POCONO DOWNS HOSTS BREEDERS CROWN SATURDAY
Harness racing’s year-end divisional honors are on the line Saturday as Pocono Downs hosts the $6 million Breeders Crown-12 championship events each worth $500,000.
The 3-year-old male trot and 3-year-old male pace have attracted the top rivals in each division. The trot is led by the top two Hambletonian finishers, Muscle Massive and Lucky Chucky. Lucky Chucky comes to the Crown off a three-race win streak, including in the Canadian Trotting Classic. He will start from post four with John Campbell in the bike. Muscle Massive finished third in the Trotting Classic after winning a division of the Simcoe. He will start from post seven with driver Ron Pierce. Pilgrims Taj, last year’s juvenile Breeders Crown winner, seeks to become the fourth horse to win the male trot at two and three.
Little Brown Jug champion Rock N Roll Heaven and Cane Pace winner One More Laugh resume their rivalry in the 3-year-old male pace. Each won their elimination last week. The rest of the field is stellar, including Max Hempt Memorial winner Fred And Ginger, New Jersey Classic champion BG’s Folly and Oliver Wendell Holmes division winner Rockin Image.
The 3-year-old filly trotters contest is led by Hambletonian Oaks runner-up Ultimate Cameron, who won her elimination in 1:54 last week. She faces elim winners Fashion Feline and Behindclosedoors, as well as Hudson Filly Trot champion Spicy Wings.
The leading money winner among 3-year-old pacing fillies, Put On A Show, leads that division’s race as she starts from post three. Put On A Show’s wins this season include the Valley Forge and the Simcoe. The hot horse is Cannae Cammie, who enters the race with a five-race win streak. While Western Silk finished fifth in last week’s elimination, she’ll be one of the favorites here, as she won the Jugette and beat Put On A Show in the Fan Hanover.
Shark Gesture, the top-ranked horse in harness racing, and defending Breeders Crown champion Won The West lead the Open Pace. Buck I St Pat defends her title in the Mare Trot as she seeks to become the fourth mare to be a multiple winner of the event.
Lucky Jim leads the Open Trot off a track-record win in the Credit Winner at Vernon Downs last month. He faces Enough Talk, who won the Titan Cup in July, and Triumphant Caviar, who set a track record at Indiana Downs last time out. Elimination winner Not Enough leads the Mare Pace as she faces Artiscape champion Dreamfair Eternal and Roses Are Red winner Tug River Princess.
Shadyshark Hanover is a slight favorite in the 2-year-old colt pace after winner his elimination in 1:51 as he faces elim winners Foreclosure N and Fashion Delight. Dejarmbro, Broad Bahn and Big Rigs took the eliminations for the 2-year-old colt trot. Unbeaten fillies See You At Peelers and Idyllic will duel in the 2-year-old filly pace, while Sweet Love, Lady Rainbow and Fitness Girl won the eliminations for the 2-year-old filly trot.