Eight Breeders Crown Finals Adorn The Meadowlands Championship Program

The 2016 championship series is here, the best of the best having earned their way into berths for the Breeders Crown titles in all divisions. We’ll be at The Meadowlands for the Saturday, Oct. 29 finals, which we will cover in this blog (on site we will tweet updates, scratches, insider news and photos). For Twitter coverage, follow @FrankCotolo @RayCotolo and @TwinSpires.

The Friday, Oct. 28 finals, the four older events, will be covered in our last Breeders Crown Countdown blog.

The entire series of finals, of course, also features the finest horsemen in the sport. Jimmy Takter and Ron Burke lead all trainers in horses to qualify for the “Crown” finals. Each sends 17 horses to the final miles. Takter will have three starters in each the three-year-old colt trot and two-year-old filly pace, while Burke accounts for four in the three-year-old colt pace and three in the two-year-old colt pace. Tony Alagna will have the third most starters, with nine.

Here is our analysis of each event. Check the track program for order.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N  F I N A L

Three-year-old colt pace ($500,000)

This may be the race that gives us a decent price on Racing Hill. His lessons in staying off the lead have not been productive enough to make him a big choice here. Burke’s other pacer, Check Six, could go off the favorite, with Western Fame not far behind and a good trip by Racing Hill could win this late with a splash of late lick.

It is not a stretch to look to cash a strong exotic using Dr J Hanover and Burke’s third entry, Fernando Hanover.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N  F I N A L

Three-year-old colt trot ($500,000)

Marion Marauder will again face Bar Hopping and his newest nemesis, Sutton, in this season-ending contest. Yes, Southwind Frank is here again, too, but what about post 9? That and another loss last week in the elim will keep bettors from wagering strongly on him. Nothing, however, points to “Frank” fading as a contender of this division’s list of the best. With the price probably better than ever, it stands to reason that he will be the valuable bet.

If he wins, even the three already mentioned will present fine exotic prices. For a certain bombardment of the exotic pool, however, Muscle Hustle and Double L Lindy

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N  F I N A L

Three-year-old filly trot ($500,000)

Three strong fillies battle in this final but we believe the outsider, Fad Finance, is just as much a contender as All The Time, Caprice Hill and Broadway Donna. Trond Smedshammer’s filly has been highly competitive in the division all year and usually races better than her odds. In her elim she powered to the lead in the stretch but had it tough getting there, which allowed “Time” and “Caprice” to get her late off of better trips. She will be a huge price, as she was in that elim (44-1). It could be the biggest upset of the evening.

Broadway Donna has been dynamic since trainer Jim Campbell took care of her gait problem and it would be no surprise to see her beat the other two obvious contenders. As a partner to Fad Finance in an exacta, either first or second, she will contribute to a larger pay off.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N  F I N A L

Three-year-old filly pace ($500,000)

The best glamour-girl pacers made the final but it is hard to separate them since under most circumstances this season when they met, each had a chance to show the others she was a threat. In her elim, Newborn Sassy turned out to be the betting choice and rightfully so because she was tons the best. In this race, that trip will not get the credit she deserves for it. Of course Pure Country and Darlinonthebeach will share the most action but LA Delight, Call Me Queen B and even Blue Moon Stride may also go off less than “Sassy.” That would be the bargain we hope to find. She has had a dual style all season and this may be her shining day against the obvious choices here

Exotic action with Newborn Sassy that blows the lights off the toteboard includes Kiss Me Onthebeach. She raced well to make this final and has won for us with a big price before.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N  F I N A L

Two-year-old colt trot ($600,000)

What The Hill had no business being 32-1 in his elim but the crowd heavily favored Walner, who did not disappoint. The crowd also ignored What The Hill and he was best of the rest behind Walner. It’s hard to say if the Burke colt will be near his promised price in the final but there is reason to believe the most money will be spread out among two or three others, leaving What The Hill with a good enough price to be a smart bet

Dover Dan and Burke’s other entry, Snowstorm Hanover could be key elements in exotics and worthy of using if you wager multiple ticket combos.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N  F I N A L

Two-year-old filly trot ($600,000)

Can Takter’s filly beat Takter’s filly? If so, which one? Can Smedshammer’s filly beat Smedshammer’s filly? If so, which one? This is such an evenly matched group of green trotting fillies that the most educated selection may still be the worst. Still, we think Ariana G will be a big favorite (that being the Takter filly forecast to beat the other Takter filly and the two Smedshammer fillies). Looking into the trips of the various fillies’ elims, there is something to be said for an upset by Broadway Idole. The Jim Campbell-trained daughter of Broadway Hall rode a tough trip, gaining lots of ground at 52-1 to make the final and at three-quarters was competitive with Ariana and the pocket-sitting winner Chezatter. She could provide a winning price that is only less shocking to the public than her ability to win, which will not be a majority choice, for sure.

Giant exotics would include Evelyn and Sunshine Delight but only as spinoffs of a win bet on Campbell’s ultra longshot.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N  F I N A L

Two-year-old colt pace ($600,000)

Miso Fast at 71-1 was a stupendous overlay and finished second to Huntsville’s powerful trip. Miso Fast is the only colt by Roll With Joe in the division’s final. One of this year’s most productive sires for frosh product, Roll With Joe could have a Crown winner with this one, though he may not be as thick in the odds as he was in the elim.

Blood Line could not win when dueling Downbytheseaside in one of the elims but it took far more real estate for him to get to three-quarters where he challenged that one, who was the elim victor. Blood Line would be a terrific exacta partner and certainly should be used in any other exotic.

B R E E D E R S  C R O W N  F I N A L

Two-year-old filly pace ($600,000)

That’s The Ticket got into the final, once again beating the odds of being in the top four finishers of any field. This Roll With Joe product made a gallant move in the elim where Idyllic Beach proved that adversity could disturb her. She is one more post position our in the final and could very well be very short.

This frosh final could produce a better and perhaps winning trip for That’s The Ticket, who will once again defy her odds and the tenuous current form which most bettors rely upon too strongly in freshman races.

Rockette, bound to be an unpopular exotic element, could complement an upset or even an obvious winner.

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

Cal Expo
10/29/16, +Polish Jola R1; Texas Rattlesnake R1; Royal Classic R2; Art Genta R8; Lady’s Art R10

Charlottetown
10/29/16, Western Expression R8; Whitesand Noble R10

Dayton
10/27/16, +Boscos Angel R1

Dover
10/31/16, +Jakes Spur R3

Flamboro
10/27/16, +Deck The Halls R9
10/29/16, Schooner Or Later R4; Lis Deo R5; +Can I Say R8

Fraser
10/27/16, Epic Era R8

Freehold
10/29/16, Lincoln Blues R2

Hoosier
10/28/16, Milligans School R1; +Let Her Go R8; +Gin And Lindy R11

Meadowlands
10/28/16, +Eastern Promise R3; +V String R13
10/29/16,

Mohawk
10/28/16, +Whistys Paradise
10/29/16, Traceur Hanover R10

Philadelphia
10/27/16, Sir Royson R8

Plainridge
10/28/16, +JJFs Miss Carolyn R1; +Silver River R2; +Hopeful Artist R4; Po Po Dee R8

Rideau-Carleton
10/27/16, Optima Kent R3; Ramset R5; Modern Day Clyde R9

Rosecroft
10/27/16, +A Lady Sizzling R5

Scarborough
10/27/16, Orange County R3; Kholtons Rei R6

Vernon
10/28/16, Jersey Boy R1; Yolo Lindy R9; Hollywood Jess R10

Yonkers
10/27/16, +Upfront Countryboy R6; Fanticipation R12
10/29/16, +Elrama N R2; Phil Your Boots R7
 
Ray Cotolo contributes to this blog