadow, who enters off a 1:48.4 win over a “good” track in her elimination. If she lets loose and glides around the track, she will, theoretically, have an easy time winning this race.

Outside of Lady Shadow, Divine Caroline has been rounding back into form and is always a decent price, racing better than her odds. With the right setup, she could slide into the mix. She’ll likely be a high price because the same scenario that may win her the race may win the race for Frost Damage Blues, who could also offer value if she’s dismissed as her 8-1 morning line entails.


B R E E D E R S  C R O W N  F I N A L

Open Trot ($500,000)


Finally, Resolve charges into the Open Trot as a resounding favorite off a win in the $1-million International Trot. He has stood out among the other free-for-all trotters this season but he has shown he is capable of losing, such as in the $193,000 Crawford Farms Trot, where he lost to Obrigado.

Il Sogno Dream seems to be coming into his best form entering the Open Trot. The rail is a prime position for him to get a stalking spot in the event a challenge for the lead sets up. His efforts in the Allerage Trot and in the Centaur Trotting Classic demonstrate his ability and if he sits closer to the front it could give him the victory.

Windsun Revenge is worth noting here, as well. Entering off of two Preferred wins and a 1:54.1 qualifier, he has the speed to position himself smartly in the race. He’s more likely to be in the prime striking spot but will then be a shorter price, yet could still be value.

Follow the Breeders Crown finals at the Meadowlands on the TwinSpires harness blog with archived reports on the results at the Hambletonian Society web site.