stakes recap

By Ray Cotolo

Elimination winner Spencer Hanover worked another second-over trip and never relented in a four-prong stretch battle to snatch victory with a closing-stride swoop in the $959,000 (CAD) Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot final on Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park, giving trainer Marcus Melander back-to-back winners in the event and driver Jason Bartlett his first Breeders Crown trophy.

Leaving from post 2, Bartlett slid behind stablemate Apex as the field nestled into order behind post-10 starter Mr Big Spender and Kingmen, who were the only pair to launch off the gate. Mr Big Spender cleared the lead to a :28.4 first quarter and coasted up the backstretch while Apex gradually angled outside from third approaching a :57.4 half. Spencer Hanover followed suit and advanced through the last turn perched behind Apex as he hooked into battle with Mr Big Spender passing three-quarters in 1:25.

Apex nudged to a narrow lead in the stretch before levelling in an all-out duel against Mr Big Spender. Bartlett meanwhile sent Spencer Hanover off cover and gathered momentum while drifting to the center of the track. Spencer Hanover reached for the front in the final eighth of a mile and slid past the embroiled duo at the pylons to cross the line first in a 1:53.2 mile. Diabolic Hill followed Spencer Hanover and rallied even wider on the track late to take second, beaten three-quarter lengths, with Mr Big Spender holding onto third and Apex settling for fourth.

“My colt was drifting out a little bit,” said Jason Bartlett, who had to endure a brief inquiry looking into the stretch drive. “I was just trying to maintain his lane as best possible. And thank God it's over with.

“I’ve got to thank Marcus [Melander] for putting me on this horse in New York and letting me drive him here,” Bartlett also said. “The horse is getting good at the right time, and in life, it’s timing… it’s great.”

Jason Bartlett – the perennial leading driver at Yonkers Raceway who has broadened his duties onto the Grand Circuit riding the wave of a career year – collected his first Breeders Crown trophy after competing in 10 finals through his career and with two runner-up finishes in last year’s series. Bartlett currently leads all drivers this season in earnings, with over $13 million in purses, and is currently second in wins.

“I'm taking a little bit of a next step in my career, a little bit,” Bartlett said. “I'm a homebody to be honest with you, and I like to be around my family and go home every night. The Grand Circuit’s a tough circuit. You're away from home a lot, and people don't realize that. So I'm dabbling a little bit. I'm not going to give up my New York stuff. [But] when you get to drive horses like this, then you got to travel.”

Bartlett’s victory came on the same night of his son’s first varsity football game back in New York.

“My wife had to be there for him, and they're home cheering for me as we speak,” Bartlett said. “I love everybody back home, and I know they were loudest.”

Spencer Hanover gave trainer Marcus Melander his third victory in the 2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot, which he won in 2018 with Gimpanzee and last year with Maryland. Melander became just the third trainer within this division to win back-to-back Breeders Crown trophies. He joins the ranks of Per Eriksson, a winner of this division in 1991 with King Conch and 1992 with Giant Chill, and more recently Jimmy Takter, whose back-to-back wins came in 2013 with Father Patrick and in 2014 with Pinkman to give him a record five wins in this division. 

Winning his third race from 12 starts, Spencer Hanover has now banked $758,743 for owners Jeff Snyder, a four-time Breeders Crown winner, and Arthur Pronti, who won his first Breeders Crown trophy. Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. bred the Chapter Seven-Secret Passion colt and continues to lead all breeders in the championship series with 34 trophies earned.

Sent the third choice in the betting, Spencer Hanover paid $10.40 to win.