Emoticon Legacy’s winning effort in the Kentucky Futurity earlier this month might have surprised trainer Luc Blais, but then again, in one respect, maybe not.

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Jason Bartlett has his wheels in motion heading into the Breeders Crown.

There’s no question the decorated driver and pride of Augusta, Maine, is at the top of his game. One look at his statistics – past and present – speaks volumes about his enduring success in harness racing.

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When it comes to his admiration for Beau Jangles, Dr. Adam Ainspan is proud to own it – literally and figuratively.

It’s been a thrill ride, to say the least, for Ainspan and the ownership group behind the fleet-footed, 2-year-old pacing sensation. The Dr. Ian Moore-trained colt brings a perfect 11-for-11 record into the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace final on Friday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

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Item descriptionEven during a meteoric rise to harness racing’s elite ranks, Todd Ratchford is as grounded as they come.

On Friday night, in front of a hometown crowd at Woodbine Mohawk Park, the 29-year-old reinsman will take his rapid ascent to ceiling-shattering heights when he makes his Breeders Crown debut in the Grade 1 USD $700,000 2-Year-Old Filly Trot final.

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Marcus Melander has won five Breeders Crown trophies in his career so far, and the 33-year-old trainer will have multiple opportunities to add to that total this weekend at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

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Nine years ago, Marcus Miller won his first drive in a Breeders Crown final, capturing the race with a horse trained by his father, Erv, no less.

Miller will have the chance to win a second trophy, again while teamed with his dad, when he drives Unreasonable in Saturday’s $600,000 (USD) Grade 1 Breeders Crown final for 3-year-old pacing fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

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The smile fit for a Breeders Crown has yet to leave Annie Stoebe’s face.

Moments after Diabolic Hill captured his Breeders Crown elimination, award-winning Woodbine Mohawk Park photographer Clive Cohen snapped a photo of a beaming Stoebe making her way to the winner’s circle.

Days later, that smile still hasn’t faded – and for good reason.

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Participants and supporters gathered Tuesday evening at Country Heritage Park in Milton, Ontario for a special post-position draw and dinner celebrating this weekend’s Breeders Crown at Woodbine Mohawk Park. 

The post draws for the the 3-Year-Old Colt Trot, 3-Year-Old Colt Pace, and the Open Pace were conducted to set the stage for this weekend’s 12 championship races. Posts for the other nine Crown events were drawn during this past Friday and Saturday’s cards of live racing. 

Michael Copeland, CEO Woodbine Entertainment, opened the gathering with a sharing of gratitude.

“Our leadership in Breeders Crown dates back to its inaugural edition in 1984, and Woodbine has hosted more Crown races than any other racetrack operator. We're very proud and privileged to have that distinction. Thank you to John Campbell, Moira Fanning and the entire team at the Hambletonian Society,” Copeland said.

“It's our pleasure to welcome the very best in harness racing to Woodbine Mohawk Park,” Copeland continued. “Big congratulations to all of our local owners, drivers and trainers that will be participating. We're very proud of our local racing industry here in Ontario, and we love to see the amount of success at the highest level.”

The first draw was for the 3-Year-Old Colt Trot, which did not require eliminations.

Monserrate, in post position 5, is trained by Andrew Harris.

“He’s been great here in Canada so I’m hoping he’s got a better performance underneath his belt,” said Harris.

Harris also trains Yo Tillie, post position 4 in the Breeders Crown for 3-Year-Old Filly Trot.

“[Yo Tillie] is just awesome, she’s fantastic, she’s easy to work with, and she just seems super sharp,” Harris commented.

$600,000 USD Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
​Post - Horse - Trainer
​1. Meshuggah - Marcus Melander
​2. Super Chapter - Marcus Melander
​3. Maryland - Marcus Melander
​4. Emoticon Legacy - Luc Blais
​5. Monserrate - Andrew Harris
​6. Gimpanzee Dancer - Chris Beaver
​7. Happy Jack B - Ake Svanstedt
​8. Greenma - Trond Smedshammer
​9. Mr Mouton - Ake Svanstedt
​10. Go Dog Go - Carter Pinske

The draw for the 3-Year-Old Colt Pace followed. Dr. Ian Moore trains elimination winner Prince Hal Hanover.

“We were very happy to see that [win]. He’s had some tough goes,” says Moore. “It’s very difficult to maintain a horse at that level throughout the summer.”

“He’s done well, he’s maintained his weight this year which he didn’t do so well at the end of last year, so we’re hoping for big things for the rest of the year, Moore continued.”

The undefeated Beau Jangles in the 2-Year-Old Colt Pace is another star for trainer Dr. Ian Moore

“No matter what happens with this colt on Friday night, it’s been a heck of a ride for all of us, and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed it and that’s what horse racing is all about,” said Moore. “That’s why we train these babies and rate these wild thing’s every fall, so I’m looking forward to a good race Friday night.”

Pepsi North America Cup winner Louprint will look to rebound from his first loss of the season in the 3-Year-Old Colt Pace.

“I thought he raced great, I actually thought he was going to get up, but that’s the thing is I take nothing away from Hunter’s colt, (Dandy Ideal) he never quit,” said trainer Ron Burke. “If we get beat this week we’re going to get beat going down in flames.”

$600,000 USD Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace 
​Post - Horse - Trainer
​1. Madden Oaks - Cameron Capone
​2. Manolete - Bruce Saunders
​3. Prince Hal Hanover - Dr. Ian Moore
​4. Captain Optimistic - Nancy Takter
​5. Dandy Ideal - Hunter Oakes
​6. Sippinonsearoc - Ron Burke
​7. Crack Shot - Gregg McNair
​8. Louprint - Ron Burke
​9. TH Colby - Ron Burke
​10. Fusion - Brett Pelling

The Breeders Crown Open Pace will be a heavyweight battle, featuring elimination winners Ken Hanover and Ervin Hanover.

Dave Menary-trained Ervin Hanover has been electric over the last couple months, winning each of his last four starts, including a gritty effort in his elimination.

“It was a big effort, coming first up from a long way back into those fractions,” said Menary. “When you’re at this level you’ve got to race hard every week.”

$600,000 USD Breeders Crown Open Pace
​Post - Horse - Trainer
​1. Coach Stefanos - Erv Miller
​2. Ken Hanover - Roland Mallar
​3. Captain Albano - Noel Daley
​4. Calicojack Hanover - Luc Blais
​5. Ervin Hanover - Dexter Dunn
​6. Coaches Corner - Per Engblom
​7. Maximus Miki - Thomas Cancelliere
​8. Nijinsky - Antony Beaton
​9. Oakwood Ardan IR - Robert Cleary
​10. Huntinthelastdolar - Per Engblom

John Campbell, CEO and President of the Breeders Crown, addressed the crowd to conclude the evening.

“It's a long and cherished relationship between the Hambletonian Society and Woodbine Entertainment, and we look forward to the same relationship on into the future.”

“I have to give the biggest thank you to the whole Standardbred Industry,” Campbell continued. “The Breeders Crown purses are all funded from within the industry, from the stallion owners to the yearling nominators to the owners and trainers to pay their horses in. To the participants that are going to be here this weekend, owners, trainers and riders. We thank you all and wish you all the best of luck racing this weekend.”

The Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Trot is carded as Race 6 on Saturday.

The Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Pace is carded as Race 8 on Saturday.

The Breeders Crown Open Pace is carded as Race 9 on Saturday.

Friday evening’s card at Woodbine Mohawk Park will feature the Breeders Crown finals for 2-Year-Olds. The four events are carded as Races 6 through 9. Post time is 6:35 p.m. 

Saturday’s second Crown card at Mohawk Park will consist of the finals for the 3-Year-Old and Open divisions. The eight Crown events are carded as Races 2 through 9. Post time is 6:35 p.m. For the latest information of the Breeders Crown, visit WoodbineMohawkPark.com and follow @WoodbineSB and @WoodbineComms on X.

Ervin Hanover and Ken Hanover surged to wins in their respective $34,250 (CAD) Breeders Crown eliminations at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday night.

Ervin Hanover muscled through a first-over grind to down Nijinsky in the final strides of a 1:48 mile in the first elimination for the Open Pace.

Coaches Corner thrusted off the wings from post 9 to take the top into a :26.3 first quarter before yielding control in a shuffle to Captain Albano and then Nijinsky. Ervin Hanover, positioned fifth, tipped off the pylons and pushed uncovered through a :54.4 half towards Nijinsky, reaching the leader’s wheel midway around the last turn. Nijinsky spun by three-quarters in 1:21.2 and accelerated into the stretch as Ervin Hanover gathered momentum to the outside. Ervin Hanover extended in the last eighth and glided by Nijinsky to seal victory by a neck. Captain Albano settled for third off a bottled trip with Coaches Corner taking fourth and Oakwood Ardan IR closing to grab the last berth into the final in fifth.

“It was a tough effort tonight to come first over against horses like that, and a quick back half,” said driver Dexter Dunn, who picked up the drive with Louis Roy opting to drive Nijinsky. “He really wanted to get his head out there and win that race. We were obviously coming home pretty quick, and Louis's horse definitely had me covered three-quarters down the straight. But to ‘Ervin's’ credit, he really stuck his head out; he was digging in deep and he wanted to get that one.”

Dave Menary trains Ervin Hanover, a 5-year-old Captaintreacherous-Eloquent Grace stallion bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., for owner Pollack Racing LLC. The stallion won his 25th race from 73 starts and has now earned $1,266,066 in his career. Sent the betting favorite, he paid $4.80 to win.

Ken Hanover pounced off a pocket ride to a 1:47.3 victory in the second Open Pace elimination.

Maximus Miki, the 3-5 favorite, motored to the lead through a :26.4 first quarter with Ken Hanover tracking snugly from second, and he cruised on the lead with no pressure to a :55.2 half. El Rey made the first move off the pylons when pulling from fifth into the final turn and quickly progressed, prompting driver David Miller to pull Ken Hanover from the pocket and attack Maximus Miki. The top two matched strides after three-quarters in 1:22.3 until Ken Hanover lifted in the straight and comfortably pulled away to a 1-1/4-length win. Maximus Miki settled for second with Huntinthelastdolar taking third off a ground-saving trip. Calicojack Hanover finished fourth off a pylon ride and Coach Stefanos rallied down the center of the track to take fifth.

“He felt really good and strong,” David Miller said after the race. “He left the gate well and got a good trip. When I moved him, he was right up on the muscle. I knew I had the horse to beat. I was following, and I was able to sit all the way until the last turn and I went ahead and moved him.”

Winning his eighth race from 13 starts this season and his 21st race from 56 starts in his career, Ken Hanover has now earned $1,229,966 for owners Roland Mallar, Patrick Leavitt, William Jordan and Dennis Osterholt.

“He's been good all year,” trainer Roland Mallar said after the race. “He had a little setback about six weeks ago – had a lung infection that kind of lingered a little longer than I liked. But we had to get it cleared up before I wanted to come back and tackle these guys."

“He had a good trip tonight. So everything worked out great, really,” Mallar also said. “He didn't seem to really have to use him a whole lot. Hopefully there's some in the tank for next week.”

Ken Hanover, a 5-year-old stallion by Captaintreacherous-KJs Justine bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., paid $6.40 to win.

By Ray Cotolo

Lexus Kody easily won his $34,250 (CAD) Breeders Crown Open Trot elimination for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Ron Burke, staving off a late charge from French Wine, and stopping the timer in 1:49.4 as the 6-5 choice on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The Ontario-bred brown son of Archangel, out of the Ken Warkentin mare Lexus Helios notched seasonal victory number ten and career triumph 36 for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown, PA; Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, PA, and Phillip Collura of Mountain Top, PA.

Lexus Kody was the first trotter in Canadian history to post a sub-1:50 record, doing so in the $690,000 (CAD) Maple Leaf Trot on Aug. 30, 2025, when he trotted to a 1:49.1 victorious clocking, ​ defeating rivals Periculum and Southwind Coors (both byes in the Breeders Crown Open Trot Final), as well as Hillexotic and Call Me Goo. He came into his Breeders Crown elimination fresh off his 1:51.4 triumph in the Dayton Trotting Derby. This was his sixth straight victory, as he also won the $1 million (USD) MGM Yonkers International Trot; the Hoosier Park Classic; and Maple Leaf elimination.

“He just went in 1:49.4 like it was a walk in the park and is tremendously sharp, and was all business tonight,” said winning driver Yannick Gingras. “There aren’t enough good things to say about him. I wanted to get the outside post position out of the equation, that was our game plan, but he’s handy now and has won from the rail a couple of times here, so he can do it any which way, it doesn’t matter to him.”

Amigo Volo—a two time Breeders Crown winner who left the gate at 36-1—grabbed the early lead and took the field to a :27 first panel, with 9-5 French Wine pulling first over to the :55 half, as Lexus Kody followed closely behind before taking the lead to the 1:23 three-quarter marker. Gingras never pulled the ear plugs as Lexus Kody smoothly trotted to the wire, seemingly unfazed by the :26.4 final quarter.

French Wine held on for second, with 25-1 Hillexotic third, and Amigo Volo fourth. Bred by Norm H. Dunstan of Caledon Village, ON, Lexus Kody is a homebred and full brother to the gelding Lexus Ranger T, 4, 1:53.1f and a half-brother to Lexus Markus (by Amigo Hall) T, 6, 1:53.1h. Lexus Kody drew post five for the Final.

Miki And Minnie, last season’s Dan Patch winning divisional honoree, left no doubt she was clearly the best in her $34,250 (CAD) Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace elimination on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park, pacing strongly to the wire for driver Dexter Dunn in a lifetime best 1:48.2, which was also a track and Canadian-equaling mile record. This gutsy filly captured the $700,000 (USD) Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace Final at The Meadowlands last season in 1:50.2 for these same connections.

The daughter of Always B Miki, out of the Roll With Joe mare That’s The Ticket, notched her 11th victory in 13 starts this season and her 17th win in 24 lifetime starts for owners Craig Henderson of Chicago, IL; Robert Mondillo of Delaware, OH; and Lawrence Minowitz of Greenwich, CT.

“We turned down the bye because I wanted to race her as otherwise it would have been five or six weeks before going into the final. She needed a race, and it was super that it worked the way out the way it did,” said trainer Chris Ryder. “She’s easy to train, she’s just a super filly and she’s tough. She doesn’t seem to have an end to her run and is beautiful to have around.”

Miki And Minnie got away third behind the pacesetting Faze (Tim Tetrick) who led the first to a :27 opening panel, with Looksgoodinloulou (Yannick Gingras) sitting in the two-hole, but by the half-mile :55.4 mark, it was Miki And Minnie who was sitting on Tetrick’s helmet. As the pacers neared the three-quarter mile post, Miki And Minnie was on the move, stopped the timer at that marker in 1:22.3 on the outside of Faze. From there, driver Dexter Dunn chirped to his filly and she responded by easily paced to the wire in a new career best as the 1-2 choice.

“I got away through the first turn and the trip worked out after that,” said winning driver Dexter Dunn. “This run will do her a lot of good after the month off. She’s an extremely competitive filly and I knew it was going to be a battle down to the wire, but I had all the faith in the world because my filly is a true fighter.”

Unreasonable was second for Marcus Miller at 5-1 odds, while Skywalker Sea notched third place honors for Austin Hanners at 76-1, with 59-1 Faze holding on for fourth.

Miki And Minnie’s last start saw her finish a strong second to Looksgoodinloulou in the ​ Kentucky Sires Stakes Final on Sept. 14 at The Red Mile. She had previously captured the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes Final at The Meadows on Sept. 6 in 1:49.4; a Kentucky Sires Stakes on Aug. 25; and the $250,000 (USD) Lynch Final at Pocono Downs on Aug. 16, timed in 1:49.1; The Shady Daisy at The Meadowlands in 1:48.3; the Tompkins Geers in 1:49.4; and the Jerry Silverman in 1:48.4 in mid-July.

Miki And Minnie is the third foal out of That’s The Ticket p, 2, 1:52s, and has half-siblings in Great Seats (by Sweet Lou) p, 5, 1:49.2 and Dance Ticket (A Rocknroll Dance) p, 5, 1:54.2h.

By Kimberly Rinker

Hunter Oakes trainee Dandy Ideal ended Louprint’s unbeaten sophomore season when keeping the North America Cup champion at bay through an all-out stretch drive to win the second of two $34,250 CAD Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings in a 1:48 mile on Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Driver Jason Bartlett secured a stalking seat with Dandy Ideal behind Swingtown passing a :26 first quarter before Crack Shot brushed forward to grab the lead. Louprint meanwhile took off the speed out of post 7 and floated off the pylons up the backstretch, idling in midfield before committing to advance outside. After a shuffle where Swingtown circled back to the lead, Louprint pushed up the rim and fished cover from Dandy Ideal moving by a :54.2 half.

Dandy Ideal rushed to challenge Swingtown rounding the final turn as Louprint gapped cover to the outside of Crack Shot. Swingtown gave way to Dandy Ideal past three-quarters in 1:22.3 and Bartlett implored Dandy Ideal to reach for the line. Louprint slid off cover and clawed into Dandy Ideal in a desperate final eighth but came just a nose short of victory at the finish. Captain Optimistic finished third with Manolete and Crack Shot earning the last spots into the final.

“I wasn't real excited about my spot going down the backside past the half, and I knew [Louprint] was going to be behind me,” Jason Bartlett said after the race. “There was a little bit of quick speed going on and I like my horse first over, it doesn't matter what trip I give him. With him behind me, obviously you're worried, but my horse dug in.

“Off the last turn, I still had a fistful,” Bartlett also said, “and I'm like ‘Whoa. We’re going to give him a run here.’ And the horse, all the credit in the world to him, he never gave up.”

While snapping Louprint’s 11-race win streak, Dandy Ideal returned to the winner’s circle after having his eight-race win streak snapped in an overnight prep a week ago at Pocono Downs. The American Ideal-Ok Heavenly gelding, bred by Stephen Dey and Dandy Farms Inc., won for the ninth time from 15 starts this season and the 14th time from 25 starts in his career and has now earned $1,142,949 for owners Susan Oakes, Thaddeus Wier and Alan Johnston.

“He had a good week,” Hunter Oakes said after the race. “I made a bridle change that seemed to help – he warmed up really, really good. Like what Jason said, getting away third, I'm like ‘first up again?’ But hat off to Jason, he's done such a good job with him all year and he's a good horse. He tries to find a way to win.”

Sent the second choice in the betting, Dandy Ideal paid $14.70 to win.

Prince Hal Hanover moved unfettered for most of the mile and sprinted for home with ease to bag the first Breeders Crown elimination as the 4-5 chalk in a 1:49.1 mile.

Driver Todd McCarthy motored Prince Hal Hanover to the fore through a :26.4 first quarter and carried the field up the backside to a :56.1 half. He continued unchallenged into the last turn while Madden Oaks launched a first-over bid out of seventh and marched steadily forward through three-quarters in 1:23.1. McCarthy hit the accelerator with Prince Hal Hanover straightening for home and sailed in a length winner with ease. Fusion gave chase off a pocket trip for second while Sippononsearoc rallied from off cover for third and Madden Oaks settled for fourth. TH Colby grabbed the last spot into the final in fifth.

“It was probably a touch slower than I thought I was at, but he deserved a soft half,” Todd McCarthy said after the race. “He's had some pretty big runs this year, and I was really happy with the way he finished. I kind of wanted to press hard. I didn't want there to be a bit of a challenge underneath me, so I figured there'd be a couple there to follow him. He's got such good gate speed that I figured I could get there early enough and then try and dictate from there. So it kind of went to plan for us there tonight, and I feel that he's doing pretty good for next week.”

The Doc Moore trainee, from a pair of Breeders Crown winners in sire Captaintreacherous and dam Percy Bluechip, collected his ninth win from 27 starts and has now earned $1,435,055 for owner Prince Hal Hanover Stable. His win in the Breeders Crown elimination follows a defeat at The Red Mile where he cut middle fractions of :52.4 and 1:19.4 before tiring to a third-place finish in a 1:48.1 mile.

“I think he's happy to be home,” Dr. Moore said. “He's been on the road a bit recently, and I'm not sure the last race here, it might have been back in July, perhaps. So it's been a while, and when I warmed him up tonight, he was rock solid – he was all business, never let go of me. I usually like to jog a little bit at a moderate speed the first lap, and he was having no part of that. So I knew he was good tonight. And I saw that half, I thought ‘wow, that's going to be all right.’

“He's gone some tough races this year, and got beat a couple times, post position and the way the race went might have impacted him,” Dr. Moore also said. “So at least we should get a decent draw now in the final, and hopefully we have some luck there.”

Prince Hal Hanover, bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, paid $3.90 to win.

By Ray Cotolo

If the eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old trotting fillies are a sign of what is to come in next week’s final, it should be a stirring sophomore showdown at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A pair of $34,250 CAD eliminations featuring top-tier trotting fillies yielded two impressive performances – specifically, stellar scores by Delaney Hanover and Yo Tillie, who went one-two, respectively, in a heavyweight clash in a division of the $294,200 USD Bluegrass 3-Year-Old Filly Trot in late September.

In the first tilt, Delaney Hanover, with Scott Zeron at the controls, kept her red-hot form rolling.

It was the duo of Walspea and Deja Blu who got away sharply from the outside with the former leading the field into the first turn, as Delaney Hanover, riding a three-race win streak, tucked into sixth.

Walspea called the shots through an opening quarter in :27.2, but Dexter Dunn had Stash Some Cash on the march and on top through a half in :55.1, while Zeron and Delaney Hanover remained sixth.

As the field rounded the turn for home, Stash Some Cash, after three-quarters in a brisk 1:22.2, looked to pull away on her procession of pursuers. Delaney Hanover, with plenty of work left to do, floated to the far outside and looked to reel in the freewheeling pacesetter.

Delaney Hanover, the 4-5 choice, hit her best stride in the final yards and crossed the wire a 1 ½-length winner. A game Stash Some Cash held on to second, followed by Walspea, Monalishi and Lasting Dream.

The final time of 1:51.0 was a track record for the daughter of Muscle Hill out of the Cantab Hall mare Danielle Hanover, who was a hard-charging third in the Hambletonian Oaks this August.

“She didn't get off the gate that well, and that that kind of dictated where I was going to get away,” said Zeron, who has piloted the bay for all four consecutive victories. “The tempo was really good. They were moving along quite well. So, I didn't have to use her until the end.” 

It was the latest primetime performance from the Lucas Wallin trainee, who now sports a record of 7-3-2 from 17 starts.

Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Delaney Hanover was a $160,000 purchase (Hip #109) at the 2023 Lexington Select Sale. She made her debut a winning one, taking a leg of the Kindergarten Classic Series at The Meadowlands on August 2, 2024.

“She's unbelievable,” said Andrew Steinberg, who co-owns the filly through Shermay Stables, along with Wiesman Farms and Wallin Racing Stable. “I am so lucky and blessed to have her as a 2-year-old. She started out great, and she got sick, but this year, this is our year, this is unbelievable.”

She arrived at her Breeders Crown elimination off a 1:50.1 triumph in the 60th renewal of the $416,667 USD Kentucky Filly Futurity, a Grade 1 stakes, on Sunday, October 5, at The Red Mile.

Delaney Hanover paid $3.60 for her Breeders Crown elimination victory.

Three races later, in the sixth dash of the evening, it was Yo Tillie’s time to shine.

After having her 12-race win streak broken last time out, the millionaire miss was back in a big way – and back in the winner’s circle – courtesy of a dominant display.

Royal Mission blasted off the wings from post eight and secured early bragging rights, as Stormont Beautiful settled into second, with Yo Tillie finding a seat in third.

It was Royal Mission, at 101-1, who led the way through an opening panel in :26.4, but that lead would be short-lived when Todd McCarthy gave Yo Tillie her cue and the Andrew Harris trainee responded with a confident brush to trike front just before a half in :56.0.

The daughter of Tactical Landing out of the Triumphant Caviar mare Consolidator was in full control navigating the turn for home, stretching her lead through three quarters and straightening for the wire with plenty left in the tank.

Mid-way down the lane it was only a question of what the margin of victory would be. The answer came in the form of an 2 ¼-length score in 1:51.1. Stormont Beautiful was second, Royal Mission third, Miss Belmar finished fourth and was followed by R Dutchess.

“She likes to have a horse there she can fight off,” said McCarthy. “So, when she's out on the lead there, sometimes she's kind of looking around waiting for one but when I asked her at the top of the stretch there, she shifted gears and took right off for me.”

Owned by William Pollock, Bruce Areman and Andrew Harri, the bay filly, bred by Gbw Breeding Farms Inc. and Black Creek Farm, Yo Tillie has been a force throughout her 2025 campaign. Sporting a mark of 10-1-0 from 11 starts on the year, she is 18-2-1 from 23 lifetime dashes, accompanied by over $1.3 million in career purse earnings.

McCarthy, who came into the card with 1,355 wins, was thrilled to see the $25,000 purchase (Hip #819) at the 2023 Lexington Select Sale back in winning form.

“She wasn't quite herself there that last start, but she's had such a phenomenal year, and Andrew (trainer, Harris) has done a great job managing this filly. So. that was good to get her back to the winner's circle again tonight, and she was pretty strong finishing there. I was very happy with her.”

A multiple stakes winner, Yo Tillie launched her career with five consecutive victories.

After the evening’s sixth race, Woodbine Mohawk Park conducted the post-position draw for the $600,000 Grade 1 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot. The two elimination winners earned draw protection from posts 1 through 6.

$600,000 (USD) Grade 1 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot Final

PP – Horse – Trainer

1 – Stash Some Cash – Domenico Cecere

2 – Delaney Hanover – Lucas Wallin

3 – Lasting Dream – Luc Blais

4 – Yo Tillie – Andrew Harris

5 – Monalishi – Blake MacIntosh

6 – R Dutchess – John Butenschoen

7 – Walspea – Trond Smedshammer

8 – Stormont Beautiful – Kevin Benn

9 – Royal Mission – Marcus Melander

10 – Miss Belmar – Noel Daley

Chris Lomon, Woodbine Mohawk Park

Ronnie Wrenn Jr. protected forward position with Ron Burke pupil Loua Dipa and registered a dominant 1:49.3 victory in the lone $34,250 Breeders Crown elimination for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Wrenn sent Loua Dipa, the 1-9 favorite, out of post 6 and found a brief pocket behind Perfect Thought to a :26.2 first quarter before looping to the lead. Odds On Monetary followed the chalk’s move and brushed to the top up the backstretch, at which point Wrenn promptly pulled Loua Dipa from the pylons to secure an outside lane into the far turn. Loua Dipa lunged to the front in the last turn and widened her advantage past three-quarters in 1:22 before Wrenn shut her down in the stretch and strolled in a 3-1/4-length winner. Stablemate Im A Lou Lou vaulted from near last to take second with 99-1 shot Bettor Be A Star finishing third and Sangria Summer taking fourth. On Heir, Shes A Bulldog, Twin B Fierce and Hunting Memories also advanced to the final.

“I love coming up here, and I'm able to drive a couple really nice horses,” Ronnie Wrenn Jr. said after the race. “It makes my job a lot easier. But Loua Dipa, she was awesome. She's all class.

“I didn't want to get caught in [and] I didn't want to race too hard early,” Wrenn also said, “so I let Dex [Dunn with Odds On Monetary] go and waited as long as I could to move back to the lead. But like I said, she's two figures to drive. She does everything I ask, and she was awesome. She was on her ‘A’ game tonight.”

Fresh off a world-record 1:48 mile in Lexington, Loua Dipa snagged her eighth win from 11 starts and has now earned $540,228 for owner-breeders Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The Sweet Lou-Looksgoodinaromper filly paid $2.10 to win.

The draw for the $959,000 Grade 1 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace will take place during the Saturday (Oct. 18) card of racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Daya and Seaside Shuffle took byes into the final.

First-race post time at Mohawk is 6:35 p.m. (EDT).

By Ray Cotolo

Brandon Blvd made it look easy as he captured the first of two $34,250 Breeders Crown eliminations for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers (race 7). The son of Downbytheseaside paced to a 1:48.4 new track and Canadian record, besting Sweet Lou’s record set in 2011. Sent off as the 2-1 choice, Brandon Blvd was perfectly driven by Dexter Dunn for trainer Andrew Harris.

"It's a hell of a mile, isn't it?” said driver Dexter Dunn. “Obviously, the fractions set up for a mile like that. But you know, he's just all class. He does whatever you want to do and is a real racehorse; he wants to race the other horses."

Brandon Blvd notched career victory seven from nine starts with this latest triumph, upping his career earnings to $469,371 for owners William Pollock, Bruce Areman, and trainer Harris—all of New Jersey. This was his third consecutive victory, as he captured the $74,500 Bluegrass Stakes on Sept. 26 and the $88,000 International Stallion Stakes on Oct. 4 at Lexington’s Red Mile, when he clocked in his previous life mark of 1:49.1 on both occasions.

Dad, the 38-1 longshot with Louis-Philippe Roy in the bike, sprang quickly from the eight-hole, and lead the field through spirited fractions of :25.2 and :52.4, before tiring as Driver Dexter Dunn kept Brandon Blvd neatly tucked in third behind Al Papi (Yannick Gingras) who was huddled in second behind the leading speedster.

"Louis was trying to reel his one in (Dad),” driver Dunn added. “But he (Brandon Blvd) was marching along there. I'm just really impressed with the way the colt led down (the stretch) tonight. He's obviously had a great year, and he's still at it."

As the field turned for home, passing the 1:21 three-quarter marker, Al Papi began his move, giving Brandon Blvd clear sailing in the stretch, as the latter unleashed a powerful late kick to easily fly by his rival in his track record setting performance.

Al Papi was collared in the final yards, relinquishing second to Fragment (Jason Barlett), while Melillo (Ronnie Wrenn, Jr.) notched fourth-place honors. Windsor (Doug McNair) grabbed fifth, earning a spot in the Breeders Crown Final.

"I think he stacks up with them,” trainer Andrew Harris stated. “I give full credit to Beau Jangles and Frantic Hanover and a couple of those other horses. I give them all respect. They're all great horses. When it comes down to it, when you have a group that is that good, the trip's going to matter. And the best thing that we got is Dexter (driver Dunn) as he's going to map out a great trip."

Harris added that Brandon Blvd was lazy early on in his training.

"The first couple months, he was kind of lazy and just didn't really show ambition,” Harris admitted. “Then in about March, I let him have a little bit of a speed trip, and he just took off on me. Ever since then I've been pretty high on him, and I knew kind of had that kind of speed. But obviously you don't expect him to be a 48 pacer. Those were big fractions that set up for him. But he's right there at the wire, and he's looking good crossing the wire, so he's not all out."

"He's actually been blessed,” Harris continued. “Because we haven't had to travel a lot with him. He spent the whole summer stabled at Lexington. So, he didn’t have to do a lot of the work that these others have done. He's kind of had a really good campaign that way, and is going into his 10th start, and is as sharp now as he was in his first start."

Bred by Crawford Farms, LLC, of Syracuse, NY, Brandon Blvd was a $425,000 yearling purchase at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. He is the second foal out of the American Ideal mare Alexis Faith p, 3, 1:50.3f ($586,546) and is a half brother to the 3-year-old filly Karma (by Tall Dark Stranger) p, 3, 1:50 ($142,565).

Trainer Ron Burke had three contenders in this division (Al Papi/Lindy Dragonwater/Melillo) and has two in the second division (Race 9) in Frantic Hanover and Ubrute.

Beau Jangles, the pride of the Ian Moore stable, kept his freshman record picture perfect, winning his $34,250 Breeders Crown elimination (race 9) easily in 1:49.1 with driver Bob McClure at the lines on Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

"He was pretty full of himself there tonight, and around the last turn, I was trying to rate him as best I could, and down the lane, he just took off,” said winning driver Bob McClure. “Then halfway down the stretch, he does this thing, he puts his ears up and kind of looks for company, but he drove strong, right through the wire. He was tough just to get pulled up tonight, he was he was really full of himself tonight. It's amazing, you know, the racing he's done that he just seems to be getting stronger."

The win was the Cattlewash colt’s eleventh straight victory in as many lifetime starts and upped his career earnings to $1,209,250 for owners Graham Grace Stables LLC, of Virginia, the Kiwi Stables LLC, of Maryland, and Bolton Stables of Florida.

"It has been great so far, but this is the horse business, and as you know a lot of things can happen, but it's so far so good,” said trainer Ian Moore. “It should be quite a race next week, because Andrew Harris' colt (Brandon Blvd) looked pretty darn good tonight to me, in fact, setting a track record here, so it'll be interesting for sure. This field is certainly deeper than what we saw in the Metro. There’re more the American horses here and it should be interesting. We're looking forward to it. And hopefully Bo is up to the challenge."

Sent off as the 1-5 favorite, Beau Jangles took his usual spot as he left the gate, grabbing the lead for McClure and taking the field through fractions of :26; :54.3; and 1:22.4. Ubrute (Yannick Gingras) sat behind the leader through the half, and turning for home, Frantic Hanover (Tim Tetrick) pulled first over, followed by Show Me Your Ace (David Miller). Despite their game efforts however, none could match the effort of Beau Jangles, who easily pulled away from his rivals in late stretch.

"He's a great horse, a complete pro, and I think anything you throw at him, he's going to take it," McClure stressed.

Show Me Your Ace was second, followed by Ubrute and Frantic Hanover.

All of Beau Jangle’s triumphs have come in front-stepping style, with victories in the Ontario Sires Stakes, the $1 million Metro Stakes (in 1:49.1), to name a few. Foaled in Port Perry, ON, Beau Jangles was bred by Tara Hills Stud, Ltd., and is the first foal out of the Art Major mare Mrs Major Hill p, 3, 1:53f ($35,681). He was a $65,000 yearling at the 2024 Standardbred Horse Sale at Harrisburg.

Beau Jangle’s sire, Cattlewash, was second in both his 2021 Breeders Crown Open Pace elimination and final as a 4-year-old. He won his 2020 Breeders Crown elimination and was third in the final at age 3, after finishing third in his Breeders Crown 2-year-old elimination and final in 2019.

By Kimberly Rinker

Storybook Love landed a 33-1 upset rallying over the top of her competition and Nezuko Kamado S later zipped down the center of the track to win their respective $34,250 Breeders Crown eliminations for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Storybook Love soared off cover in the stretch and easily overhauled 4-5 favorite Setyoursightshigh to win the first Breeders Crown elimination in 1:53.2.

Driver Todd Ratchford settled Storybook Love into fourth, right behind Setyoursightshigh, while Southwind Chaska pushed forward to grab the lead from Im Kronos S through a :27.1 first quarter. Southwind Chaska cruised to a :56.4 half and rolled through the last turn as Setyoursightshigh pulled off the pylons with Storybook Love in tow. Setyoursightshigh slid by Southwind Chaska after three-quarters in 1:25.4 and chugged for the finish while Ratchford tipped Storybook Love wide and gathered momentum late. Storybook Love drew alongside Setyoursightshigh and then glided by with ease in the last eighth for a three-quarter-length win. R Ro rallied from off the speed for third with Wishuponastar Deo grabbing fourth from a tiring Southwind Chaska, who clinched the last berth into the final as the fifth-place finisher with the highest seasonal earnings between the two eliminations.

“It's pretty sweet,” Todd Ratchford said about winning a Breeders Crown elimination, which happened in his first Breeders Crown drive and in just his third year of driving. “I never would have guessed it, but I'm happy it happened.

“Last week [finishing second at Vernon] really showed what she was capable of,” Ratchford also said. “And I just figured I would just put her in a good spot tonight. She'd have a good chance of making the final, let alone winning. So it was pretty good. She knows to pull herself right out and go forward, so she's pretty easy to drive.”

A filly by Chapter Seven-Stirling Debutant bred by Alan and Larry Troyer, Storybook Love won her third race from 11 starts and has now earned $207,726 for owners Al Libfeld and Brad Grant.

“She's really matured over the last little bit,” said trainer Matt Bax, who also won his first Breeders Crown elimination in just his second appearance. “Early on in the year she mentally wasn't all the way there, and luckily she's putting it together just at the right time. She actually raced great in Vernon [and I] thought she had a shot. I told Al and Brad, you know, great people. They said ‘if you think she's good enough.’ I said ‘Well, she's not going to embarrass herself in the Breeders Crown.’ So I'm glad it worked out.”

Storybook Love, off the second longest shot on the board, paid $69.70 to win.

Marcus Melander trainee Nezuko Kamado S punched forward following fast fractions to swoop to a 1:53.1 win in the second elimination for freshman trotting fillies.

Starting from the pylon post, Nezuko Kamado S landed in seventh behind a scramble for the lead in a :28 first quarter. Jailbird Jog sliced through traffic and was the last in the shuffle to plant onto the lead while stretched out through a :55.3 half by Shimmering Hanover. Driver Scott Zeron meanwhile found a third-over seat as Jailbird Jog scurried on an open lead to three-quarters in 1:23.1. Zeron fanned Nezuko Kamado S towards the grandstand side spinning for home and powered by a weary Jailbird Jog in the last eighth before notching a two-length win in hand. Lainey W skimmed a seam at the pylons to snatch second with Bingo Night rallying for third and Sparks flying from near last for fourth. ​ 

“She was far off, but there was some good pace there and she really flew home,” Marcus Melander said after the race. “She’s got a great attitude, great speed. I probably put her in the wrong races; I kept her in the New York Sires Stakes with the half-mile track – she probably could’ve raced on the bigger tracks, brought her to Kentucky or something like that. But she’s a really good horse and I’m looking forward to the final.”

Nezuko Kamado S, a homebred Chapter Seven-Zefira Kronos IT filly for Courant Inc., collected her sixth win from nine starts and has banked $508,208 in her career. Off the slight second favorite, she paid $8.30 to win.

After the evening’s ninth race, Woodbine Mohawk Park conducted the post-position draw for the $959,000 Grade 1 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot. The two elimination winners, along with Jim Doherty Memorial champion Atlantic Summer, earned draw protection from posts 1 through 5. Below is the field:

$959,000 Grade 1 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot Final

PP-Name-Driver-Trainer

1-Lainey W-Yannick Gingras-Marcus Melander

2-Nezuko Kamado S-Scott Zeron-Marcus Melander

3-Southwind Chaska-Tim Tetrick-Jim Oscarsson

4-Atlantic Summer-Ronnie Wrenn Jr.-Ron Burke

5-Storybook Love-Todd Ratchford-Matt Bax

6-Bingo Night-Tyler Jones-R. Dustin Jones

7-Sparks-Ake Svanstedt-Ake Svanstedt

8-Wishuponastar Deo-Tyler Borth-Susie Kerwood

9-Setyoursightshigh-Dexter Dunn-Marcus Melander

10-R Ro-Jody Jamieson-John Butenschoen

By Ray Cotolo

Spencer Hanover and Diabolic Hill won their $25,000 (USD) Breeders Crown eliminations for 2-year-old male trotters Friday at Woodbine Mohawk Park and will start from post positions two and three, respectively, in next week’s $700,000 final.

Spencer Hanover and driver Jason Bartlett captured the first elimination, rallying from fourth at three-quarters to win by 1-1/4 lengths over pacesetter Mr Big Spender in 1:53.4. Im Kronos S finished third and Kingmen was fourth to advance to the final.

Diabolic Hill and driver Todd McCarthy won the second elim, taking control in the first turn and never relinquishing the lead on their way to a 1:53.1 triumph. Nix Nacken finished second, followed by Land The Plane and L P Bay to advance to the final. Also advancing was Cambridge Hanover, who was the fifth-place finisher with the highest earnings.

The nine finalists from the eliminations joined Apex, who advanced automatically as the winner of the Peter Haughton Memorial, in next week’s final.

In the first elimination, Spencer Hanover raced in fourth while Mr Big Spender and driver Mike Wilder led the field through fractions of :28, :58, and 1:26.4. Mr Big Spender fended off a first-over push from 6-5 favorite Im Kronos S and driver Ake Svanstedt, but Spencer Hanover followed that rival’s cover and sprinted home in :26.3 for the victory.

“Once I got Ake in front of me, then I knew I had really live cover,” Bartlett said. “The pace wasn't too hot and pretty sensible. Obviously, the goal was to get in the final, but we got a good trip.

“In the middle of the last turn, I thought I was in the winning spot if he kicked home like he did at Vernon the other day, and he definitely did.”

Spencer Hanover, who was coming off a track-record performance in the Big Apple Trot for freshman colts and geldings on Oct. 11 at Vernon Downs, is trained by Marcus Melander for owners Jeff Snyder and Arthur Pronti. The son of Chapter Seven-Secret Passion was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms. The victory was the colt’s second of the season to go with three seconds and a third in 11 starts.

Friday’s race was Spencer Hanover’s third since the addition of trotting hobbles.

“(People told me) he’s a really nice horse,” Bartlett said. “And then adding the hobbles just seems to be a little confidence builder in him.”

Sent off as the 9-5 second choice, Spencer Hanover paid $5.70 to win.

In the second elimination, which saw the late scratch of pre-race favorite Endurance, Diabolic Hill got to the front from post four and led the field to fractions of :27.4, :58 and 1:25.3 on his way to victory by 3-1/4 lengths.

“The game plan was we were probably looking to follow a helmet here in the elim, and we got left on the front there, but it was pretty soft fractions, so I was OK with it,” McCarthy said. “And he trotted home really strong. He was a real professional tonight.”

Diabolic Hill is trained by Annie Stoebe, who owns the colt with Mazza Racing Stables. The son of Muscle Hill-Crysti Dream was bred by AM Bloodstock. He has won four of eight races this season and hit the board an additional two times.

In his previous start, Diabolic Hill finished fourth in the Mohawk Million on Sept. 20. He qualified in 1:56.1 at the Meadowlands on Oct. 9 to prep for the Breeders Crown.

“I was very confident,” Stoebe said. “He qualified like a beast, and the Mohawk Million really matured him. He has really turned into a nice horse to be around, and he's settled down a lot on the track, which makes him more manageable for Todd.”

Sent off as the 1-2 favorite, Diabolic Hill paid $3.10.

The draw for the final was conducted following the eliminations. Elimination winners Spencer Hanover and Diabolic Hill, as well as Apex, drew for posts one through six. Here is the field in post order:

1. Apex

2. Spencer Hanover

3. Diabolic Hill

4. Nix Nacken

5. Land The Plane

6. Kingmen

7. L P Bay

8. Cambridge Hanover

9. Im Kronos S

10. Mr Big Spender

By Ken Weingartner

Louprint, the top ranked horse in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, headlines the star power competing in Saturday night’s Breeders Crown eliminations at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Returning to the scene of his Grade 1 Pepsi North America Cup victory, Louprint will look to punch his ticket to the 3-Year-Old Colt Pace Final in one of eight $25,000 (USD) Breeders Crown eliminations on Saturday’s 13-race card at the Campbellville oval.

Following the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old eliminations on Friday, Saturday evening’s card will feature eliminations for the 3-Year-Old and Open categories. The 3-Year-Old Colt Trot, Mare Trot and Mare Pace did not require eliminations. To view the entrants for the Breeders Crown races advancing straight to a final, click here.

The 3-Year-Old Colt Pace, 3-Year-Old Filly Trot and Open Pace will all feature a pair of eliminations on Saturday, while the 3-Year-Old Filly Pace and Open Trot will have single eliminations after byes were handed out.

In events where byes were offered, the highest money earners this season received first choice. However, a trainer does not have to accept a bye and could opt to race in the elimination.

The Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly pace saw 12 entrants, with Rodeo Drive Deo and The Last Martini accepting byes to the final. A field of 10 will clash Saturday with the top-eight finishers advancing to the final.

Superstars Chantilly and Miki And Minnie will meet up in the 3-Year-Old Filly Pace elimination (Race 9). It will be the second meeting ever between the Nick Gallucci and Chris Ryder trainees.

The Breeders Crown Open Trot also had 12 dropped in the box. Periculum and Southwind Coors accepted the byes to the October 25 final.

Maple Leaf Trot (G1) winner Lexus Kody will race in Saturday’s elimination (Race 8) for Ron Burke. The seven-year-old gelding has won five consecutive starts, all in stakes, heading into the Breeders Crown elimination.

The Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Pace received 17 entries and will see the top-five finishers from a pair of eliminations (Races 4 and 7) advance to the final.

Burke trainee Louprint will take on the likes of Captain Optimistic and Crack Shot in the second elimination. Louprint is a perfect 10 for 10 this season with recent victories in the Little Brown Jug (G1) and Tattersalls (G2) to his credit.

The first elimination will see Prince Hal Hanover headline. The Dr. Ian Moore trainee has made over $1 million (CAD) this season with notable wins in the Adios (G1) and Bluegrass (G3).

The Breeders Crown Open Pace is highly competitive with 19 pacers vying for 10 spots in the final. The eliminations will go back-to-back on Saturday’s card as Races 10 and 11 with the top-five finishers from each advancing.

Ervin Hanover has been ripping up the Open Pace ranks over the last couple of months and will be the expected morning-line favourite in the first elimination. The Dave Menary trainee has been driven by Louis-Philippe Roy, who will have to choose between ‘Ervin’ and 2024 Pepsi North America Cup winner Nijinsky.

Maximus Miki returns to the site of his Canadian Pacing Derby (G1) victory in the second Crown elimination. The Tom Cancelliere trainee is having a career season in 2025. The second split also features last year’s Breeders Crown winner Coach Stefanos for trainer Erv Miller.

The Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot will see 18 starters across two eliminations (Races 3 and 6). The top-five finishers from each elimination to the final.

Lucas Wallin trainee Delaney Hanover is the highest earner this season in the first elimination and enters off a victory in the Kentucky Filly Futurity (G1). The first split will also feature recent Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final winner Monalishi for trainer Blake MacIntosh.

Yo Tillie will arrive at the biggest stage of her career in the second Breeders Crown elimination. The Andrew Harris trainee has won nine of 10 starts this season, including the Kentucky Sires Stakes Championship.

Post time for Saturday’s Breeders Crown elimination card is 6:35 p.m.

To view the entries for Saturday, click here.

The $7 million (USD) Breeders Crown finals will take place on Friday, October 24 and Saturday, October 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The 2-Year-Old finals will be held on October 24, while the 3-Year-Old and Open finals will take place on October 25.

By Ken Weingartner for Woodbine Communications

 Undefeated Canadian pacing sensation Beau Jangles, ranked No. 5 in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, will lead the way Friday (Oct. 17) when seven $25,000 (USD) Breeders Crown eliminations for 2-year-olds are contested at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Beau Jangles will be among 58 freshmen competing in Friday’s eliminations. Four 2-year-olds will advance directly to their finals: male trotter Apex, thanks to his victory in the Peter Haughton Memorial; Atlantic Summer, courtesy of her win in the Jim Doherty Memorial; and bye recipients Daya and Seaside Shuffle in the event for rookie female pacers. The byes were offered based on earnings.

All 2-year-old Breeders Crown finals, each with a purse of $700,000, will be held Oct. 24 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Elimination winners, as well as Apex and Atlantic Summer, will draw for post positions one through six in their respective finals. All other finalists will be placed in an open draw for the remaining post positions.

Breeders Crown eliminations for horses ages 3 and up will be Saturday. Racing begins at 6:35 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Sixteen freshman male pacers were entered in this year’s Breeders Crown, presented by Toyo Tires and TreadXperts, requiring two eight-horse eliminations. The top five finishers from each elim will advance to the final.

Beau Jangles, a perfect 10-for-10 this season for trainer Ian Moore and driver Bob McClure, will leave from post two in the second elimination. The son of Cattlewash-Mrs Major Hill won the Grade 1 Metro Pace on Sept. 20 at Mohawk and captured his Ontario Sire Stakes Super Final this past Saturday over the same oval. The colt has earned $866,130 ($1.19 million CAD).

Frantic Hanover, a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion who finished second to Beau Jangles in the Metro, will start from post three in the same elim. The Ron Burke trainee will have Tim Tetrick in the sulky. Burke will also send out Kentucky Sire Stakes champ Ubrute in the same elimination, leaving from post seven.

New York Sire Stakes and Big Apple male pace champion Fragment will start from post four in the other elimination for the male pacers, with Jason Bartlett driving for trainer Per Engblom. Grand Circuit winners Brandon Blvd, with Dexter Dunn driving for Andrew Harris, and Al Papi, with Yannick Gingras driving for Burke, will leave from posts one and two, respectively. Al Papi became the all-time fastest freshman pacing colt with his 1:48.1 victory in his most recent race, a division of the International Stallion on Oct.4 at The Red Mile.

Twelve 2-year-old filly pacers were entered in the Breeders Crown, which will go with one elimination from which the top eight finishers will join Daya and Seaside Shuffle in the final.

Burke-trained speedster Loua Dipa, the fastest freshman filly in history after her 1:48 win in a division of the International Stallion Stakes on Oct. 3 at The Red Mile, will leave from post six with driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. She also counts the Grade 1 She’s A Great Lady among her victories, which she captured in a Canadian-record 1:49.1 in September at Mohawk. The field also includes Grand Circuit winner I’m A Lou Lou and Ontario Super Final runner-up She’s A Bulldog, also both members of the Burke Brigade.

Fourteen 2-year-old male trotters were entered in the Breeders Crown, with two eliminations on tap Friday. Thirteen of the freshmen will compete in the elims, with the top four finishers from each split plus the fifth-place finisher with the highest earnings as calculated by Standardbred Canada advancing to join Apex in the final.

Fourteen 2-year-old male trotters were entered in the Breeders Crown, with two eliminations on tap Friday. Thirteen of the freshmen will compete in the elims, with the top four finishers from each split plus the fifth-place finisher with the highest earnings as calculated by Standardbred Canada advancing to join Apex in the final.

Grade 1 Mohawk Million runner-up (behind Apex) and Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series winner Endurance will compete in the second elim and leave from post one with Andy McCarthy at the lines for trainer Chris Beaver. Mr Big Spender, coming off a 1:51.2 win for trainer Norm Parker on Sept. 25 in a division of the Bluegrass, equaling the second-fastest mile ever by a freshman trotting colt, will start from post six in the other elimination.

Marcus Melander trainees Nix Nacken (post six, second elim) and Spencer Hanover (post two, first elim) are both heading into Friday’s action off victories. Nix Nacken won a division of the International Stallion Stakes and Spencer Hanover won the Big Apple male trot at Vernon Downs in a track-record 1:52.3.

Twenty freshman trotting fillies were entered in the Breeders Crown, requiring two eliminations. Nineteen of the fillies will compete in the elims, with the top four finishers from each split plus the fifth-place finisher with the highest earnings as calculated by Standardbred Canada advancing to join Atlantic Summer in the final.

Bingo Night, fresh off her Ontario Super Final triumph last week, will start from post five for driver Tyler Jones and trainer Dustin Jones in the second elimination. She finished second in the Grade 1 Peaceful Way on Aug. 23 at Mohawk. Melander-trained Nezuko Kamado S brings a three-race win streak to the elim and will leave from post one. Her triumphs include the Kentuckiana Stallion Management Stakes and Big Apple filly trot.

The other elimination finds Ohio Sire Stakes champion and Kentucky Championship Series runner-up Setyoursightshigh starting from post four with Dunn listed to drive for Melander. Southwind Chaska, with three straight Grand Circuit scores for trainer Jim Oscarsson, will leave from post three with driver Tim Tetrick. She is the season’s fastest trotting filly, with a mark of 1:51.4.

For Friday’s complete entries, click here.

A total of 166 of horses were entered Tuesday for the $7,639,500 million (USD) Breeders Crown at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Eliminations will be required for 9 of the 12 Breeders Crown events.

The 3-Year-Old Colt Trot, the Open Mare Trot and the Open Mare Pace will not require eliminations this weekend.

Eliminations for all 2-Year-Old events will be held this Friday evening (October 17), while the eliminations needed in the 3-Year-Old and Open divisions will take place on Saturday evening (October 18). Post time for both cards is 6:35 p.m.

The 3-Year-Old Colt Trot received 10 entries and advances directly to the final. The entrants are listed below in alphabetical order.

• EMOTICON LEGACY

• GIMPANZEE DANCER

• GO DOGS GO

• GREENMA

• HAPPY JACK B

• MARYLAND

• MESHUGGAH

• MONSERRATE

• MR MOUTON

• SUPER CHAPTER

The Open Mare Trot received 9 entries and advances directly to the final. The entrants are listed below in alphabetical order.

• BRAVO ANGEL S

• CALL ME GOO

• DATE NIGHT HANOVER

• DRAWN IMPRESSION

• ELISTA HANOVER

• EMOJI HANOVER

• M MS DREAM

• NELSONBRITEAGLE

• WARRAWEE MICHELLE

The Open Mare Pace received 7 entries and advances directly to the final. The entrants are listed below in alphabetical order.

• ALWAYS B NAUGHTY

• ASWEETBEACHHERE

• KOBES GIGI

• MY GIRL EJ

• SYLVIA HANOVER

• TELLS ON A ROLL

• TWIN B JOE FRESH

All other Breeders Crown events require eliminations. The breakdown of number entrants for each event is listed below. The draws for the Breeders Crown eliminations will be released later this afternoon.

2-Year-Old Colt Pace: 16
​2-Year-Old Colt Trot: 14
​2-Year-Old Filly Pace: 12
​2-Year-Old Filly Trot: 20
​3-Year-Old Colt Pace: 17
​3-Year-Old Filly Pace: 12
​3-Year-Old Filly Trot: 18
​Open Pace: 19
​Open Trot: 12

Stormont Beautiful was the lone supplement received by Monday’s (October 13) deadline for this year’s Breeders Crown, presented by Toyo Tires and TreadXperts, at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Supplemental entries for the 3-Year-Old and Open Breeders Crown races closed on Monday at Noon (ET). The 2-Year-Old events are not open to supplements.

A homebred for Stormont Meadows (Long Sault, Ontario), Stormont Beautiful’s connections put up $72,000 (USD) to supplement to the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot.

Trained by Kevin Benn, Stormont Beautiful was most recently second in last Saturday’s Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Super Final. The daughter of Resolve has won four of 14 starts this season, earning $286,758 (CAD), and was notably third placed second in the Grade 1 Elegantimage Stakes on September 20 at Mohawk Park.

Stormont Beautiful holds a career mark of 1:52.2, which she posted in a 7 ½ length victory on September 30 at Mohawk Park in an OSS Gold event.

The entry box for the 2025 Breeders Crown closes Tuesday morning (October 14) at 10:30 a.m. Eliminations (if necessary) for the 2-Year-Old events will be held this Friday (October 17), while the 3-Year-Old and Open events will take place this Saturday (October 18).

The 2025 Breeders Crown finals will take place on October 24 and 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Woodbine Entertainment and the Hambletonian Society today announced the Breeders Crown Post Position Draw and Dinner will be held on Tuesday, October 21 at Country Heritage Park in Milton.

The event will be sponsored by the Central Ontario Standardbred Association.

The Breeders Crown Post Position Draw and Dinner will be held in the Gambrel Barn at Country Heritage Park beginning at 6 p.m. with cocktail service. Opening remarks and the post draws will follow at 6:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at the conclusion of the draws.

Guests are invited to stick around following dinner for music and bar service.

A total of three Breeders Crown finals will be drawn at the event. The decision of which three Crown races will be made in the week leading up.

All participants in the 12 Breeders Crown finals are invited and encouraged to attend.

The entry box for the Breeders Crown eliminations closes on Tuesday, October 14 at 10:30 a.m.

Country Heritage Park is located eight minutes from Woodbine Mohawk Park at 8560 Tremaine Road in Milton. For more information on Country Heritage Park, click here.