Breeders Crown finals at Woodbine on Saturday night
Since 1984 one of the more popular phrases in harness racing has been "It All Comes Down to the Breeders Crown" and tomorrow night Woodbine Racetrack in Canada will host all 12 Breeders Crown finals worth nearly $6 million and those dozen events will likely go a long way toward determining division champions and horse of the year.
The Breeders Crown action gets under way early as the $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot will kick off the card. The winner will take home brief bragging rights, but this race will not affect the division title chase.
With Bee A Magician once again opting to tackle the boys later on the card in the Open Trot, D'One (David Miller) who does own two wins over Bee A Magician, will be the odds-on choice here. But favorites are never a cinch in trotting events.
Both Classic Martine (Tim Tetrick) and Shake It Cerry (Jimmy Takter) both pose upset chances. Charmed Life and Bax Of Life also could garner minor spoils and find a spot on the triple ticket.
The second race on the card is the $500,000 Breeders Crown final for two-year-old filly Pacers and the race features an undefeated freshman and potential division champ.
Pure Country (Brett Miller) has won all of her starts for trainer Jimmy Takter and looms the 2-5 favorite here off her elim score. But even she is not a mortal lock.
Upset hopefuls include rail bound Darlinonthebeach (David Miller) for trainer Nancy Johannson of Jk She'salady fame and Yankee Moonshine (Yannick Gingras), the stronger half of two Ron Burke trainees in the final and a potential finalist for Maryland-bred horse of the year.
One race later the $600,000 Breeders Crown final for two-year-old trotting colts also includes a standout.
Southwind Frank (Gingras) has won all but one start this year for Burke and should garner division honors even he is upset in this event. Lagerfeld (Takter) perhaps has the best chance to play spoiler.
One race later in the $500,000 Breeders Crown final for three-year-old filly pacers, quartet of sophomores who drew inside all have a chance at success and perhaps even divisional honors.
Elim winners Divine Caroline (David Miller) and Solar Sister (Doug Mcnair) will vie for favoritism from posts one and three, respectively. Divine Caroline is razor sharp now, but Solar Sister has always thrived over the strip and looms a serious threat. Bettor Be Steppin (Corey Callahan) and Bedroomconfessions (Tim Tetrick) both rate upset chances.
One race later in the $600,000 Breeders Crown final for two-year-old filly trotters a trio of freshmen should vie for favoritism and the top prize and divisional honors.
Takter trainees All The Time (Gingras) and Haughty (Dave Palone) will get plenty of respect from posts four and five, respectively, but Caprice Hill (Tim Tetrick) deserves plenty of respect despite drawing post 10 after being upset as the odds-on choice in his elim last Friday.
Then one race later in the $500,000 Breeders Crown final for three-year-old filly trotters, the seven-horse event looks like a virtual match race on paper.
Mission Brief (Gingras) has been the dominant member of this group all season and the Burke trainee even tackled the boys in the Hambletonian where she finished second as the 3-5 choice despite a first over journey. When she stays flat she is virtually unbeatable.
But Mission Brief tasted defeat in her most recent outing at Lexington against Wild Honey (John Campbell) who seeks another mild upset here for Takter. Wild Honey won the Hambo Oaks and is the only sophomore filly trotter remotely close to Mission Brief in terms of talent.
One race later the freshman pacing colts will be on display in the $600,000 Breeders Crown final for two-year-old colt pacers.
Likely assuming the favorite's role is Control The Moment (Randy Waples) who arrives with a perfect record and fondness for the Canadian ovals. But rail bound Racing Hill (Brett Miller) has a serious chance to hand the favorite his first defeat.
Then one race later all eyes will be on rail bound Pinkman (Gingras) in the $500,000 Breeders Crown final for three-year-old colt trotters, one of four Takter trainees in the field.
Pinkman won last year's Breeders Crown for freshmen trotting colts and won this year's Hambo and Kentucky Futurity and is already a lock for divisional honors. But he still has hopes for trotter of the year - as does Mission Brief - and potential horse of the year chances pending this result and those of the Matrons at Dover Downs next month.
Then one race later in the contentious $530,000 Breeders Crown final for three-year-old pacing colts a quartet of sophomores have a solid chance to succeed.
Elim winners Freaky Feet Pete (Trace Tetrick) and Artspeak (Scott Zeron) both arrive razor sharp. Freaky Feet Pete showed why trainer Larry Rheinheimer paid the $65,000 late supplemental fee to get him into the Crown when he scored on first over fashion last week in 1:49.4.
But last year's freshman champ Artspeak was equally as good last week racing from well off the pace and overhauling Wakizashi Hanover in the lane. He certainly appears to be peaking at the right time after a subpar spring and summer.
Of course, Wakizashi Hanover (Tim Tetrick) seeks redemption after being nailed late by Artspeak in their elim. He owns wins over Wiggle It Jiggleit and Freaky Feet Pete and will be in contention throughout this event.
Then one race later in the $500,000 Breeders Crown Open Mare pace final, any number of distaffers could score in the most wide open event on the card. Play at your own risk because any result would not be a total shock.
Then one race later in the $530,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot final, a trio of aged stars look for immediately glory and possible divisional honors.
Resolve (Ake Svandstedt) has taken over as the star of the stable after Sebastian K's early retirement and he has already had several battles with the durable mare, Bee A Magician (Brian Sears) who has her divisional title secured. Creatine (Takter) merits respect after finishing third as the favorite in the revived $million International Trot at Yonkers two weeks ago.
Then in the twelvth and final Breeders Crown final of the card a solid field will go postward in the final for aged pacers. Again this is a stellar, contentious affair.
Takter trainees Always B Miki and JK Endofanera will prove difficult to top, but the ultimate aged veteran Foiled Again (Gingras) showed plenty of youthful vigor while taking his elim last week. Quillen winner Mach It So looms an upset chance and State Treasurer could prevail if he can regain his summer form.
The Breeders Crown action gets under way early as the $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot will kick off the card. The winner will take home brief bragging rights, but this race will not affect the division title chase.
With Bee A Magician once again opting to tackle the boys later on the card in the Open Trot, D'One (David Miller) who does own two wins over Bee A Magician, will be the odds-on choice here. But favorites are never a cinch in trotting events.
Both Classic Martine (Tim Tetrick) and Shake It Cerry (Jimmy Takter) both pose upset chances. Charmed Life and Bax Of Life also could garner minor spoils and find a spot on the triple ticket.
The second race on the card is the $500,000 Breeders Crown final for two-year-old filly Pacers and the race features an undefeated freshman and potential division champ.
Pure Country (Brett Miller) has won all of her starts for trainer Jimmy Takter and looms the 2-5 favorite here off her elim score. But even she is not a mortal lock.
Upset hopefuls include rail bound Darlinonthebeach (David Miller) for trainer Nancy Johannson of Jk She'salady fame and Yankee Moonshine (Yannick Gingras), the stronger half of two Ron Burke trainees in the final and a potential finalist for Maryland-bred horse of the year.
One race later the $600,000 Breeders Crown final for two-year-old trotting colts also includes a standout.
Southwind Frank (Gingras) has won all but one start this year for Burke and should garner division honors even he is upset in this event. Lagerfeld (Takter) perhaps has the best chance to play spoiler.
One race later in the $500,000 Breeders Crown final for three-year-old filly pacers, quartet of sophomores who drew inside all have a chance at success and perhaps even divisional honors.
Elim winners Divine Caroline (David Miller) and Solar Sister (Doug Mcnair) will vie for favoritism from posts one and three, respectively. Divine Caroline is razor sharp now, but Solar Sister has always thrived over the strip and looms a serious threat. Bettor Be Steppin (Corey Callahan) and Bedroomconfessions (Tim Tetrick) both rate upset chances.
One race later in the $600,000 Breeders Crown final for two-year-old filly trotters a trio of freshmen should vie for favoritism and the top prize and divisional honors.
Takter trainees All The Time (Gingras) and Haughty (Dave Palone) will get plenty of respect from posts four and five, respectively, but Caprice Hill (Tim Tetrick) deserves plenty of respect despite drawing post 10 after being upset as the odds-on choice in his elim last Friday.
Then one race later in the $500,000 Breeders Crown final for three-year-old filly trotters, the seven-horse event looks like a virtual match race on paper.
Mission Brief (Gingras) has been the dominant member of this group all season and the Burke trainee even tackled the boys in the Hambletonian where she finished second as the 3-5 choice despite a first over journey. When she stays flat she is virtually unbeatable.
But Mission Brief tasted defeat in her most recent outing at Lexington against Wild Honey (John Campbell) who seeks another mild upset here for Takter. Wild Honey won the Hambo Oaks and is the only sophomore filly trotter remotely close to Mission Brief in terms of talent.
One race later the freshman pacing colts will be on display in the $600,000 Breeders Crown final for two-year-old colt pacers.
Likely assuming the favorite's role is Control The Moment (Randy Waples) who arrives with a perfect record and fondness for the Canadian ovals. But rail bound Racing Hill (Brett Miller) has a serious chance to hand the favorite his first defeat.
Then one race later all eyes will be on rail bound Pinkman (Gingras) in the $500,000 Breeders Crown final for three-year-old colt trotters, one of four Takter trainees in the field.
Pinkman won last year's Breeders Crown for freshmen trotting colts and won this year's Hambo and Kentucky Futurity and is already a lock for divisional honors. But he still has hopes for trotter of the year - as does Mission Brief - and potential horse of the year chances pending this result and those of the Matrons at Dover Downs next month.
Then one race later in the contentious $530,000 Breeders Crown final for three-year-old pacing colts a quartet of sophomores have a solid chance to succeed.
Elim winners Freaky Feet Pete (Trace Tetrick) and Artspeak (Scott Zeron) both arrive razor sharp. Freaky Feet Pete showed why trainer Larry Rheinheimer paid the $65,000 late supplemental fee to get him into the Crown when he scored on first over fashion last week in 1:49.4.
But last year's freshman champ Artspeak was equally as good last week racing from well off the pace and overhauling Wakizashi Hanover in the lane. He certainly appears to be peaking at the right time after a subpar spring and summer.
Of course, Wakizashi Hanover (Tim Tetrick) seeks redemption after being nailed late by Artspeak in their elim. He owns wins over Wiggle It Jiggleit and Freaky Feet Pete and will be in contention throughout this event.
Then one race later in the $500,000 Breeders Crown Open Mare pace final, any number of distaffers could score in the most wide open event on the card. Play at your own risk because any result would not be a total shock.
Then one race later in the $530,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot final, a trio of aged stars look for immediately glory and possible divisional honors.
Resolve (Ake Svandstedt) has taken over as the star of the stable after Sebastian K's early retirement and he has already had several battles with the durable mare, Bee A Magician (Brian Sears) who has her divisional title secured. Creatine (Takter) merits respect after finishing third as the favorite in the revived $million International Trot at Yonkers two weeks ago.
Then in the twelvth and final Breeders Crown final of the card a solid field will go postward in the final for aged pacers. Again this is a stellar, contentious affair.
Takter trainees Always B Miki and JK Endofanera will prove difficult to top, but the ultimate aged veteran Foiled Again (Gingras) showed plenty of youthful vigor while taking his elim last week. Quillen winner Mach It So looms an upset chance and State Treasurer could prevail if he can regain his summer form.
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