Breeders Crown Exposition Of Eliminations Adorns Meadowlands Weekend

All eyes are on the Meadowlands as the 2016 championship series presents a slew of eliminations for The Breeders Crown on Oct. 21 and Oct. 22. Entries for the $6.2-million “Crown” miles numbered 174 trotters and pacers dropping into the entry box to qualify for the 12-race finals on Friday, Oct. 28, and Saturday, Oct. 29. This is the highest number of entries in the last five years.

There were 68 freshmen and 65 sophomores entered, forcing eliminations in all divisions for Saturday (Oct. 22). So many entries forced the two-year-old filly trotter eliminations to be held Friday (Oct. 21). The Mare Pace elims was the only Open event to split with 14 entries. It will go on Friday night. All frosh finals will go for $600,000, which is the richest purse offered for that age group in North America.

The following open races will go straight to finals on Friday, Oct. 28—the $500,000 Open Trot, with nine entered; the $250,000 Mare Trot with eight entered; the $421,000 Open Pace with 10 entered, including Wiggle It Jiggleit, who supplemented.

Our Breeders Crown Countdown blog covers the two mare-pace elims and the two frosh-filly trotters.

Per division elim below, we cover the rest of the Saturday program, with 14 elims. Check your program for the order of appearances. As regular readers of this blog know, we aim for great prices in eliminations, which are much more available than in the single-race final. We have called some great upsets in Breeders Crown finals over the years but the strength of favorites in finals is far more potent. So, take our elim choices seriously for all betting pool wagers.

Around the tracks action is still under way and plenty of wagering is available, so the TwinSpires horses-to-watch list (H2W) is here, highlighting outside contenders for all types of wagers. Our weekly reminder: No other handicappers cover this much activity and few can brag as much about profiting from choices. You won’t find our best winners on any on-line or hard copy sources. Take these horses seriously when constructing your wagers.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N

Two-year-old colt trot, elim one

Ten frosh boys are involved in the first of two elims for the division and few of them want for wins this season. Devious Man has had one awesome race after another, winning seven of 11. He leaves from the inside and will no doubt have the other nine chasing. Also stacked with wins is Giveitgasandgo (eight for 10), leaving from post 6. Our outside contender has to be Long Tom. His 9-post position should repel many backers but he is a sharp Muscle Hill colt getting better and has every right to get into the final, even if he doesn’t win here. An exotic-bet must, though.

Two-year-old colt trot, elim two

Ten more fill the second elim field with some less recognizable stakes performers (two are still maidens). Ron Burke’s Snowstorm Hanover is certain to get a lot of play and Fly On’s bad break as a top choice in Lexington should be ignored as the crowd looks for investments. We think there should be some value in Bill’s Man, who was strong winning at 7-1 last week at The Red Mile. He is seven for 11 on the board and may be overlooked due to two bad breaks, one at The Meadowlands, and his continuing lack of support in the win pools.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N

Two-year-old colt pace, elim one

Eight young boy pacers are contained in this elim and they may all be behind Huntsville. Ray Schnittker’s son of Somebeachsomewhere has been tearing the division apart, with five wins in eight and three seconds. The 8 post here should not dissuade him from leaving quickly and controlling the pace. However, he has only beaten two of his foes here and there are a few here that could challenge his control and a few who have strong late kicks. McThriller is in a perfect spot, post 5, to make his best charges. At the “Jug” meet, on that four-turn donut-shaped track, he gained 19 lengths to win an Ohio Breeders Championship and the race before that he nailed a stakes consolation from post 8 at Scioto at 12-1. An upset looms boldly.

Two-year-old colt pace, elim two

A field of nine leave in the second chapter for this division. Downbytheseaside will suck in major bucks coming off of a trio of wins and a record of being on the board in 10 starts (as well as a stack of earnings). Jimmy Takter’s Blood Line will also be among the top three public choices.

We offer, however, a probable long shot that fits this race fine, with excuses for two bad recent finishes. From post 1 is Pointomygranson, a Chris Ryder-trained gelding. Toss out his loss in the Pocono conditioner on Oct. 9. He dueled hard for a quarter and tired, still finishing on the purse grid. The Sept. 24 race at Yonkers was a gallant effort from the track’s dreaded post 8. That was a tough state-bred final and he handled himself well in an aggressive albeit losing move. He could light up the board here, showing three great miles before the aforementioned, all with top foes.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N

Two-year-old filly pace, elim one

Division-leader Idyllic Beach gets post 8, to the left of her most recent defeater, Roaring To Go, leaving the insiders to find good spots early, save ground and knock the both of them out of the race. One of those possibilities is That’s The Ticket in post 3. She has been continually racing better than her odds since we nailed her at 58-1 at Mohawk in the heat of August. She was sterling at Lexington and is in another spot to pay off well as an outsider.

Two-year-old filly pace, elim two

This is a difficult field to forecast betting reactions. However, Noel Daley’s V String may be going off with odds larger than her chances. She just won at the Meadows at 9-1 with a strong mid-mile move. Her Lexington race was dull, sure, but she was coming back off of a scratch at the Jug meet. Her Meadowlands Kindergarten losses were a pair of terrific rides and she deserves respect here by those of us digging on a price as a winner and strong exotic partner.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N

Three-year-old colt pace, elim one

Here are eight glamour-boy pacers in round one. Though Racing Hill gets the inside and is coming off of a Kentucky romp that includes some of these colts, Frank Antonacci’s Lindy Beach cold be the late-season star we often see in October. With only five starts and four wins and coming from a zero-win frosh season, this guy is headed for a peak that is not measurable yet. He will be in the perfect spot to haunt Racing Hill and may be able to capture an upset trip. Or, is he good enough to improve and pace away with this? He could be worth the support.  

Three-year-old colt pace, elim two

Betting Line has to race to get into the final. There will be no excuses from post 1 if the scourge of the division doesn’t make it. Still, we are ready to attempt a coup in the elim, at least. Rolling to Betting Line’s right is Manhattan Beach, one of three Burke colts looking for a spot in the final. Staying behind Betting Line all the way around and tipping at just the moment Betting Line intends to draw away, Manhattan Beach can use every last ounce of energy to nip the division’s top dog. That is the best scenario we can hope to take place against the colt that has yogurt twice a day.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N

Three-year-old colt trot, elim one

Marion Marauder comes from winning the Kentucky Futurity and will get full support from the betting majority. He had a fortunate situation in that mile, with Blenheim and Lagerfeld dueling off the gate for command. “Marion” won by a hair over Southwind Frank, who had some equipment trouble late, the kind that could have cost him the winning step, perhaps? “Frank” was the favorite in the futurity but here he will be second choice and if that puts him at 2-1 or up, that makes him the bet here. Not much else shines in this field. We do expect, however, that Sutton, who was bet well before getting an awful futurity trip, will make the final. That means he is a must to include in the exotics (first leg of Pick 4, exacta and trifecta).

Three-year-old colt trot, elim two

The eight going in this round include a few arguments for wagering. Per Henriksen’s Muscle Hustle is in fine fettle, though he broke as the favorite last week in his usual habitat of Ontario. Bar Hopping is Jimmy Takter’s Crown hope in this division and should make the final but can lose here on his way. Takter’s second stringer, Love Matters, however, has a huge shot here, though he won’t offer a juicy win price. The price horse is the one with the weakest argument, Dominion Beach. Just because he has been racing well in low-profile stakes doesn’t mean his wins are any less potent, certainly not in this field. The Nancy Johansson-trained colt had some mid-season stepping problems, keeping him far from the big dances in the division but he is a contender here and with his price, our kind of contender.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N

Three-year-old colt pace, elim one

Here are eight glamour-boy pacers in round one. Though Racing Hill gets the inside and is coming off of a Kentucky romp that includes some of these colts, Frank Antonacci’s Lindy Beach cold be the late-season star we often see in October. With only five starts and four wins and coming from a zero-win frosh season, this guy is headed for a peak that is not measurable yet. He will be in the perfect spot to haunt Racing Hill and may be able to capture an upset trip. Or, is he good enough to improve and pace away with this? He could be worth the support.  

Three-year-old colt pace, elim two

Betting Line has to race to get into the final. There will be no excuses from post 1 if the scourge of the division doesn’t make it. Still, we are ready to attempt a coup in the elim, at least. Rolling to Betting Line’s right is Manhattan Beach, one of three Burke colts looking for a spot in the final. Staying behind Betting Line all the way around and tipping at just the moment Betting Line intends to draw away, Manhattan Beach can use every last ounce of energy to nip the division’s top dog. That is the best scenario we can hope to take place against the colt that has yogurt twice a day.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N

Three-year-old filly trot, elim one

All The Time makes her pari-mutual return in the first of two eliminations. She should be a heavy betting interest despite her two qualifiers since undergoing colic surgery. Yet, Gin And Lindy has the potential to upset from post 9. Displaying a strong kick home in the Kentucky Filly Futurity, Gin And Lindy is poised to sit a covered trip and would only have to replicate those efforts.

Three-year-old filly trot, elim two

In round two, Broadway Donna races from post 10 off of her win in the Kentucky Filly Futurity. Two others exiting the filly futurity, Double Exposure and Earn Your Wings, are outside contenders deserving attention. Both have the ability to win here, but which one will be the better price will be tough to gauge.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N

Three-year-old filly pace, elim one

The top three femmes in the division, Darlinonthebeach, Pure Country and Call Me Queen Be square off again, with an added element—LA Delight, the Jugette winner. It’s a most difficult race. For any sense of a price, you have to go with Call Me Queen Be, who has, at least, beaten the best in this field.

Three-year-old filly pace, elim two

In the remaining elim for this division, we support Newborn Sassy. She has been bold and productive in this division, yet rarely applauded to the extent of her record. She will go off without major support, as the crowd goes deep with Blue Moon Stride and probably Lindwood Beachgirl.


H2W Legend

Review our choices and follow the wagering at the prescribed track. These are possible contenders we have judged from reviewing races. The horses’ names are listed beneath the name of the track after the date they will be racing. The race in which they are entered (R and race number) follows. If a + is in front of a horse’s name it means it is appearing on the list for the second (and last) time because it failed to win the first time it appeared. An “ae” signals the horse is entered on the also-eligible list. If a horse is listed twice, refer to the entries on the night of the race since a horse may enter in more than one race. Types of wagering on any of the H2W listed horses are based on your judgment. If you have any questions, email us at TwinSpires.

H2W LIST

Bangor
10/21/16, Charlie By Far R2

Batavia
10/21/16,  +Babe In The City R3

Cal Expo
10/22/16, Endeavors King R4; Polish Jola R6; Ladys Art R8; Galex R10

Charlottetown
10/20/16, Put Your Bad On R8
10/22/16, Howmacs Survivor R4; Beau Seelster R10

Dayton
10/21/16, Swinging Jenny R7; Rockin Lisa R8

Freehold
10/20/16, +Wikedwitchothewest R4; +Rockrockwhosthere R8; +Camwiser R9; +Gary G Force R9
10/22/16, +Brick Bazooka R5; +Cmon Buzz Off R7

Harrington
10/20/16, Angel Speak R4; Dinger Three R12
 
Hoosier
10/22/16, +King Me R5

Mohawk
10/22/16, +Shambala R2

Monticello
10/20/16, +Snoz R5
10/24/16, Spurofthemuscle R9

Northfield
10/22/16, +Wholelotta Evil R3; +Desperate Crowds R15

Philadelphia
10/20/16, Ophelia R12
10/23/16, Notenough For Me R7

Plainridge
10/21/16, Hopeful Artist R3; +Tinys Million R7; Dontmesswiththebest R8

Pocono
10/23/16, +Dark Money R5

Rideau-Carleton
10/20/16, Secret Missy R1; +Come On Eileen R7; Marc Hanover R8

Rosecroft
10/20/16, Breadcrumb Income R10

Saratoga
10/21/16, +Lastchancelilly R2; +Well Shaded R2; +Amanderosa R10

Vernon
10/21/16, +Williams Wish R3; +Gliding Boy R4; +Racintowardadream R6

Yonkers
10/20/16, +Massive Attack A R4; Elrama N R9
10/22/16, +Polak A R5; +Meladys Monet R7 
 
Ray Cotolo contributes to this blog