2021 Breeders Crown

Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – With last weekend’s (Oct. 22-23) 19 Breeders Crown Eliminations now in the rear-view mirror, all of harness racing is readying itself for what’s to come this Friday night (Oct. 29) and Saturday afternoon (Oct. 30), when 12 Crown Finals take place at The Meadowlands.

The Friday card has the four finals for 2-year-olds and a post time of 6:20 p.m. for the first of 13 races. The Crown events are slated for races six through nine.

On Saturday, there is a special early post time of noon for another 13-race card. Races four through 11 will see both the four events for 3-year-olds as well as the four-pack for older horses.

Harness racing’s year-end extravaganza, which always goes a long way toward determining Dan Patch divisional honors as well as Horse of the Year, returns to the industry’s No. 1 facility for the first time since 2016 and will dole out purses of just over $7.2 million by the time the dust clears Saturday.

EARLY BIRDS: Advance wagering for the Friday card will begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday (Oct. 28) while early betting for Saturday’s program will kick off at 11 a.m. on Friday (Oct. 29).

LISTEN FOR “THE VOICE”: The man on the microphone at The Meadowlands, Ken Warkentin, will welcome a well-known announcer into his booth on the roof for some Breeders Crown race calls over the weekend.

Roger Huston, the long-time announcer at the Delaware (Ohio) County Fairgrounds who last month called his 54th Little Brown Jug, will be on hand to call four of the 12 Crown events over the weekend. Huston will announce the first two Crown races on both Friday and Saturday.

$200,000? THAT’S GRAND! Over the course of Breeders Crown Weekend, there will be gobs of guaranteed green up for grabs in The Big M’s most popular multi-leg wager.

The 50-cent Pick-4 – which will be offered beginning in races six and 10 on both Friday and Saturday – will sport a guaranteed pool of $50,000 all four times the bet is available.

Over the course of the weekend, bettors will get to swim in a low 15% takeout pool a dozen times.

In addition, a special Breeders Crown 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 – one that is comprised entirely of Breeders Crown events – will be offered on Saturday, as will mandatory payouts on the 20-cent Pick-5, 20-cent Pick-6, 10-cent Hi-5/Pentafecta as well the Pick-7. Meadowlands regulars should be aware that the Survivor Pick-7, which normally begins in race three, will start in race four during Breeders Crown Weekend.

8 OUT OF 10 AIN’T BAD: The Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Standardbred Poll that came out Tuesday sported a Top 10 that pretty much reads like the entries sheet for this weekend’s Breeders Crown.

Lyons Sentinel, Test Of Faith, Allywag Hanover, Venerable, Atlanta, Jujubee, Niki Hill, Hot Mess Express, Bella Bellini and Charlie May make up the Top 10, with eight of the horses racing at The Big M this Friday or Saturday.

It would have been nine, but Venerable went off stride last week, failing to qualify for her final. Hot Mess Express’ connections decided not to supplement their ineligible filly.

“The Breeders Crown will have all of the stars in the Standardbred universe competing at The Big M this weekend,” said track Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Jason Settlemoir. “Eight of the top 10 horses in our sport will be there, making their cases for year-end honors. For everyone that loves the sport, it should be a glorious weekend, watching and wagering on the greatest stars in the game.”

OTTEN OVERLOAD: The Breeders Crown will get plenty of live television exposure on Saturday, Oct. 30, as Fox Sports 2 (FS2) and SportsNet New York (SNY) will both provide extensive Breeders Crown Finals coverage.

FS2’s coverage will take place from 12:30-4 p.m. while SNY’s broadcast will go from 3-5:30 p.m.

Big M TV’s Jessica Otten will provide pre-race thoughts and post-race interviews on the telecast.

WATCH IT LIVE: All the Breeders Crown action can be viewed live on both the Meadowlands Facebook page and on The Big M’s YouTube channel.

GET IN THE GAME: The best way to experience the rush of racing on the track and at the windows is to go to The Meadowlands, but for those who can’t make the trip, they can still tune in and get their action.

One of the best ways to watch what’s happening at The Big M – as well as all other races at venues around the country and the world – is to get a subscription to Roberts Television Network. All you need to do is go to rtn.tv for an affordable way to bring the action to your desktop, laptop, TV, smartphone or other device.

A good way to get your bets in is to use the Television Games Network (tvg.com) or your favorite Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) site.

TRICK OR TWEET: Everything Meadowlands and everything Breeders Crown is available by going on Twitter. You can check in with the Big M team for early changes, racing information and staff selections by going to @themeadowlands or #playbigm.

On race nights, stay in touch with Jessica Otten (@JessicaOtten1), Dave Brower (@eedoogie), Dave Little (@DaveLittleBigM), Ken Warkentin (@kenvoiceover), Shades Demsky (@ShadesOnRacing) and Edison Hatter (@Edison_1999_).

GET YA FREE PROGRAMS HERE! Talk about a great deal! Free program pages for every race of every Meadowlands race card are always available. Just go to playmeadowlands.com to access the no-cost past performances.

WHO DOES BROWER LIKE? For expert selections and analysis of every Big M card, check out track oddsmaker Dave Brower’s race reviews.

For Brower’s input, which is generally available 48 hours before every card, go to playmeadowlands.com, then click on the “handicapping” tab and go to “race reviews”.

READ UP ON THE CROWN: For extended coverage of all the Breeders Crown action both before and after the event, you can read all about it at the following websites: harnessracingupdate.com, drf.com/harness, standardbredcanada.ca and harnesslink.com.

FIRST CROWN, THEN CUP: The always popular simulcast of Thoroughbred racing’s Breeders’ Cup will take place at The Meadowlands on Friday, Nov. 5 and Saturday, Nov. 6.

The 14-race event – which will take place at California’s Del Mar Racetrack – will have five races Friday (post time, 2:55 p.m.; first BC race, 5:50 p.m.) before the final nine take place Saturday (post time, 1:15 p.m.; first BC race, 3:05 p.m.). The featured event – the $6-million Breeders’ Cup Classic – has a post time of 8:40 p.m.

LIKE BETTING FOOTBALL? Of course, you do! And there’s no better place to do it than at the No. 1 facility of its kind in the country, the FanDuel Sportsbook, located in the Grandstand at The Meadowlands.

On Thursday (Oct. 28) night, the NFL is offering a marquee matchup of two of the league’s best teams – and best quarterbacks.

The Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers, winners of six in a row, travel to Arizona to take on the Cardinals and Kyler Murray, who at 7-0 are the only remaining unbeaten team in the league, in an 8:20 p.m. matchup.

The Cardinals are a 6½-point favorite who are -270 on the money line.

Will Murray throw for 272½ yards? You’ll get -110 if you think he will or he won’t.

The book is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-1 a.m.; Friday 10 a.m.-2 a.m.; Saturday 7 a.m.-2 a.m. and Sunday 8 a.m.-12 a.m.

For more information, call 877-689-0662.

Partnerships between Breeders Crown, Meadowlands Racetrack, American Dream,

and the Meadowlands Chamber Bring Premiere Harness Race Championship to NJ

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., OCTOBER 28, 2021 – The Meadowlands Racetrack and FanDuel Sportsbook continue to dominate New Jersey’s Sports Betting Industry and will host another world-class sporting event this weekend. Accounting for almost half of all sports wagering in the state last month, the Meadowlands Racetrack will host the Breeders Crown Finals for the first time in five years bringing even more sports wagering to New Jersey’s number one sportsbook.

This year the Breeders Crown partnered with American Dream as the ‘Hometown Sponsor’ in a regional collaboration facilitated by the Meadowlands Chamber to again establish the region’s ability to host some of the most sought-after events in all of entertainment. The Breeders Crown Harness Racing Series was established by the Hambletonian Society in 1984 and alternates between different racetracks every year. Live coverage of the final championship races will be broadcast on Fox Sports 2 and SportsNet New York on Saturday, October 30th.

“We’ve hosted the Super Bowl, Wrestle Mania, and this year we host the Army Navy Game, and in 2026 we have the FIFA World Cup,” said Meadowlands Chamber President and CEO Jim Kirkos. “Just like the Hambletonian, the Breeders Crown is on that same level – people come from all over the country for this prestigious event. The saying is true – it all comes down to the Breeders Crown in harness racing. The winner of the main event jumps to the top of the list for horse of the year.”

The Meadowlands Chamber is also honoring New Jersey’s Harness Racing Industry and American Dream at its annual Legacy Awards dinner on Thursday night for their economic contributions to the region. Hall of Fame Harness Driver John Campbell will accept the award on behalf of the Hambletonian Society, the New Jersey Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association, the Meadowlands Racetrack, and the New Jersey Sires Stakes Program.

“Events like this not only bring money to the area – but they also bring in jobs. And that’s exactly what our region needs right now. Without the Hambletonian Society, the Racetrack, and American Dream, we couldn’t even begin to think about the economic recovery from the pandemic,” said Kirkos. “Breeders Crown is truly a special event – and while the Meadowlands hosted it many times before, this year could be the most important. It will show our true resilience to all the adversity we’ve faced in the last year and a half and demonstrate our commitment to recovery for everyone in North New Jersey.”

This year’s Breeders Crown has a total purse size of $7.8 million. Last weekend was the first stage if 19 elimination races. Friday’s championship races start at 6:20pm leading up to the main event on Saturday with the first races beginning at noon.

· Oct. 28th Freshman Night Race Purses are $600,000 for each of the four races. Racing begins at 6:20pm

· Oct. 29th Finals Race Purses range from $300,000 to $650,000 starting at 12pm for a total of eight races

About the Breeders Crown:

The Breeders Crown Series was created in 1984 by the Hambletonian Society, one of the most influential sponsors of Standardbred racing. The 37-year-old series has typically crowned champions in every division for trotters and pacers and has been the deciding factor in Horse of the Year honors since its inception. More than $209 million in purse money has been disbursed over 430 events. Originally conceived and executed as a traveling series, the Crown has been hosted by racetracks across North America and been raced as single night or multiple events.

Meadowlands Racetrack

East Rutherford, NJ - Everyone coming out to the Breeders Crown Two Year Old Championships on Friday, October 29 will have a chance to win a trip to Maui, Hawaii!

In addition to the Maui vacation, there are also six other vacation packages fans have a chance to win. There are two to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; two to Las Vegas, Nevada and two to Vail, Colorado. All packages are for eight days, seven nights and are courtesy of Sundance Vacations.

The sweepstakes entry form is available in the live racing program and at the Players Club Desk. Winners will be randomly selected after races 2, 4 and 10. The Grand Prize drawing for the Maui vacation will take place after Race 10. First race post time is 6:20pm

On Saturday, October 30 Breeders Crown Day II has a special post time of 12 noon with two promotions highlighting the day.

The first 1,500 fans ages 18 or older will receive a Breeders Crown Mystery Voucher that is worth up to $500. All vouchers are worth at least two dollars with various amounts including $5, $10, $50 and $500. The mystery vouchers will be available at the Players Club Desk and are one per person.

On Saturday, fans can also enter the $1200 Breeders Crown Halloween Hat Contest. Fans are encouraged to design and wear their best Halloween-themed hat for a chance to win $900 in cash prizes! First prize is $500, second is $250, third place receives $100 and fourth places grabs $50.

There are $100 bonus prizes for scariest, funniest and best horse-themed hats. Fans will also get a $10 voucher if they come in full Halloween costume.

Fans can sign up for the hat contest from 10am -12:45 pm. The contest judging will take place in the winner’s circle following race 3.

Details can be found at PlayMeadowlands.com

Lisa Harkema for Breeders Crown

The horse is bred by a Frenchman, sired by an Italian stallion, originally registered in Denmark, developed in Norway, owned by Swedes – and finally sent to the US to take the world by storm. The only horse to be supplemented to the Breeders Crown open division for trotters this year, Ecurie D, has a truly international background.

Chris Tully Photo

With that kind of background, the horse naturally has an international pedigree with multiple Franco-American crosses. His pedigree is a mix of some of the best bloodlines in both Europe and North America. His sire, the recently deceased Infinitif, is an Italian-born son of Pine Chip out of the French-born half-millionaire Island Dream. His dam, To Soon, is by Muscles Yankee. Even though the second and third dams are unstarted, one should not be fooled into underestimating the genetic quality. Ecurie D hails, without doubt, from one of the best French maternal families. Five euro millionaires trace their maternal line back to Ecurie D's fifth dam, the incomparable Dourga II. Best of these is probably Oyonnax, winner of the 2010 Prix d'Amerique. Another millionaire, Daguet Rapide, completely dominated the Italian 2000-crop at 3 and 4. A third, the speedy gelding Giesolo de Lou, is one of the only horses to ever beat Varenne fair and square. Another maternal family member, Indy de Vive, has also secured eternal fame – not as one of those five millionaires, but as sire of a certain Ready Cash.

In the trotting world, few things are as entertaining than intercontinental competition. After a one-year absence, another European-bred and born trotter has entered the open division of the Breeders Crown. Ecurie D has some impressive shoes to fill, but if he can notch up another win at the Meadowlands, he will make it five out of ten for European-bred and born trotters, for a rather incredible 0.500 record against North American opposition.

Can Ecurie D make it three in a row?

Should Ecurie D indeed win, it will make it the third start and win in a row for a European trotter in the open division.

The last time was two years ago. Veteran superstar Bold Eagle made the journey across the Atlantic, and had no problems asserting his superiority on a wet Canadian night of racing. . In the race itself, though, the French legend behaved perfectly for Brian Sears. Despite Six Pack and Atlanta doing their best, Bold Eagle easily held off the North American challengers.

Bold Eagle

The North American public surely didn’t know what to think when Bold Eagle was high-strung and behaved in a rather unorthodox fashion before the post parade at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Lisa Photo

The French son of Ready Cash was the first European challenger in five years in the open division. Seven years ago, an 11-year-old-superstar wrapped up his fantastic career by winning this race.

Commander Crowe

Making his 106th start, went to the front at the half, and with some urging from Örjan Kihlström in the final stretch of the Meadowlands, held off Maven and Creatine to make it the 61st - and last - win of his illustrious career. Lisa Photo

For the well-travelled Commander Crowe, it was a matter of third time lucky.

In 2012 Le Grand Blonde had a stellar season in Europe. At the half of that years’ Breeders Crown, he looked to be on the way to more glory, sitting pretty in the lead with Chapter Seven parked outside. It was not to be, however, as Chapter Seven put on monster performance and Commander Crowe faded to third in the six-horse field at Woodbine Racetrack.

In 2011 at Woodbine, Commander Crowe and Rapide Lebel honorably defended the European colors in the Breeders Crown. Still, it was not quite good enough to beat San Pail, who narrowly beat the European challengers. Randy Waples read the race correctly and sent San Pail forward early. That ensured Rapide Lebel, with Commander Crowe on his tail, had to travel on the outside of the Canadian star the whole race. San Pail got two lengths early in the final stretch, and even though the two French-trained horses inched closer and closer to San Pail at the end, it was too little, too late for Rapide Lebel and Commander Crowe.

Can Ecurie D make it three for Dubois?

There is of course a link between these last two European winners. Bold Eagle was bred by Jean-Etinne Dubois, son of the legendary Frenchman Jean-Pierre Dubois. Commander Crowe is a son, and physically quite a clone, of French stallion Juliano Star – the latter bred by Dubois senior. Ecurie D can give Jean-Pierre Dubois another Breeders Crown win as a breeder, as the 81-year-old Frenchman is the breeder of Ake Svanstedt’s latest star.

Of course, Dubois is no stranger to breeding superstars – nor to breeding Breeders Crown winners. In the 90s, Dubois also bred trotters in partnership with Sandro Viani, through the latter’s Italian stud farm Allevamento di Zenzalino. One of these Italian-bred horses would give Jean-Pierre Dubois a Breeders Crown-winning experience – though only as a breeder. Unsure of the horse’s ability after a disqualification in his first career start, Dubois had sold the horse at three. The horse should actually have been sold the the previous year, as a deal to sell the then-two-year-old had been reached. However, when the x-ray in the subsequent veterinary checkup revealed a tiny chip in the right rear fetlock, the buyer reneged on the deal.

A few years later, the trotter had blossomed into one of the all-time greats. When Varenne came to the Meadowlands in 2001, he provided Europe with its first victory in the Breeders Crown – and in irresistible fashion. Not only did he toy with the opposition, he won spectacularly in a new world record of 1:51.1. It was one of many highlights of a stellar career, and made the 2001 season a particular highlight.

Varenne

That year, il Capitano won the Breeders Crown in addition to the Prix d’Amerique, the Elitlopp, the Lotteria, the biggest races in France, Sweden and Italy, respectively. Lisa Photo

The only winner to be kidnapped

Varenne’s victory would be the first of two Italian wins. Six years later, in 2007, Jan Nordin brought Equinox Bi to North America. The well-bred son of Valley Boss Bi and 1996 Breeders Crown winner Personal Banner was very talented but equally injury-prone, and only managed 27 starts in a career that spanned 4 years.

The three starts he made in North America in the summer and fall of 2007 turned out to be his swansong. After a surprise second place finish in the Nat Ray, he was placed first to win the Breeders Crown at Mohawk. Two weeks later, however, he won the Maple Leaf Classic to underline his credentials. That would, however, be Equinox Bi’s final career start.

Equinox Bi

Admittedly, there was an element of luck to that win since Corleone Kosmos was first across the wire, but was off stride in the process.

The following year he would stand stud at Blue Chip Farms, but not without drama in-between: in early November 2007, Equinox Bi was kidnapped from the owners’ farm in Italy. Despite no ransom being paid, the horse was returned unharmed one month later.

Dubois for six generations

Twenty years after Varenne, and 14 years after Equinox Bi, Ecurie D can give Dubois yet another Breeders Crown win. It would only be fitting, because Ecurie D is Dubois through and through.

Jean-Pierre Dubois acquired Ecurie D’s fifth dam, the above-mentioned legendary Dourga II in 1981. In 1982, she was bred to High Echelon, who three years prior had given Dubois his first Prix d’Amerique win as a driver. The resulting foal, the mare Rangone, was one of the best fillies in her crop and crowned her career at four by winning the Grand Prix de l’UET, also known as the European Derby, naturally with Dubois as breeder, owner, trainer and driver. Through matings with Defi d’Aunou and Love You, two stallions both bred by Dubois, we arrive at See You Soon, Ecurie D’s maternal grandmother. She was taken out of France and bred to Muscles Yankee at 3 to produce To Soon, the dam of Ecurie D. On the paternal side, Dubois bred Infinitif, the sire of Ecurie D. He also bred Infinitif’s dam, Island Dream, and the Dubois family also bred her sire Coktail Jet, who is bred by his son Jean-Etienne.

In fact, Dubois, including his family, bred both parents, two of the four grandparents and three of the eight great-grandparents. Looking closely at Ecurie D’s pedigree, we see that Dubois even bred two of the horses found in the sixth generation in Ecurie D’s pedigree.

Tom Charters & JP Dubois brainstorming Breeders Crown participation - Breeders Crown photo

And finally some revenge…

Amid all the excellence and all the glory, Ecurie D can also provide some revenge. Despite the Dubois family’s two wins as a breeder, they also have one loss. After all, before Varenne, European trotters had underperformed in the Breeders Crown.

In 2002, Stig-H Johansson brought Victory Tilly to the Breeders Crown, and the Swedish gelding was second favorite behind Fool’s Goal. These two put in a lightning fast 26.4 opening. In the end Fool’s Gold was full of steam, while Victory Tilly faded to fourth. Two weeks later the Swedish visitor got his revenge in the Nat Ray in a world record 1:50.4.

The very first European horse in the Breeders Crown, however, was Coktail Jet in 1996. The French legend had already won the Prix d’Amerique and the Elitlopp that year, and travelled to the US full of confidence after having won the Prix d’Europe two weeks prior. Nobody knew it at the time, but Coktail Jet would never win a race again. In the race, Jean-Etienne Dubois drove passively. He sat second last at the half and only attacked at the three-quarter pole. That proved very costly. Instead it was CR Kay Suzie who triumphed with ease, while Coktail Jet was unable to make up much ground in the final stretch.

The one time the Dubois family could have won the Breeders Crown, both as a breeder and owner, they ended up finishing sixth. Now Ecurie D can provide another little bit of revenge. Not only that, with Ecurie D being 3x4 bred on Coktail Jet, it would be a win with a particular sweet aftertaste.

The Beatson family-owned and trained So Much More, a 5-year-old daughter of Big Jim-Ladysal, has been scratched from the $330,000 Breeders Crown Mare Pace

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The first also eligible, Treacherous Reign, trained by Tony Alagna, will move in to the race in post position 10, in accordance with the Breeders Crown conditions.

“We are devastated,” said Ken Beatson, who owns So Much More with his dad, trainer Don Beatson and nephew and caretaker Cole England, all based in Ontario, Canada.

“We have planned this trip for a long time and just as we were getting everything ready to ship she spiked a temperature. She is sick.”

So Much More has been a Woodbine Mohawk Park staple in the open mare classes, amassing $579,510 and 39 wins lifetime.

Breeders Crown conditions state that when a horse is scratched prior to scratch time but after post positions have been drawn, and the scratched horse was on the front tier of the starting gate the also eligible horse will assume the position on the outside of the remaining starters in the front tier of the starting gate.

By Debbie Little, for the Breeders Crown

CREAM RIDGE, NJ — Dr. Patty Hogan’s Hogan Equine, a state-of-the-art equine medical facility, was the impressive backdrop for the post-position draws for the Breeders Crown Finals for the $600,000 3-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Pace and the $650,000 3-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Trot, which will be held this Saturday (Oct. 30) at The Meadowlands (special early post time, noon).

By virtue of his win in one of two eliminations for 3-year-old male pacers, Perfect Sting was installed as the early 5-2 morning-line favorite from post position five.

“It’s a good thing we won, or we probably would have had 10,” said Perfect Sting’s trainer, Joe Holloway. “Last week [when he won his elimination in 1:49.2] was the first time, since he qualified the very first time [in 2021], that I knew he had it. He’s had a lot of noses. Like I tell [driver] David [Miller], we’re six feet from greatness.”

The ultra-consistent son of 2016 Horse of the Year Always B Miki has had 25 career starts and hit the board every time. In 2021, he has six wins from 15 outings and has never been beaten by more than three-quarters-of-a-length. His seasonal earnings of $973,847 are tops in the sport.

Charlie May, who won the other elim in 1:49.1, drew post 2 and is the 3-1 second choice.

Trained by Steve Carter and driven by Brett Miller, Charlie May has nine wins in 18 tries this season, including a victory in the $300,000 Milstein at Northfield Park. He also crossed the wire first in the $700,000 Meadowlands Pace before being disqualified for interference.

In the 3-year-old male trot, Jujubee is the 2-1 favorite from post six. The Kentucky Futurity champion came into last week’s elimination seeking a seventh straight win but was gunned down at the wire by a neck by Cuatro De Julio 1:52.2 in one of two eliminations.

Cuatro De Julio will depart from post four and is listed at 9-2 for driver Lucas Wallin and trainer Marie Ortolan Bar.

Ambassador Hanover, trained and driven by Åke Svanstedt, won the other elim in 1:51.2 and is the 4-1 second choice from post two. The son of 2012 Horse of the Year Chapter Seven has hit the board 10 times in 14 starts this season, including 4 wins. During 2021, he finished third in the $1 million Hambletonian and second in the $500,000 Yonkers Trot.

The complete fields, with post positions, horse, nominated drivers, trainers and early odds, is as follows: $600,000 Breeders Crown — 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings 1. Southwind Gendry (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke), 5-1 2. Charlie May (Brett Miller, Steve Carter), 3-1 3. Heart Of Chewbacca (Dan Noble, Christi Noble), 15-1 4. Abuckabett Hanover (Andy McCarthy, Tony Alagna), 6-1 5. Perfect Sting (David Miller, Joe Holloway), 5-2 6. Chase H Hanover (Tim Tetrick, Scott Cox), 10-1 7. Rockyroad Hanover (Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna), 8-1 8. I’ll Drink To That (Todd McCarthy, Chris Ryder), 15-1 9. Southwind Petyr (Jason Bartlett, Mark Harder), 15-1 10. Water Sports Teen (Joe Bongiorno, Jennifer Bongiorno), 15-1

AE1. Lous Pearlman (Tim Tetrick, Ron Burke) AE2. Summa Cum Laude (Brian Sears, Ron Burke)

$650,000 Breeders Crown — 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings 1. Inaminute Hanover (Bob McClure, Luc Blais), 15-1

2. Ambassador Hanover (Åke Svanstedt, Åke Svanstedt), 4-1 3. Ritson (David Miller, Mark Steacy), 15-1 4. Cuatro De Julio (Lucas Wallin, Marie Ortolan Bar), 9-2 5. Delayed Hanover (Åke Svanstedt, Åke Svanstedt), 10-1 6. Jujubee (Andy McCarthy, Greg Wright Jr.), 2-1 7. Fly Light (Dexter Dunn, Åke Svanstedt), 6-1

8. In Range (Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander), 12-1 9. Dancinginthedark M (Brian Sears, Marcus Melander), 10-1 10. Logan Park (James MacDonald, Rob Fellows), 15-1 AE1. Johan Palema (Yannick Gingras, Åke Svanstedt) AE2. Locatelli (Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter) Morning-line odds and driver changes will be finalized on Wednesday, Oct. 27 after scratch time.

Perfect Sting powers, Charlie May motors in Crown eliminations

by Ray Cotolo, for the Breeders Crown EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Millionaire Perfect Sting and near-millionaire Charlie May put together strong performances to leave their competition behind and win the $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace on Saturday (Oct. 23) at The Meadowlands. Charlie May charged first-over into the final turn to blitz leader Southwind Gendry and scoot clear to a 1:49.1 win in the second of the two eliminations. Heart Of Chewbacca hustled to the point with Water Sports Teen settling into second to a :26.4 first quarter. Southwind Gendry raced third to the backstretch before angling off the pylons and circling stablemate Heart Of Chewbacca to lead into a :54.4 half. Driver Brett Miller sat fourth with Charlie May to the final turn, but soon launched the McArdle gelding towards the top as Southwind Gendry attempted to slow the tempo to three-quarters, timed in 1:22.3. Charlie May grabbed the front off the corner and stayed firm on the lead while Southwind Gendry cut into his deficit to the inside to secure second, beaten by three-quarters of a length. Rockyroad Hanover ripped off cover from third over to finish third with Heart Of Chewbacca and Water Sports Teen holding fourth and fifth, respectively, to make the $600,000 final. “We were real excited today,” owner Don Tiger said after the race. “Glad to come back here, thankful for the opportunity. The horse raced great, Brett said he was super. He is one of those horses that when he clears and he doesn’t hear anybody he slows down a bit. But he was super today, had a lot of pace left. “He definitely loves a target,” Tiger also said. “You could see it today pulling first-up. Southwind Gendry is a nice animal and he engaged him and went right by. He’s a beast and we are really looking forward to the Perfect Sting showdown next weekend. The best part about it is I can’t draw the nine-hole.”

Conditioned by Steve Carter, Charlie May collected his ninth victory from 18 starts this season and his 16th from 27 overall, earning $950,652. Don Tiger’s homebred paid $3.60 to win. Starting from the pylon post, driver David Miller pushed for position with Perfect Sting to race third to a :26.2 first quarter set by Chase H Hanover. Miller slid Perfect Sting off the pegs to the backstretch and overtook Chase H Hanover to commandeer the field before a :55 half. The Joe Holloway pupil remained headstrong to the final turn, gaining separation on Chase H Hanover to three-quarters in 1:22.3 and widening his lead through the stretch. He stayed to task in a straightaway sprint to stop the clock in 1:49.2 and finish three lengths better than Chase H Hanover. Abuckabett Hanover ground first over through the mile to take third, holding off a late charge from Southwind Petyr kicking off his cover in fourth. I’ll Drink To That rounded the finalists in fifth. “It was but this was different from what it has been of late,” trainer Joe Holloway said after the race. “He got home well today. He paced through the wire strong today – I was happy to see that. I don’t think he gets the respect he deserves. Last year certainly he did. But this year he has danced every dance and been there at the wire but he probably lost a few he should have won. He has been the most consistent of the 3-year-olds.” Perfect Sting, a colt from a family of Holloway graduates in sire Always B Miki and dam Shebestingin, won his sixth race from 15 starts this season and his 16th from 25 in his career. The homebred for Brittany Farms LLC and Val D’Or Farms has banked $1,508,147 and returned $2.40 to win.

Ambassador Hanover, Cuatro De Julio spring minor upsets

by Frank Cotolo, for the Breeders Crown EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ambassador Hanover and trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt took control of the first of two $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings from the start, and dictated the fractions to win in a career best 1:51.2. With Logan Park finding the pocket and Plumville Prince behind him, Ambassador Hanover dominated through quarters of :27.1, :55.1 and 1:23.3 before striding clear to win by 2-1/4 lengths. Logan Park, who never left the pylons, finished second, and Ritson was best of the rest, including Fly Light, Svanstedt’s other entry, who closed from far back to get fourth. In Range finished fifth to also secure a berth in next Saturday's (Oct. 30) $650,000 final. Ambassador Hanover is a Hanover Shoe Farms-bred son of Chapter Seven who has now earned $551,114. Svanstedt shares ownership with Order By Stable, Howard & Judith Taylor and Diamond Creek Farms. Ambassador Hanover paid $9.40 to win. Svanstedt said he was a little surprised by his colt: “He was the best I ever felt him.”

About the equipment change, he said, “I like to race them without shoes,” and he makes the decision to do so on the day of the race.

In the second elimination for sophomore male trotters, Cuatro De Julio, with Lucas Wallin driving, closed from third-over to upset 1-5 favorite Jujubee in 1:52.2. The Trixton colt settled behind Jujubee mid-pack as Balenciaga and Inaminute Hanover rushed to the top early. Johan Palema sat in the catbird seat through the :27.2 first quarter with Delayed Hanover behind him. Johan Palema left his cozy spot and, at the :56.1 half, was challenged for the lead in a brief duel by Delayed Hanover, who took over down the stretch to cut three-quarters in 1:25.1. Jujubee, who crept behind Delayed Hanover, had plenty of trot left late in the stretch and closed before Cuatro De Julio, on Jujubee’s tail throughout, stepped easily to the front to win by a neck. Jujubee finished second with Delayed Hanover third. Dancinginthedark M shook loose late to catch the fourth spot, and Inaminute Hanover made the final finishing fifth. Marie Ortolan Bar trains Cuatro De Julio, who paid $15,000 to win, for D Farm LLC. Dream With Me Stable is the breeder. Ortolan Bar said that she has “special shoes for him. We had issues with his feet. We now have shoes he likes. He is a very sensitive, strong horse.”

Bella Bellini rebounds; Altar impresses in Crown trot elims

by Jerry Connors, for the Breeders Crown EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Hambletonian Oaks winner Bella Bellini won her $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 23) at The Meadowlands — but Altar, the winner of the other elimination, went over a second faster. Now 9-for-16 for the season but coming off two close second-place finishes, Bella Bellini was sent off as the 3-5 favorite from post seven in a field of 10, and driver Dexter Dunn got her in sixth as the three horses to her outside all blasted away. Herculisa bypassed the three-hole to the :27.4 quarter and went by Adirondack; You Ato Dream was soon on the attack and made the lead near the half in :56. Bella Bellini moved outside entering the far turn behind the cover of Donna Soprano, but when that one came up flat, she had to tip three-deep at the 1:24.4 three-quarters. The daughter of Bar Hopping was powerful through the lane, chewing up ground to the lead with ease, and went on to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:52.4. Herculisa put in a big rebounding mile from a break in the Filly Futurity to take second; 124-1 shot Chablis, one of the outside leavers, came through for third, ahead of You Ato Dream and Shirley Goodness. Bella Bellini is owned by breeder David McDuffee; she is out of the top mare Bella Dolce, a daughter of Pizza Dolce, whom McDuffee also raced with great success. Trainer Richard "Nifty" Norman continued his fantastic season, and he won this Crown division in 2013 with Horse of the Year Bee A Magician. While he wasn’t thrilled with Bella Bellini's cover, he indicated that “she only needs a little cover to set up her late move.”

Altar, who was sent off as the 6-5 favorite in this elimination after two stakes wins at Lexington, left from post seven in the field of nine and eyed the three-hole as pacesetter Amazone Duharas approached the :27.1 quarter. But Yannick Gingras bypassed the tuck and sent her to the lead nearing mid-backstretch, passing the half in :55.4. The victorious daughter of champion racehorse and sire Muscle Hill sped things up to a 1:23.2 three-quarters, then still was strong in a :28 quarter to complete a 1:51.2 mile 3-3/4 lengths ahead – and three-fifths of a second faster than the Championship record for this division set by Next Level Stuff last year. Iteration and Splash Blue Chip, who sat third and fourth much of the mile, angled out for room in upper stretch and closed for second and third, respectively; Anoka Hanover, out the mile from an outer post, did well for fourth, with Amazone Duharas lasting for the last qualifying spot. Altar ran her record to six for 11 this year, with the homebred’s lifetime earnings going to $219,373, with another $325,000 possibly awaiting another seven days hence. Gingras has won this division of the Breeders Crown three times, while “trainer Takter” has also worn this Crown three times – Altar’s trainer Nancy hopes to set out on the road to match her father Jimmy’s triple in this classification.

$650,000 Breeders Crown — 3-Year-Old Trotting Fillies 1. Amazone Duharas (James MacDonald, Denis Gueriel) 2. Shirley Goodness (David Miller, Melanie Wrenn) 3. Bella Bellini (Dexter Dunn, Nifty Norman) 4. Chablis (Yannick Gingras, Jonas Czernyson) 5. Altar (Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter) 6. Anoka Hanover (Andy McCarthy, Noel Daley) 7. Splash Blue Chip (Åke Svanstedt, Åke Svanstedt) 8. Iteration (Brian Sears, Marcus Melander) 9. You Ato Dream (Jeff Gregory, Jeff Gregory) 10. Herculisa (Brett Miller, Virgil Morgan Jr.) AE1. Donna Soprano (Bob McClure, Luc Blais) AE2. May Karp (Tim Tetrick, Lucas Wallin)

Norman fillies sweep exacta in Crown elimination

by Jay Bergman, for the Breeders Crown

Trainer Richard “Nifty” Norman’s dynamic sophomore fillies Grace Hill and Fire Start Hanover put on a thrilling stretch duel, finishing one-two in Saturday’s (Oct. 23) $25,000 single elimination for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old filly pace at The Meadowlands. Todd McCarthy guided Grace Hill to a 1:50.3 score, gamely holding off her stablemate to prevail by a head.

Grace Hill left sharply for the front at the start, but yielded to Notorious Pink before making a regaining move for McCarthy past the :27.4 opening quarter. Fire Start Hanover overcame post 10 to settle in a spot on the first turn, and she was flushed without cover near the :56 opening half. Grace Hill and McCarthy hit the accelerator on the far turn, pacing a solid :27 third quarter while Fire Start Hanover made up ground and towed Blue Diamond Eyes behind her in second-over position.

Grace Hill tried to break away from her rivals, but the tenacious Fire Start Hanover, last year’s Breeders Crown juvenile champion, kept plodding away with driver Dexter Dunn’s encouragement and continued to close in on her stablemate. At the finish line, Grace Hill survived a three-filly photo with Fire Start Hanover to her outside and Blue Diamond Eyes a lane farther out but lapped on the top pair in third.

Grace Hill, a daughter of Always B Miki and Western Silk, won for the seventh time this season for owner Tom Hill and returned $4.00 as the public’s choice.

The single elimination put eight fillies into the final, with Notorious Pink, Think Of Galaxies, Mackie Hanover, Marsala Hanover and Shezafreaklikeme joining the top three finishers in advancing. Division leader Test Of Faith and Jugette champion Scarlett Hanover accepted byes and will join the finalists.

Grace Hill took a misstep in early stretch, but recovered quickly for McCarthy.

“She showed her guts to come back,” said McCarthy of the gritty sophomore filly.

By virtue of her elimination win, Grace Hill drew for a post position between one and five for the final before the remainder of the field took part in an open draw.

The Breeders Crown finals for 3-year-olds and upward will take place at The Meadowlands on Saturday (Oct. 30).

The complete field, with post positions, nominated drivers, and trainers, is as follows:

$600,000 Breeders Crown — 3-Year-Old Pacing Fillies 1. Notorious Pink (Andy McCarthy, Tony Alagna) 2. Marsala Hanover (Scott Zeron, Linda Toscano) 3. Think Of Galaxies (Mark MacDonald, John McDermott) 4. Shezafreaklikeme (Andy Miller, Stacy Chiodo) 5. Grace Hill (Todd McCarthy, Nifty Norman) 6. Mackie Hanover (Tim Tetrick, Tom Fanning) 7. Blue Diamond Eyes (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke) 8. Test Of Faith (David Miller, Brett Pelling) 9. Fire Start Hanover (Dexter Dunn, Nifty Norman) 10. Scarlett Hanover (Yannick Gingras, Ashleigh Hensley) AE1. Paulas Bet Hanover (Chris Page, Ron Burke) AE2. Beach Crazy (James MacDonald, Stacy Chiodo)

This Is The Plan in time in Crown elim

by Ray Cotolo, for the Breeders Crown EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Ron Burke pupil This Is The Plan fired off stablemate Cattlewash’s helmet coming for home and landed his nose in front at the beam to win the $25,000 elimination for the Breeders Crown Open Pace on Saturday (Oct. 23) at The Meadowlands. Driver Yannick Gingras fired the 6-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding off the car but took a spot in fourth while Warrawee Vital clicked the first quarter in :27 with Cattlewash in the pocket. Nicholas Beach brushed for the lead out of third approaching a :55.1 half, and maintained his speed to the final turn as Cattlewash started to float off the pegs. By three-quarters in 1:22.3, Nicholas Beach held a shrinking lead as Cattlewash laid pursuit to the pacesetter heading for home. This Is The Plan stalked Cattlewash’s attack before Gingras moved to strike into the eighth pole. With each stride, This Is The Plan bore down on Cattlewash and, with enough momentum, got by at the line in a 1:49.3 mile. Enavant rallied through traffic to take third and Warrawee Vital popped by Nicholas Beach to snag fourth. “[Cattlewash is] a nice horse too. This Is The Plan is sharp, still. People think he may be a little on the backside, but Allywag is just so sharp,” Gingras said after the race. “Today, without Allywag in there, he took advantage of it. [All] credit goes to the Burke Brigade. They do a great job of keeping horses, not only for a year, but able to come back year after year.” This Is The Plan scored his sixth victory from 22 starts this season and his 20th win from 91 starts in his career, earning $2,553,469. Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Lawrence Karr own the $19.40 winner. Workin Ona Mystery, Nicholas Beach and Ruthless Hanover also advance to the $600,000 final, joining bye recipients Allywag Hanover, Catch The Fire and Ocean Rock.

$600,000 Breeders Crown — Open Pace 1. Warrawee Vital (Trevor Henry, Rob Fellows) 2. Workin Ona Mystery (Tim Tetrick, Ron Burke) 3. Enavant (Bob McClure, Luc Blais) 4. This Is The Plan (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke) 5. Cattlewash (David Miller, Ron Burke) 6. Nicholas Beach (Joe Bongiorno, Jennifer Bongiorno) 7. Ocean Rock (Dan Noble, Christi Noble) 8. Allywag Hanover (Todd McCarthy, Brett Pelling) 9. Catch The Fire (Scott Zeron, Todd Luther) 10. Ruthless Hanover (Andy McCarthy, Tom Cancelliere) AE1. Dorsoduro Hanover (Brian Sears, Ron Burke) AE2. Captain Barbossa (Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna)

Rocknificent repels arch rivals in Mare Pace elimination

by Frank Cotolo, for the Breeders Crown EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Rocknificent finally defeated 1-2 favorite Lyon Sentinel after following her home second in six races since July this season, winning the lone elimination of the Breeders Crown Mare Pace on Saturday (Oct. 23) at The Meadowlands. The field left evenly with the outside mares leaving quickly but unable to find good spots as Indiana Sires Stakes champion Rockin Nola grabbed the lead over Rocknificent and Peaky Sneaky. Atop for fractions of :26.2, :55 and 1:21.4, Rockin Nola was challenged going into the stretch as Peaky Sneaky came out from her cover and Lyons Sentinel made a move on the outside. Rocknificent and driver Scott Zeron had no trouble shaking those two off, leaving Rockin Nola behind to win in 1:48.4. Peaky Sneaky held for second; Lyons Sentinel got third. ”She’s the picture of consistency; she’s just a sweetheart,” said Toscano. “It’s absolutely amazing that she can leave as many weeks as she does and still come back to him with two fingers.” Linda Toscano trains the Captaintreacherous filly, who was bred by Deo Volente Farms LLC and TLP Stable. Rocknificent, who paid $7.60 to win, has now earned $968,662 for owners Enviro Stable LTD, South Mountain Stables and Little E LLC. In addition to the top three elimination finishers, JK First Lady, Rockin Nola, Keep Rockin A and Marloe Hanover also made next Saturday's (Oct. 30) $330,000 Breeders Crown final, along with Drama Act, Racine Bell and So Much More, who were awarded byes.

$330,000 Breeders Crown — Mare Pace 1. Rocknificent (Scott Zeron, Linda Toscano) 2. Peaky Sneaky (Dexter Dunn, Nancy Takter) 3. So Much More (James MacDonald, Don Beatson) 4. Lyons Sentinel (Tim Tetrick, Jim King Jr.) 5. JK First Lady (David Miller, Nancy Takter) 6. Keep Rockin A (Andy McCarthy, Nifty Norman) 7. Racine Bell (Jason Bartlett, David Dewhurst) 8. Rockin Nola (Joey Putnam, Joe Putnam) 9. Marloe Hanover (Brian Sears, Nifty Norman) 10. Drama Act (Chris Page, Ron Burke) AE1. Treacherous Reign (Bob McClure, Tony Alagna) AE2. Sweet Lucy Lou (Todd McCarthy, Robert Cleary)

Atlanta stands tall in Crown Mare Trot elim

by Jay Bergman, for the Breeders Crown EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — World champion Atlanta, in search of her first career Breeders Crown victory, secured an inside position for next Saturday's (Oct. 30) $300,000 Mare Trot final with a powerful 1:52.1 victory in the lone $25,000 divisional elimination, held Saturday afternoon (Oct. 23) at The Meadowlands. Atlanta, the 2018 Hambletonian champion, won for the 31st time in her storied career, holding her ground amid a bevy of late challengers by a determined three-quarter-length margin. Leaving from the pole position, regular pilot Yannick Gingras had Atlanta away smoothly, yielding just to the speedy early sprint of Felicityshagwell S into the first turn. After Felicityshagwell S and Åke Svanstedt led the way through the opening quarter of :27.3, Gingras moved Atlanta on the backstretch ahead of When Dovescry to get the front end. Atlanta waltzed to the half in :56.4 as When Dovescry and her driver, David Miller, accepted the first-over grind through the final half mile. Atlanta cruised to three-quarters in 1:24.3 with When Dovescry on her flank and Felicityshagwell S positioned behind her in the pocket. She then hit high gear in the homestretch, leaving those two battling for minor spoils. A :27.3 final quarter secured victory for the 6-year-old daughter of Chapter Seven, whom Ron Burke trains. Atlanta, sent off as the 2-5 choice in the field of 10, returned $2.80 to win. When Dovescry held bravely for second, with Refined closing sharply late for third. Following the top three into next week's final were Felicityshagwell S, Ramona Hill, Sorella, Next Level Stuff and Thankful NO. Hypnotic AM and Weslynn Quest, whose respective connections accepted byes on their behalf, will complete the 10-mare field.

Owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Bradley Grant and Howard Taylor, Atlanta will look to surpass $3 million in career earnings in the Breeders Crown final. “She wasn’t nearly on her game today,” said Gingras following the victory. “But she’s a champion.”

The complete field, with post positions, nominated drivers, and trainers, are as follows: $300,000 Breeders Crown — Mare Trot 1. Refined (Brett Miller, Virgil Morgan Jr.) 2. Atlanta (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke) 3. Thankful NO (Trond Smedshammer, Trond Smedshammer) 4. Sorella (Dexter Dunn, Nancy Takter) 5. Ramona Hill (Andy McCarthy, Tony Alagna) 6. Felicityshagwell S (Åke Svanstedt, Åke Svanstedt) 7. When Dovescry (David Miller, Brett Pelling) 8. Hypnotic AM (Brian Sears, Marcus Melander) 9. Weslynn Quest (Kasper Foget, Per Engblom) 10. Next Level Stuff (Tim Tetrick, Jim Campbell) AE1. Absattitudexpress (Scott Zeron, Lucas Wallin) AE2. May Baby (James Yoder, James Yoder)

All photos Lisa Photos

Six Feet Apart scores tight upset in Crown elimination

by Ray Cotolo, for the Breeders Crown EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Fast fractions perpetuated by 1-5 favorite Beach Glass laid the groundwork for Six Feet Apart to steadily reel in the heated pacesetter, with the Brian Brown trainee nailing the Canadian invader in the final strides of the second of three $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace on Friday (Oct. 22) at The Meadowlands. Birthday bolted to the point as True Blue Lindy scooted up the pylons to secure the pocket moving to a :26.4 first quarter. Beach Glass raced third to the backstretch, but soon came off the pegs to brush for the lead. Birthday begrudgingly yielded control to Beach Glass while still managing to string the new pacesetter out to a :54.4 half. Six Feet Apart raced fourth to the final turn, where driver David Miller angled the Sweet Lou colt first-over and made gradual gains into three-quarters in 1:22.3. Beach Glass turned for home holding a one-length lead that diminished past the eighth pole as Six Feet Apart loomed closer to the leg-weary leader. Six Feet Apart powered to the front late to cross the beam a half length better than Beach Glass in a 1:50.2 mile. I Did It Myway finished third, another five lengths behind, and True Blue Lindy took fourth. “I was real happy with his effort,” David Miller said after the race. “I thought Tim Tetrick might come right there at the half. We were first-over and I didn’t know how he would hold up. Halfway through the stretch, he kept coming. He’s the type of horse that just goes what he has to. He can go a bit more, I believe.” Winning his fifth race from eight starts, Six Feet Apart has earned $93,225 for owners Michael Robinson, Robert Mondillo, David Meola and Rich Lombardo Racing LLC. The S R F Stable-bred son of Sweet Lou and Ideal Love paid $25.20 to win.

Metro Pace champ Monte Miki seized the lead midway up the backside and withstood first-over pressure from 3-5 favorite Hammering Hank to take the first Breeders Crown elimination in 1:50.4. Gentle Giant dashed for the top and cleared to the cones before a :27 first quarter with Market Based sitting in the pocket. Monte Miki landed in third to the backstretch and stayed briefly in that spot until driver Scott Zeron swept the Mark Evers trainee to the point approaching a :55.3 half. Hammering Hank got underway to the final turn and marched uncovered towards the pacesetter to three-quarters, where he nabbed a narrow lead while clicking by the beam in 1:24.1. Monte Miki battled back to the inside at the bottom of the turn and surged back to the top through the straightaway to put away Hammering Hank by a half length. The pair scooted clear of Gentle Giant in third, with Market Based taking fourth. “When you stand beside him, he’s a gorgeous horse, beautiful stature,” Zeron said after the race. “If anything, he’s a little immature. Mark [Evers] did a great job changing up his bridle to a can't-see-back from a closed [bridle]. And that was the issue I had last week going first-up. I cleared by the leader and just waited that little bit and came that :26 quarter in Lexington. I couldn’t have him stall like that.” A homebred for Velocity Standardbreds, Monte Miki has banked $365,276 in winning five races from six starts. The Always B Miki-Montenegro colt paid $11.80 to win.

The last elimination went to the late-footed Pebble Beach, who stormed off cover to win by a nose in 1:51.3. Gulf Shores failed to find a spot at the pegs to settle, so he instead ventured forward for the front and overtook early leader Loukes Perry past a :27.2 first quarter. Early Action tracked Gulf Shores’ move and soon grabbed the top into the backstretch before Fulfullnmydestiny pulled first-over to press the pacesetter into a :55.3 half. Meanwhile, Pebble Beach raced sixth and tipped off the cones to roll and grab cover from Fulfullnmydestiny to the final turn. With the first-over challenger one-paced through the final turn, driver Todd McCarthy motored Pebble Beach three-wide after three-quarters in 1:24. The Downbytheseaside-Santa Rosa colt barreled home with Gulf Shores shaking loose late but settling for second. Early Action finished third; Loukes Perry rallied for fourth. “I’ve had him on the front a few times and he has won there, but he can be a bit cheeky late,” McCarthy said after the race. “But when he has a target, he loves chasing it down. I got away a little further back than what I would have liked. I might have cleared a little too early with him; he started looking around, looking for a battle. He was good, he dug deep at the wire and did what he had to do. I’m very pleased going into next week with him.” Noel Daley conditions Pebble Beach for owners Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Country Club Acres and LA Express and JAF Racing. Brittany Farms bred the winner of seven races from 10 starts, good for $286,450 in earnings. Off the even-money favorite, he paid $4.20 to win. In addition to the top three finishers from each elimination, True Blue Lindy will also advance to the $600,000 final for having the highest earnings of the three fourth-place finishers.

The complete fields, with post positions, nominated drivers, and trainers, are as follows: $600,000 Breeders Crown — 2-Year-Old Pacing Colts and Geldings 1. Gentle Giant (David Miller, Brian Brown) 2. Monte Miki (Scott Zeron, Mark Evers) 3. Pebble Beach (Todd McCarthy, Noel Daley) 4. Six Feet Apart (David Miller, Brian Brown) 5. I Did It Myway (Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna) 6. Gulf Shores (David Miller, Brian Brown) 7. Beach Glass (Paul MacDonell, Brent MacGrath) 8. Hammering Hank (Dexter Dunn, Brett Pelling) 9. True Blue Lindy (Tim Tetrick, Jeff Cullipher) 10. Early Action (Brian Sears, Joe Holloway)

Branded By Lindy best in Crown freshman trot elims

by Frank Cotolo, for the Breeders Crown EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Domenico Cecere trainee Branded By Lindy bolted clear of his competition to post the quickest victory of the three $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot on Friday (Oct. 22) at The Meadowlands, stopping the clock in 1:53. Yannick Gingras guided the 3-5 favorite with a sweeping move to lead, cutting a :57.2 half and three-quarters in 1:25.1 en route to a 2-3/4-length score over fast-charging Double Deceiver. Fast As The Wind took third. King Of The North followed Periculum on the outside in pursuit, but to no avail. Global Pandemic was quick off the gate, but broke before the first quarter and did not recover while the others could not make any ground once Branded By Lindy got going. Branded By Lindy, a son of Chapter Seven and The Lindy Label bred and owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut, paid $3.00 to win. The colt raised his 2021 earnings to $165,550. Gingras said, “He’s gotten better and better every week. This race was as easy as it looked. I just wanted to make sure we won the elimination. I thought he was the best, and he showed it.”

David Miller used Testing Testing twice in the mile to win the first $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination for 2-year-old male trotters in a lifetime mark of 1:53.4. Testing Testing made an early move to get the top, but settled behind S I P and a charging Temporal Hanover, who took the top over S I P in a :27.2 first panel. Temporal Hanover commanded a :56 half with S I P behind him until Miller took Testing Testing first-over and gained ground with Letsdoit S getting live cover. Testing Testing won the challenge for the lead in a 1:24.3 three-quarter split. From there, Testing Testing rolled easily to a 1-1/4-length win. The late-closing Majestic J trotted by Letsdoit S to nab second with Temporal Hanover third. George Ducharme trains Testing Testing, and the colt’s fourth win brings his earnings to $43,025 for owners William Donovan, Purnel & Libby, Joseph Rocco and Jim Winske. Warrawee Farm bred the son of Walner and Sound Check, who paid $7.00. ”He was a nice colt all winter,” Ducharme said, “I was high on him. The owners were gracious enough to let me do right by the horse.” Ducharme said drawing for posts one through five in the $600,000 final “certainly helps.”

In the second $25,000 elimination, 2-1 favorite Rebuff and Tim Tetrick held off late closers to win in 1:53.4. Rebuff relaxed in fourth off the gate with World At War Deo giving up the lead to Duly Resolved at the :28.2 first quarter. The field went in single file to the :57.1 half when Slay aimed at the leader, forcing a duel at 1:26 three-quarters. Duly Resolved held sway until mid-stretch before Gigondas took advantage of the duel and swept forward off cover. Rebuff, however, was fastest of all, coasting by the trio to win by 2-1/4 lengths. On the far outside Cool Papa Bell soared, taking the show spot from Duly Resolved late. Rebuff paid $6.00 to win. Trainer Lucas Wallin co-owns Rebuff, a Muscle Hill-Meucci Madness colt who has now earned $144,095, with Kjell Magne Andersen and Pieter Delis. Steve Stewart and Michael Andrew bred the colt. Wallin said Rebuff was talented — but green — from the beginning: “The other owners let me take the time and race him from behind, and it started to pay off.” In addition to the top three finishers from each elimination, Duly Resolved also advances to the final field as the highest earner on the year among the fourth-place finishers.

The complete fields, with post positions, nominated drivers, and trainers, are as follows: $600,000 Breeders Crown — 2-Year-Old Trotting Colts and Geldings 1. Cool Papa Bell (Brian Sears, Jim Campbell) 2. Testing Testing (David Miller, George Ducharme) 3. Branded By Lindy (Yannick Gingras, Domenico Cecere) 4. Rebuff (Tim Tetrick, Lucas Wallin) 5. Gigondas (Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna) 6. Double Deceiver (David Miller, Carter Pinske) 7. Temporal Hanover (Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander) 8. Duly Resolved (Paul MacDonell, John Bax) 9. Majestic J (Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna) 10. Fast As The Wind (Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna)

Queen Of Success upends unbeaten fillies in Crown elimination

by Jay Bergman, for the Breeders Crown EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The single $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination for juvenile pacing fillies started with two undefeated fillies as favorites, but it was 23-1 shot Queen Of Success, who literally split those two in the late stages, to surprise at the finish line for Andy McCarthy in a 1:50.3 mile. McCarthy used Queen Of Success’ gate speed to full advantage, putting the daughter of Captaintreacherous on the front in the early going before yielding to the previously unbeaten Sea Silk and driver Chris Page past the :27.3 opening quarter. Page and Sea Silk were able to back down the pace significantly, hitting the half in :56 flat while waiting for competition. Dexter Dunn, driving the other previously unbeaten filly, Niki Hill, waited until past the half to get on the move. Niki Hill advanced towards the leader, but Sea Silk cruised a third quarter in :27.3, making it difficult for the entire outer tier to gain contention. In the homestretch, Sea Silk held firmly, but McCarthy was able to angle off the pylons with Queen Of Success as Niki Hill bore out slightly, allowing clearance. Queen Of Success quickly asserted herself to drive by Sea Silk and held Niki Hill three-quarters of a length at bay in a :27 flat final quarter. Queen Of Success, a daughter of Captaintreacherous and Cashaway, won for the fifth time in eight starts this year for trainer Tony Alagna and owners Alagna Racing LLC, Caviart Farms and Robert LeBlanc. Niki Hill finished second with Sea Silk third. Gotthegreenlight, Treacherous Dragon, Boudoir Hanover, Captain Cowgirl and Galleria Hanover finished fourth through eighth, respectively, and also advance to next Friday's (Oct. 29) $600,000 Breeders Crown final, along with Don’t Fence Me In and Lyons Serenity, who were awarded byes. Queen of Success returned $48.60 to win. “She was super,” said Alagna following the race.

Lilbitalexis, Raised By Lindy win Crown rookie filly trot elims; Venerable breaks stride

by Jay Bergman, for the Breeders Crown EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Lilbitalexis and Dexter Dunn made the most of a pocket trip on their way to capturing the first of two $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 2-year-old filly trot at The Meadowlands on Friday night (Oct. 22). The victory saved the day for trainer Richard "Nifty" Norman, whose previously undefeated Venerable broke stride in the contest and finished last. Selfie Queen and driver Scott Zeron marched out sharply to the front into the first turn, forcing Dunn to take the two-hole behind the leader with Lilbitalexis well before the :27.4 first quarter. Venerable, the Mohawk Million winner, had taken a tuck early, but was in no hurry to move as Selfie Queen cut the half in :56.2 unchallenged. David Miller put Venerable in gear past the half and the filly made up ground quickly, eventually flushing Lilbitalexis from the pocket as the field neared the three-quarters. Lilbitalexis engaged Selfie Queen on even terms past three-quarters in 1:25.1, but Venerable faltered and took herself out of the race turning into the homestretch. Dunn had no issues with Lilbitalexis, and the Walner-sired lass trotted smoothly past Selfie Queen for a 1-3/4-length victory in 1:53.3. Selfie Queen held second easily with Jaya Bae closing solidly between horses late to hit the board in third. Brickhouse Babe and Ebbies Lady, fourth and fifth respectively, completed the qualifiers for next week's $600,000 final from this elimination. Pinske Stables and David Hoese own Lilbitalexis, who won for the seventh time in her freshman season. “When you ask her to go, she’s got high speed,” said Dunn of Lilbitalexis, who paid $5.60 as the second choice.

Form held up better in the second $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination, when Raised By Lindy got the job done as the even-money favorite for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Domenico Cecere. Joviality S, the 6-5 second choice, left hard for command with Brian Sears in the bike and parked Raised By Lindy through a soft :29 opening quarter before allowing her to pass. Once in control, Raised By Lindy and Gingras strolled around the track, cutting middle half fractions of :58.3 and 1:27.4. The third quarter got the attention of Todd McCarthy, as he sped Delilah Hanover from the back with high velocity before then having to edge wider when Joviality S pulled the pocket to challenge the winner on even terms late on the final bend. Gingras called on Raised By Lindy under pressure, and the daughter of Walner, bred and owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut, finished her mile impressively, sprinting home in :27 flat to win by 1-1/2 lengths and complete the mile in 1:54.4 for her third consecutive victory. Joviality S held firmly late for second ahead of Jiggy Jog S. Delilah Hanover and Valentina Blu completed the finalists from this division. Raised By Lindy paid $4.20 in winning for the fifth time in nine career starts.

The complete field, with post positions, nominated drivers, and trainers, is as follows:

$600,000 Breeders Crown — 2-Year-Old Trotting Fillies 1. Valentina Blu (Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna) 2. Selfie Queen (Scott Zeron, Nancy Takter) 3. Lilbitalexis (Dexter Dunn, Nifty Norman) 4. Delilah Hanover (Todd McCarthy, Nifty Norman) 5. Raised By Lindy (Yannick Gingras, Domenico Cecere) 6. Jiggy Jog S (Åke Svanstedt, Åke Svanstedt) 7. Ebbies Lady (Åke Svanstedt, Åke Svanstedt) 8. Brickhouse Babe (Mark MacDonald, Ray Schnittker) 9. Jaya Bae (Brian Sears, Marcus Melander) 10. Joviality S (Brian Sears, Marcus Melander)

East Rutherford, NJ - The 2021 Breeders Crown Charity Challenge presented by the Libfeld-Katz Breeding Partnership is down to the final two weekends – culminating with check presentations on Saturday, October 30th during the Breeders Crown race card.

This year’s Challenge was designed to raise awareness of the positive contributions harness racing makes by selecting four local tri-state charities.

The Charity Challenge Teams/Charities/Sponsors are:

o Team Dexter Dunn: John Theurer Cancer Center

§ Platinum Sponsor - Trainer Nancy Takter

§ Gold Sponsor Deo Volente Farms

§ Silver Sponsor: Tom & John Cancelliere

o Team Yannick Gingras: New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund

§ Platinum Sponsor: Trainer Ron Burke

§ Gold Sponsors: Concord Stud Farm & Trainer Marcus Melander

§ Silver Sponsor: Trainer Ake Svanstedt

o Team David Miller: enCourage Kids Foundation

§ Platinum Sponsors Trainer Nifty Norman & Trainer Brett Pelling

§ Gold Sponsors: Trainer Julie Miller & Trainer Linda Toscano

§ Silver Sponsor: Trainer Chris Ryder

o Team Tim Tetrick: Special Olympics New Jersey

§ Platinum Sponsor: Trainer Tony Alagna

§ Gold Sponsor: Hogan Equine Clinic

§ Silver Sponsor: Trainer Noel Daley

· Diamond Sponsors: Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment & FanDuel Sportsbook

· Silver Star Sponsor: Trainer Jim Campbell

Through the exhaustive efforts of Marvin Katz and the generous donations of sponsors and breeding bidders, $339,500 has been raised for the charities. $12,500 of this was allocated after the Red Mile Sulky Dash as follows - $4,000 to NJ Pandemic Relief, $3,250 to John Theurer Cancer Center, $2,750 to Special Olympics New Jersey & $2,500 to enCourage Kids Foundation.

As of October 21, only 101 points separates first place from fourth place. Tallying the Grand Circuit driver points and fifty bonus points for each charity “night at the races visit” the standings are as follows:

1. Team Dunn – 1130

2. Team Tetrick – 1067

3. Team Gingras – 1042

4. Team Miller – 1029

There are still points to be had in the Challenge – including driver Grand Circuit points, one more “night at the races,” and online voting points.

Fans are encouraged to vote for their favorite team daily at https://www.playmeadowlands.events/bc

East Rutherford, NJ – Reservations are still available for this Friday and Saturday’s Breeders Crown Eliminations Friday, October 22 which has a 6:20pm post time while Saturday, October 23 has a special 12 noon post.

Pink Restaurant has a fall-themed buffet with a variety of salads, a carving station and desserts. The menu features a roasted acorn squash salad, Caesar salad and butternut squash bisque for starters. Roasted rib eye, chicken Marsala with wild mushrooms, pan seared salmon with pumpkin cilantro sauce, pasta primavera and roasted spicy carrots with brown sugar are main course highlights. A variety of pies including apple, pecan and pumpkin round out dessert.

Friday’s cost is $50 per person plus tax and gratuity while Saturday’s menu is $55 per person plus tax and gratuity. Saturday’s menu also includes fresh fruit, quiche and bagels so guests can enjoy brunch during the early post time.

Reservations can be made by calling 201-The-BIGM (201-843-2446). All reservations must be prepaid.

Reservations for Breeders Crown Finals Weekend, October 29 and 30th, are also available. The Friday Pink buffet menu is $70 per person plus tax and gratuity and Saturday’s is $75 plus tax and gratuity. With the 12 noon post on October 30th, Saturday’s menu also includes brunch offerings including quiche, omelets made to order and crispy bacon.

The buffet features a raw bar with jumbo shrimp, crab claws, oysters, and Maine lobster tails. Guests can also dine on roasted prime rib, chicken cacciatore, Atlantic cod topped with bruschetta, stuffed shells and roasted Brussel sprouts with maple syrup.

Guests looking for ala carte dining can enjoy our 2nd floor Lounge which is the place to be to watch and wager all the racing and day’s sports action. Guests can dine on delicious Victory Sports Bar fare including wings, burgers, lobster mac and cheese, salads, wraps and more. The ticket cost is a food credit that will be applied to the food and beverage bill. Tax and gratuity are not included in this credit and are additional.

Tables are now available for purchase at https://www.playmeadowlands.events/event-details/bc-dining-tickets

By Ken Weingartner, for the Breeders Crown

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Harness racing’s No. 1-ranked horse, Lyons Sentinel, and nine previous Breeders Crown champions will be in action Saturday afternoon when Breeders Crown eliminations for pacers and trotters ages 3 and older are held at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

The event for 3-year-old female pacers as well as the Open Pace, Mare Pace, and Mare Trot each will have a single elimination. The events for 3-year-old male pacers, 3-year-old male trotters, and 3-year-old female trotters each will have two elims. All eliminations will go for a purse of $25,000.

Winners of Saturday’s eliminations will draw for posts one through five for their respective final. The remaining finalists will participate in open draws for their starting positions.

Eliminations are unnecessary in the Open Trot, with 11 older male trotters advancing directly to the $650,000 final. The 11 entrants are Amigo Volo, Back Of The Neck, Beads, Chin Chin Hall, supplement Ecurie D Dk, Forbidden Trade, It’s Academic, Majestic Player A, Ready For Moni, Sermon, and Warrawee Roo.

Saturday’s 12-race card will begin at noon. The card for Breeders Crown finals for horses ages 3 and older, Oct. 30 at the Meadowlands, also will start at noon.

Eliminations for 2-year-olds are Friday with the finals on Oct. 29.

Four-year-old Lyons Sentinel was among 13 horses entered in the Mare Pace. Byes based on seasonal earnings were offered to reduce the elimination field to 10, with the connections of Drama Act, $31,250 supplemental entry Racine Bell, and So Much More accepting the opportunity to proceed directly to the $330,000 final. The connections of Lyons Sentinel, Rockin Nola, and Rocknificent declined byes.

Lyons Sentinel will bring a seven-race win streak to her Crown elim. Her victories include the Dayton Distaff Derby, Milton, Roses Are Red, Lady Liberty, and Clara Barton.

The elimination field also includes 5-year-old Warrawee Ubeaut, a Breeders Crown champion at ages 2 and 3, as well as Peaky Sneaky, who won last year’s final for 3-year-old female pacers. The top-seven elimination finishers will join the bye recipients in the final.

Thirteen horses also were entered in the Open Pace. Byes were accepted by the connections of Allywag Hanover, Catch The Fire, and Ocean Rock. The connections of This Is The Plan, who leads all older pacers in purses with $784,269 this year, declined a bye.

The 10-horse elimination field also includes Dorsoduro Hanover, who won a Breeders Crown at age 3 in 2018. The top-seven finishers from the elim will advance to the $600,000 final.

Atlanta, who equaled history’s fastest mile by a female trotter, 1:49, in her most recent start and is ranked No. 7 in the sport’s Top 10, is among the horses in the single Mare Trot elimination. Her connections declined a bye, as did the connections of multiple Grand Circuit winner When Dovescry. The field also includes past Breeders Crown champs Next Level Stuff and Ramona Hill.

The connections of Hypnotic AM and Weslynn Quest accepted byes. Those two mares will be joined in the $300,000 final by the top-eight finishers from the elimination.

The only 3-year-old event with a single elimination, for 3-year-old female pacers, saw Test Of Faith, who is ranked No. 3 in the current Top 10, and Scarlett Hanover receive byes. The connections of returning Breeders Crown champion Fire Start Hanover, Grace Hill, and Blue Diamond Eyes declined a bye. The top-eight elimination finishers will advance to the $600,000 final.

In the following 3-year-old events with two eliminations, the top-five finishers from each elim will advance to the final. The final for both the 3-year-old male and female trotters will go for $650,000. The final for 3-year-old male pacers is $600,000.

Perfect Sting, who is the leading money-winning horse in North America this season with $961,347, was among 15 horses entered in the Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male pacers. He also is among two returning champions in the event, having won the 2-year-old final in a dead heat with Summa Cum Laude. It was the first dead heat for win in Crown history.

Summa Cum Laude and Perfect Sting drew into the first elimination, which also includes Tattersalls Pace winner Abuckabett Hanover. The second includes Carl Milstein Memorial winner Charlie May, Little Brown Jug winner Lou’s Pearlman, and Cane Pace champion Rockyroad Hanover.

Kentucky Futurity winner Jujubee, a $62,500 supplemental entry who is ranked No. 5 in the sport’s Top 10, was among 17 sophomore male trotters entered in the Breeders Crown and will race in the second elimination including Yonkers Trot winner Johan Palema. The first elimination features Canadian Trotting Classic winner Ahundreddollarbill.

The event for 3-year-old female trotters attracted of total of 19 entries. Hambletonian Oaks winner Bella Bellini will race in the second elimination. The first elim includes $62,500 supplement Katie’s Lucky Day, who won the Kentucky Filly Futurity, and returning Breeders Crown champion Lady Chaos.

Following are Saturday’s Breeders Crown elimination fields in post order (with driver, trainer).

3-Year-Old Female Trotters

Elimination One: 1. Darlene Hanover (Todd McCarthy, Brett Bittle), 2. Splash Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt, Svanstedt), 3. May Karp (Tim Tetrick, Lucas Wallin), 4. Iteration (Brian Sears, Marcus Melander), 5. Amazone Duharas (James MacDonald, Denis Gueriel), 6. Katie’s Lucky Day (Trevor Smith, Todd Luther), 7. Altar (Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter), 8. Anoka Hanover (Todd McCarthy, Noel Daley), 9. Lady Chaos (David Miller, Linda Toscano).

Elimination Two: 1. You Ato Dream (Jeff Gregory, Gregory), 2. Donna Soprano (Bob McClure, Luc Blais), 3. Shirley Goodness (Peter Wrenn, Melanie Wrenn), 4. Contested Hanover (Mark MacDonald, George Ducharme), 5. Mazzarati (Scott Zeron, Noel Daley), 6. Beltassima (Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna), 7. Bella Bellini (Dexter Dunn, R. Nifty Norman), 8. Adirondack (Dexter Dunn, Nancy Takter), 9. Chablis (Scott Zeron, Jonas Czernyson), 10. Herculisa (Brett Miller, Virgil Morgan Jr.).

3-Year-Old Male Trotters

Elimination One: 1. Ambassador Hanover (Ake Svanstedt, Svanstedt), 2. Plumville Prince (Scott Zeron, Rick Zeron), 3. In Range (Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander), 4. Ahundreddollarbill (Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna), 5. Ritson (David Miller, Mark Steacy), 6. Locatelli (Dexter Dunn, Nancy Takter), 7. Logan Park (James MacDonald, Robert Fellows), 8. Fly Light (Dexter Dunn, Ake Svanstedt).

Elimination Two: 1. Jujubee (Andrew McCarthy, Greg Wright Jr.), 2. Johan Palema (Yannick Gingras, Ake Svanstedt), 3. Dancinginthedark M (Brian Sears, Marcus Melander), 4. Delayed Hanover (Ake Svanstedt, Svanstedt), 5. Cuatro De Julio (Lucas Wallin, Marie Ortolan Bar), 6. Rattle My Cage (Andy Miller, Ake Svanstedt), 7. Balenciaga (Mark MacDonald, Paul Kelley), 8. Spy Booth (Todd McCarthy, Katricia Adams), 9. Inaminute Hanover (Bob McClure, Luc Blais).

3-Year-Old Male Pacers

Elimination One: 1. Perfect Sting (David Miller, Joe Holloway), 2. I’ll Drink To That (Todd McCarthy, Chris Ryder), 3. Chase H Hanover (Tim Tetrick, Scott Cox), 4. Mysweetboymax (Jason Bartlett, Sam DePinto), 5. Summa Cum Laude (Brian Sears, Ron Burke), 6. Southwind Petyr (Jason Bartlett, Mark Harder), 7. Abuckabett Hanover (Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna), 8. Bayfield Beach (Joe Bongiorno, Ron Burke).

Elimination Two: 1. Southwind Gendry (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke), 2. Lou’s Pearlman (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke), 3. Rockyroad Hanover (Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna), 4. Charlie May (Brett Miller, Steve Carter), 5. Heart Of Chewbacca (Dan Noble, Christi Noble), 6. Dean B Hanover (Dexter Dunn, Jeffrey Gillis), 7. Water Sports Teen (Joe Bongiorno, Jennifer Bongiorno).

3-Year-Old Female Pacers

Single Elimination: 1. Shezafreaklikeme (Todd McCarthy, Stacy Chiodo), 2. Think Of Galaxies (Mark MacDonald, John McDermott), 3. Grace Hill (Todd McCarthy, R. Nifty Norman), 4. Mackie Hanover (Tim Tetrick, Tom Fanning), 5. Paulas Best Bet (Chris Page, Ron Burke), 6. Blue Diamond Eyes (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke), 7. Notorious Pink (Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna), 8. Beach Crazy (Montrell Teague, Stacy Chiodo), 9. Marsala Hanover (Scott Zeron, Linda Toscano), 10. Fire Start Hanover (Dexter Dunn, R. Nifty Norman).

Mare Pace

Single Elimination: 1. Warrawee Ubeaut (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke), 2. Sweet Lucy Lou (Todd McCarthy, Robert Cleary), 3. Peaky Sneaky (Dexter Dunn, Nancy Takter), 4. Rocknificent (Scott Zeron, Linda Toscano), 5. JK First Lady (Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter), 6. Rockin Nola (Joey Putnam, Joe Putnam), 7. Lyons Sentinel (Tim Tetrick, Jim King Jr.), 8. Treacherous Reign (Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna), 9. Keep Rockin A (Andrew McCarthy, R. Nifty Norman), 10. Marloe Hanover (Dexter Dunn, R. Nifty Norman).

Mare Trot

Single Elimination: 1. Atlanta (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke), 2. Thankful NO (Trond Smedshammer, Trond Smedshammer), 3. Refined (TBA, Virgil Morgan Jr.), 4. Felicityshagwell S (Ake Svanstedt, Svanstedt), 5. Next Level Stuff (Tim Tetrick, Jim Campbell), 6. When Dovescry (David Miller, Brett Pelling), 7. May Baby (James Yoder, Yoder), 8. Ab’sattitudexpress (Scott Zeron, Lucas Wallin), 9. Ramona Hill (Andrew McCarthy, Tony Alagna), 10. Sorella (Dexter Dunn, Nancy Takter).

Open Pace

Single Elimination: 1. Nicholas Beach (Joe Bongiorno, Jennifer Bongiorno), 2. Dorsoduro Hanover (TBA, Ron Burke), 3. Enavant (Bob McClure, Luc Blais), 4. Workin Ona Mystery (Tim Tetrick, Ron Burke), 5. Cattlewash (David Miller, Ron Burke), 6. Shake That House (Tim Tetrick, Tony Alagna), 7. Warrawee Vital (Trevor Henry, Robert Fellows), 8. This Is The Plan (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke), 9. Ruthless Hanover (Andrew McCarthy, Tom Cancelliere), 10. Captain Barbossa (Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna).

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – A pair of undefeated sensations topped a total of 71 two-year-old entrants dropped into the box Tuesday morning to create a total of nine eliminations as the Breeders Crown makes its return to The Meadowlands for the first time since 2016 on Friday night.

The action will feature 2-year-olds of each sex and gait, with all eliminations going for a purse of $25,000. All four $600,000 finals will take place Friday, Oct. 29. Post time for both Friday race cards is 6:20 p.m.

The filly trot attracted a total of 15 entrants, making it necessary for a pair of splits. Mohawk Million, Peaceful Way and Jim Doherty winner Venerable, unbeaten in eight starts in 2021, will attempt to win a ninth in a row for trainer Nifty Norman and driver Dave Miller.

The top five finishers from each elim will move on to the final, with the winners drawing for post positions 1-5.

Elimination One – Race 5 (horses listed in post position order): Ebbies Lady, Shestheluckyone, Brickhouse Babe, Selfie Queen, Lilbitalexis, Venerable, Jaya Bae.

Elimination Two – Race 6 (horses listed in post position order): Jiggy Jog S, Mrs Taylor, Joviality S, Valentina Blu, Delilah Hanover, Raised By Lindy, I’m Happy Hanover, Palermo Hanover.

Niki Hill will attempt to run her unblemished record to seven wins in as many starts in the lone elim for filly pacers. The Chris Ryder student won the She’s A Great Lady as the 1-9 favorite in a lifetime-best equaling 1:50.2 in late September and her connections opted to not take the bye to the final. Don’t Fence Me In and Lyons Serenity accepted byes and go straight to next week’s final.

The top eight finishers from the elimination will qualify for the championship dash with the winner drawing post position 1-5.

Elimination – Race 12 (horses listed in post position order): Captain Cowgirl, Sea Silk, Boudoir Hanover, Gotthegreenlight, Galleria Hanover, Queen Of Success, Niki Hill, Yes And Yes, Frantasy Hanover, Treacherous Dragon.

A total of 23 colt and gelding trotters will be split into three elims. Duly Resolved, who’s won half of his 10 starts this season and finished second in the other half, will venture away from his home track of Woodbine Mohawk Park for the first time in his career for trainer John Bax.

The Ray Schnittker-trained King Of The North, the William Wellwood and Peter Haughton champion, suffered an interference break as the second choice in the wagering in the Mohawk Million but managed to rally and cash a fifth-place check.

The top three finishers from the three elims plus the fourth-place finisher with the highest lifetime earnings will qualify for the final. The winners will draw for post positions 1-5.

Elimination One – Race 1 (horses listed in post position order): Southwind Domino, S I P, Testing Testing, Letsdoit S, Temporal Hanover, Majestic J, Keg Stand.

Elimination Two – Race 8 (horses listed in post position order): Cool Papa Bell, Slay, Duly Resolved, Classic Hill, Gigondas, World At War Deo, Rebuff, Pretender.

Elimination Three – Race 10 (horses listed in post position order): Fast As The Wind, Branded By Lindy, Threepointbluechip, Double Deceiver, Periculum, Robertsin, Global Pandemic, King Of The North.

The colt and gelding pace attracted a total of 21 who will be split into three elims. Monte Miki, the Mark Evers trainee who pulled off a 15-1 upset in the Metro Pace after racing in 10th at the half, is one of a handful to watch in a highly competitive field.

True Blue Lindy (the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winner), Pebble Beach (who won the Kentucky Sire Stakes title in 1:48.4) and Gulf Shores (the Ohio Sire Stakes champion) are others with solid resumes.

The top three finishers from the three elims plus the fourth-place finisher with the highest lifetime earnings will qualify for the final. The winners will draw for post positions 1-5.

Elimination One – Race 7 (horses listed in post position order): Lous Sassin, Caviart Camden, Hammering Hank, Market Based, Monte Miki, Gentle Giant, Fourever Boy.

Elimination Two – Race 9 (horses listed in post position order): True Blue Lindy, Beach Glass, Six Feet Apart, Birthday, The Boss Said, I Did It Myway, Nautical Hanover.

Elimination Three – Race 11 (horses listed in post position order): Atlas Hanover, Early Action, Pebble Beach, Gulf Shores, Loukes Perry, River Ness, Fulfullnmydestiny.

BREEDERS CROWN PR

Cranbury, NJ --- The connections of two of the top sophomore trotters in their division – Jujubee and Katie’s Lucky Day -- as well as recent Scandinavian import Ecurie D (DK) and mare pacer Racine Bell have supplemented to their respective Breeders Crown events at the Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, NJ on Oct. 30.

A $62,500 supplemental fee is permitted in 3-year-old and open races. For mares the amount is $31,250 There are no supplements permitted in the 2-year-old events.

Eliminations, if needed, for all three-year-old and older events will race on Saturday AFTERNOON, Oct. 23 with a post time of 12:00 noon. [EDT]

Jujubee, a 3-year-old colt trotter owned and bred by Jon Erdner and trained by Greg Wright Jr. has not lost a race since June, with a slate of 16-13-2-0. Jujubee made his presence felt on the national stage, winning the Muscle Hill on Hambletonian day in 1:49.4. The son of 2015 Breeders Crown champion Creatine was not Hambletonian eligible and the race allows no supplements, but Jujubee was able to take the supplemental route in third leg of trotting’s Triple Crown, the Kentucky Futurity, lowering his mark to 1:49.3.

Jujubee was also a $75,000 supplement to the Kentucky Futurity, but trainer Greg Wright Jr. had a wellspring of confidence in his colt to draw from.

“I was pretty confident in supplementing [to the Crown] after he won the Futurity- the biggest challenge there was the post draw but once he won the way he did – I had even more confidence in going ahead then.” said Wright.

“There was a start back in a sire stake in May, when he actually got beat- In Range caught him at the wire- but he came a back half in :53.4 or so and ever since that day that speed has been there whenever you needed it.” Katie’s Lucky Day, owned by Greg Luther’s Black Magic Racing and trained by Todd Luther also shone at the Red Mile, winning the Kentucky Futurity Filly division as a supplemental entry.

“Obviously winning the Filly Futurity down there she showed she can go with some of the better ones,” said Greg Luther. “And I’ve never had a horse in the Breeders Crown. I’m excited to give it a shot for the big money. I’ve already booked flights for 23 or 24 people, we’re bringing everybody.”

The connections of Ecurie D (DK) planned a fall racing campaign in the U.S. as owners Marko Kreivi Stables Inc and Suleyman Yuksel Stables Inc added trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt to the group after making the son of globetrotting stallion Infinitif eligible to several of the fall stakes for open trotters. A Breeder Crown supplement was necessary for Ecurie D, though, and after his eye-opening 1:50.4 score in the Allerage Trot at the Red Mile in his first U.S. pari-mutuel start, the decision got much easier.

"He has been racing very good in Sweden and all of Europe since he was 3, and the owner wanted to try something new. They knew he's good on big mile tracks like this, so that was the main goal to put him here," Sarah Svanstedt told Derick Giwner of the Daily Racing Form after the Allerage performance.

Ecurie D hopes to follow in the hoof prints of other European stars, like 2019 Crown Trot winner Bold Eagle (FR), 2014 Crown Trot winner Commander Crowe (SW), 2007 winner Equinox Bi (p1) and 2001 winner Varenne (IT) who all added a Crown title to their resumes.

Racine Bell, a 4-year-old daughter of So Surreal owned by Chris Lawton and Dale Lawton took her lifetime mark of 1:48.1 at The Meadowlands in a June leg of the Kissin In The Sand, besting Rocknificent and current division leader Lyons Sentinel.

“She wasn’t quite up to par there and then we found out a thing or two about her, and she’s been really good since,” said trainer Dave Dewhurst. “Last week she was really good and Jason [Bartlett, her regular driver] said we should put here in there, so we said OK. I’ve had no other place to race her other than Yonkers, I keep entering her and no one will take her.”

Regular entries for eligible trotters and pacers are due by 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at the Meadowlands race office.

Eliminations for the 3-year-old and up divisions, if necessary, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 23 also on a day card with a noon post time. All Eliminations will race for a minimum of $25,000. If Eliminations are needed, post positions in the Final will be determined by an open draw with the exception that Elimination winners in an order determined by lot, will draw for post positions number one (#1) through five (#5) in the final. All other finalists will be placed in an open draw for the remaining post positions. Any horse(s) that receive a bye into the Final will be in the open draw for post positions in the Final. All horses that start in the Final receive money.

For more information go to http://www.hambletonian.com or playmeadowlands.com.

Follow Breeders Crown news and updates on Twitter @Breeders_Crown, using #Crown21 and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BreedersCrown. Fans can also go to http://harnessracingfanzone.com, the Place for Harness Racing Fans to See, Share, Connect and Play.

East Rutherford, NJ – Dining reservations are now being taken for Breeders Crown Eliminations weekend, October 22-23 and Breeders Crown Finals weekend, October 29-30. Friday, October 22 and Friday, October 29 have a 6:20pm post time while Saturday, October 23 and Saturday, October 30 have a special 12 noon post.

For eliminations weekend Pink Restaurant has fall-themed buffet with a variety of salads, a carving station and desserts. The menu features a roasted acorn squash salad, butternut squash bisque, roasted rib eye, chicken Marsala with wild mushrooms, pan seared salmon with pumpkin cilantro sauce, pasta primavera and roasted spicy carrots with brown sugar. A variety of pies including apple, pecan and pumpkin round out dessert.

Friday’s cost is $50 per person plus tax and gratuity while Saturday’s menu is $55 per person plus tax and gratuity. Saturday’s menu also includes fresh fruit, quiche and bagels so guests can enjoy brunch during the early post time.

Pink Restaurant’s buffet on Finals Weekend, October 29 and 30th, features a raw bar with jumbo shrimp, crab claws, oysters, and Maine lobster tails. Guests can also dine on roasted prime rib, chicken cacciatore, Atlantic cod topped with bruschetta, stuffed shells and roasted Brussel sprouts with maple syrup.

Friday’s menu is $70 per person plus tax and gratuity and Saturday’s is $75 plus tax and gratuity. With the 12 noon post on October 30th, Saturday’s menu also includes brunch offerings including quiche, omelets made to order and crispy bacon.

Reservations can be made by calling 201-The-BIGM (201-843-2446). All reservations must be prepaid. The full menus can be viewed at https://www.playmeadowlands.events/bc-dining.

Guests looking for ala carte dining can enjoy our 2nd floor Lounge which is the place to be to watch and wager all the racing and day’s sports action. Guests can dine on delicious Victory Sports Bar fare including wings, burgers, lobster mac and cheese, salads, wraps and more. The ticket cost is a food credit that will be applied to the food and beverage bill. Tax and gratuity are not included in this credit and are additional.

Available Seating/Dining Options for purchase include:

Grandstand Lounge Table: $80 per two person table/$160 for a four person table.

Grandstand Lounge Couch: $150 per four person section complete with couch.

Tables are now available for purchase at https://www.playmeadowlands.events/event-details/bc-dining-tickets

Siegelman Stable and the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown continue their 2021 partnership, which resulted in a sellout of this year’s Hambletonian collection at Siegelman’s Stable first ever pop-up in July, in Brooklyn, NY.

The new specialty collaboration line focuses on the upcoming $6.6 million Breeders Crown Championships at the Meadowlands in October.

This is the limited edition of horse race collections created and designed by Max Siegelman, who launched Siegelman Stable sportswear in June 2020.

Siegelman’s capsule collection will feature hats, hooded sweatsuits and more with the re-imagined fresh Breeders Crown logo reinterpreted for current streetwear appeal.

The Collection will drop on Friday, October 29, exclusively on Siegelman's Stable website.

Siegelman is the son of trainer Robbie Siegelman, an accomplished trainer and driver of racehorses for more than 35 years. The luxury streetwear collection also benefits equine causes near to Max Siegelman’s heart, including: HorseAbility, an equine therapy program in Long Island that provides services for veterans, doctors, frontline healthcare workers and special needs children; and the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club out of Philadelphia, and more.

Siegelman Stable has been spotted on Alex Pall of the Chainsmokers, Post Malone, a number of NBA players, as well as, Future’s music video and more. It has also been featured as a brand to watch in 2021 by Complex Magazine.

The Breeders Crown, harness racing’s year-end championship series, will take place at the Meadowlands Racetrack, East Rutherford, NJ on Friday night, Oct. 29 and on a special day card beginning at noon, Saturday, Oct. 30.

The deadline for potential supplements to the 3-year-old and older Breeders Crown races and for all eligible horses to declare in to the $6.6 million year-end championship events at the Meadowlands Racetrack is right around the corner.

Supplemental entries for 3-year-old and open events are due and payable by 12:00 noon [EDT], Monday, Oct. 18, in the race office at the Meadowlands or the Hambletonian Society offices in Cranbury, NJ. There are no supplements for 2-year-old races.

All Breeders Crown eligible horses must declare in by 9:00 a.m. [EDT] Tuesday, Oct. 19. All eligible 3-year-olds have the option of entering the sophomore event to which they were nominated or an Open event.

Supplemental declaration amounts are listed below. Click here for more instructions on supplementing: How to supplement to the Breeders Crown.

Gtd. Purse

Event

Supplement

$600,000

All 3-Year-Old Events

$62,500

$600,000

Open Trot & Pace

$62,500

$300,000

Open Mare Pace & Trot

$31,250

The entrance fee is included in the supplemental amount. A minimum of half the amount of the supplemental fee, minus the entrance fee, will be added to the purse. This one-time supplemental payment also makes a horse eligible to all subsequent years’ Breeders Crown events under the normal schedule of payments.

You can access the Meadowlands Condition Sheet on Thursday, Oct. 14 here: Meadowlands Condition Sheet

All Eliminations will race for a minimum of $25,000. If Eliminations are needed, post positions in the Final will be determined by an open draw with the exception that Elimination winners in an order determined by lot, will draw for post positions number one (#1) through five (#5) in the final. All other finalists will be placed in an open draw for the remaining post positions. Any horse(s) that receive a bye into the Final will be in the open draw for post positions in the Final. All horses that start in the Final receive money.

All 2-Year-Old Elimination races will be held Friday, Oct. 22 with a post time of 6:20 p.m. [EDT].

All 2-Year-Old Finals will be held Friday, Oct. 29 with a post time of 6:20 p.m. [EDT].

Eliminations, if needed, for all three-year-old and older events will race on Saturday AFTERNOON, Oct. 23 with a post time of 12:00 noon. [EDT]

All 3-Year-Old and Open events will race Saturday, Oct. 30, with an early AFTERNOON post of 12 noon [EDT.]

For more information and racing conditions click: https://www.hambletonian.com/ or call 609-371-2211 or call 609-371-2211.

LEXINGTON, KY – The ‘Breedings for a Cause’ charity auction at Wednesday’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale saw eight of the most sought-after breedings in the sport bring a record total of $207,000 for the ‘Breeders Crown Charity Challenge’ pot.

The 2021 Challenge, presented by the Libfeld-Katz breeding partnership, is on track to outpace previous year’s donations, with more than $130,000 having already been pledged by industry participants.

Steven Head bid $15,000 to breed to 2020 Dan Patch divisional champion Perfect Sting when he eventually goes to stud. But the son of Always B Miki, to date the leading 2021 money-earning 3-year-old in the sport with over $800,000 in the bank, still has plenty of racing to do before it’s time to head for the breeding shed.

Brad Grant spent a whopping $55,000 for a breeding to Walner, the sport’s current trotting super-sire, whose offspring Exile was the sale topper on Opening Night after being sold for $800,000. Lucas Wallin signed as agent for the Chapter Seven slot at $27,000.

Kountry Lane Standardbreds dug deep, bringing home a Tall Dark Stranger breeding for $21,000 and came back for a Captaintreacherous booking at $27,000.

Blue Chip Bloodstock signed for the high-performance trotting sire Bar Hopping at $12,000, and Indian Mound Bloodstock of Lexington held out for a mating to Muscle Hill for $33,000.

A breeding to the red-hot Ohio pacing sire Downbytheseaside went home with Tom Fanning as agent for Dave Van Wart for $17,000.

Many thanks go out to breeding donors Hanover Shoe Farms and Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky, the Captaintreacherous Syndicate, Blue Chip Farm and Chapter Seven Syndicate, Adam Bowden of Diamond Creek Farms, Southwind Farm and Muscle Hill Syndicate, the Walner Syndicate and Brittany Farms and Val d’Or for their generous donations.

This year, the proceeds of the auction and the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge, which has raised over $400,000 in its first two years, will benefit the enCourage Kids Foundation (Team Miller), John Theurer Cancer Center (Team Dunn), New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (Team Gingras) and Special Olympics New Jersey (Team Tetrick).

The battle for the first-place check will go through Friday, Oct. 29, when the freshman Breeders Crown Finals are contested at The Meadowlands. Post time is 6:20 p.m. Winners and check presentations will take place Sat., Oct. 30, prior to the Breeders Crown 3-year-old and up Finals with an unprecedented post time of noon.

To vote for your favorite, Team Dunn, Team Gingras, Team Miller or Team Tetrick, and to find out more about the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge, go to playmeadowlands.com.

October 3, 2021, by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Away last in the early stages, Yannickatnite Gingras accelerated for the front late and kicked clear of the competition to win the $12,500 Breeders Crown Dash for Cash relay at The Red Mile on Sunday (Oct. 3), an event which is part of the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge.

Yannickatnite Gingras, the team comprised of driver Yannick Gingras and Sarah Svanstedt, raced fourth through the first 50 yards of the relay as Nancy Takter led for Top Dunn Dex to the center of the track with David Millertime in close pursuit to the pylons. Svanstedt and Gingras wasted little time in the trade off to the final 50 yards and motored home a two-length winner in an unofficial time of 21 seconds – a track-record performance. Dexter Dunn nabbed second with Top Dunn Dex from a stubborn Andymccrtheoryofrelativity to the inside in third and David Millertime settled for fourth.

“It was very hard actually, but I was happy I trained my ‘horse,’” Sarah Svanstedt said after the race. “He saved the day. I think I’ve been harder on him than he had been on me, but it was very fun.”

“It was never in doubt really,” Gingras said. “You’ve got to look at the competition, and I thought it was pretty weak. I figured we were easy winners.”

The victory rewards Team Yannick Gingras $4,000 for the charity they represent through the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge – the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund. Team Dexter Dunn, which almost went without one Dexter Dunn until the 11-time New Zealand driving champ came running to the start with few minutes to post time, earned $3,250 for the John Theurer Cancer Center.

“I sent a call into the vet shop on the way here, get sounded up a little bit for the run,” Dunn said of running late. “I was trying to miss it, to be honest. I drove Yannick to Dayton last night – he talked smack the whole way, the whole way there and the whole way back. So I was really hoping to beat him, but I looked up and they were running off the screen on us. There was a side bet there, but I’m happy with my second.”

Andy McCarthy, finishing third with Makenna Pinske for Tim Tetrick, substituted for the Bionic Man in the event. Their finish earned Team Tim Tetrick $2,750 for the Special Olympics of New Jersey.

“That was fun. Standard – I lack a little gate speed, but we got through it,” McCarthy said.

“We were the only team that didn’t chat,” Pinske said. “I was kind of hoping Andy would carry the team, but it didn’t really go that way.”

Julie Miller and David Miller of David Millertime, though finishing last of the four, collected $2,500 for Team David Miller’s charity, the enCourage Kids Foundation.

“I just wanted to not fall down was my goal, initially,” Julie Miller said. “We were in alignment … I don’t really know what happened today, I apologize for our bad performance!”

“Our performance wasn’t up to par,” David Miller said, “but we’ll probably get scoped and get blood drawn on us and see what the problem was.”

The Breeders Crown Charity Challenge is a year-long event presented by the Libfeld/Katz Breeding Partnership. To date, the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge has raised over $400,000 for selected local charities in the tri-state area.

The Hambletonian Society, which owns and administers the $6.6 million Breeders Crown series, will raise purses on six of the 12 divisions of the Breeders Crown championship races to held at The Meadowlands on Friday, Oct. 29 & Saturday, Oct. 30.

A Breeders Crown title remains one of the most sought-after in harness racing, as indicated by the year-end Dan Patch awards, where Breeders Crown winners dominate divisional championships and Horse of the Year honors.

“The Breeders Crown program is funded from many segments of the industry -- breeders, owners, horsemen and stallion nominators to name a few, and the ability to raise the purses based on participation illustrates the commitment and popularity of the Breeders Crown series,” said John Campbell, president of the Hambletonian Society.

“Our host tracks and nominators held strong through the pandemic and continuing and maintaining stability for those who support stakes events remains the Society’s number one priority.”

All sophomore classes will go up by $100,000 to $600,000 as will the Breeders Crown Open Pace and Open Trot.

The Breeders Crown Mare Trot and Pace will remain at $300,000 each. For the sixth straight year the two-year-old Breeders Crown events will race for $600,000, making them among the richest offered for that age group in North America.

The Society’s mission statement since 1926 has focused on supporting and promoting the breeding of Standardbred horses. Keeping two-year-old purses at a high level benefits breeders and helps owners with a timely return on their investments.

The 2021 Breeders Crown, presented by Libfeld-Katz Breeding Partnership will take place on the final two weekends in October at the host track of The Meadowlands. The Rutherford, NJ premier one-mile track will complete 103 Breeders Crown events in 2021, the most events held by a single racetrack.

Eliminations for 2-year-old races will be held Friday, Oct. 22, while 3-year-old and older eliminations will race Saturday, Oct. 23.

The freshmen Breeders Crown finals take place Friday, Oct. 29 and the eight three-year-old and up events are set for Saturday, Oct. 30.

Harness Racing’s Championship Series Presented by The Meadowlands Racetrack

Twelve Events • $6.6 Million Estimated in Purses

Friday, October 29

$600,000 BREEDERS CROWN 2YO COLT TROT

$600,000 BREEDERS CROWN 2YO FILLY TROT

$600,000 BREEDERS CROWN 2YO COLT PACE

$600,000 BREEDERS CROWN 2YO FILLY PACE

Saturday, October 30

$300,000 BREEDERS CROWN MARE PACE

$300,000 BREEDERS CROWN MARE TROT

$600,000 BREEDERS CROWN PACE

$600,000 BREEDERS CROWN TROT

$600,000 BREEDERS CROWN 3YO FILLY TROT

$600,000 BREEDERS CROWN 3YO COLT TROT

$600,000 BREEDERS CROWN 3YO FILLY PACE

$600,000 BREEDERS CROWN 3YO COLT PACE

The 2021 Breeders Crown Charity Challenge presented by the Libfeld-Katz Breeding Partnership kicks off Saturday, July 3rd and culminates on Breeders Crown weekend, October 29th & 30th.

This year’s Challenge intends to raise awareness of the positive contributions harness racing makes in the tri-state area, especially New Jersey.

The 2021 designated charities are:

· enCourage Kids Foundation

· Special Olympics New Jersey

· New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund

· John Theurer Cancer Center @ Hackensack

The Charity Challenge Teams/Sponsors are:

o Team Dexter Dunn: Trainer Nancy Takter- Platinum Sponsor

§ Gold Sponsor Deo Volente Farms

o Team Yannick Gingras: Trainer Ron Burke – Platinum Sponsor

§ Gold Sponsors: Concord Farm & Trainer Marcus Melander

o Team David Miller: Trainer Nifty Norman & Trainer Brett Pelling - Platinum Sponsors

§ Gold Sponsors: Trainer Julie Miller & Trainer Linda Toscano

o Team Tim Tetrick: Trainer Tony Alagna - Platinum Sponsor

§ Gold Sponsor: Hogan Equine Clinic

This year the non-profit organizations will be paired with an elite driver/trainer team on Saturday, July 3rd during a draw ceremony after Race 2 at the Meadowlands Racetrack. The charities are encouraged to cheer their Team on via social media and through online fan voting in hopes of earning the most Breeders Crown Challenge Points.

Complete information on the 2021 Breeders Crown Charity Challenge can be found at PlayMeadowlands.events/bc and will be updated through the Breeders Crown Finals on Saturday, October 30, 2021.

Funds for the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge are generated by donations from some of the industry’s most notable breeders, trainers and drivers. The additional funds will be raised through the donation of a 2022 breeding to some of the industry’s top stallions at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

Stallion breedings Set New Record

The ‘Breedings for a Cause’ charity auction at Wednesday’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale saw eight of the most sought-after breedings in the sport bring a record total of $207,000 for the ‘Breeders Crown Charity Challenge’ pot.

Lexington Selected Yearling Sale Auction – Donation of 2022 Breeding Fee

To date over $400,000 has been donated through the Breeders Crown Charity Challenge, developed by the Libfeld-Katz Breeding Partnership.