3 Year Old Crown Elims
Sophomore Smorgasbord for Pacing Colts in Crown Qualifiers
by Jay Bergman for Breeders Crown
Confederate continued his winning ways racing from off the pace and soaring past rivals in the late stages to capture the first of three $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday night. Driven by Tim Tetrick, Confederate posted a 1:49.4 mile in outsprinting a gutsy Stockade Seelster to the wire with Huntinthelastdolar third across the wire.
Tetrick left for position early but was content as Doug McNair and Huntinthelastdolar moved to the front in the early stages ahead of Buzzsaw Russ. Huntinthelastdolar hit the quarter in :26.3 but felt immediate pressure from Stockade Seelster with David Miller as that pair remained parked from the outset and assumed command well before the :54.4 half mile was reached.
Stockade Seelster slowed the pace a bit during the third quarter and that prompted Tetrick to get a move on with the 1-20 favorite and Confederate moved with purpose to get near the leaders before three quarters were completed. McNair also saw the opportunity to tackle the leader with Huntinthelastdolar and pulled the pocket briefly forcing Confederate a little wider in early stretch. With three-quarters timed in 1:23.2 the field went into full sprint mode and Confederate was widest of all with Tetrick urging him sufficiently in deep stretch to get his attention and prompt him to pass the leaders. Stockade Seelster was resolute in his fight with the remainder and held off Huntinthelastdolar as those two were eye-to-eye through the homestretch.
Owned and bred by Diamond Creek Farm, Confederate, now a winner in 11 of 12 starts this year, is trained by Brett Pelling. As the heavy chalk Confederate paid the minimum $2.10 to win.
“My colt did the job right,” said Tetrick. “He’s just a champion.”
Coach Stefanos and Trace Tetrick blitzed the final quarter in the second Crown elimination and rolled by favored It’s My Show as if he were standing still in midstretch to score in 1:50.3 with the final quarter on the board in :25.2 and his significantly faster. The gelded son of Tellitlikeitis won for the sixth time in 2023 and has been first or second in all but one of his 13 starts for trainer Erv Miller.
It's My Show, the 9-5 choice with Scott Zeron aboard went right to the front ahead of Ants Marching and Ammo and cut the opening quarter in :27.1. Zeron wasted no time in backing down the action hitting the half in a pedestrian :57.1 and appeared to have the field at his mercy. Tetrick and Coach Stefanos came out past the half and followed the cover of Redwood Hanover with Dexter Dunn, but the pair didn’t make up that much ground through the :28 flat third quarter.
In the homestretch It’s My Show pulled away briefly but by midstretch Coach Stefanos was airborne and passed with authority. It’s My Show was well clear for second with Ammo holding third and Command coming on late to finish fourth.
Owned by K.W. Duffy, D &M Trading II LLC and Mr. J. Chris Stefanos, Coach Stefanos was bred by Victory Hill Farm. As the third public choice he returned $8.00 to win.
“The colt raced super,” said Trace Tetrick in the winner’s circle. “He was sharp in his first qualifier and been good ever since. It's a great opportunity [to have the Breeders Crown here]. It provides chances when it's right here in your backyard. It allows everyone to get involved in. It's a great honor to be involved.”
El Rey, purchased recently in an online auction paid dividends immediately for co-owner and trainer Andrew Harris capturing the third $25,000 Crown elimination for driver Dexter Dunn in 1:50.3, overtaking favored Cannibal nearing the wire. A son of Captaintreacherous, El Rey was a winner for the third time in 16 sophomore starts.
El Rey and Dunn left well from the inside but yielded to the speed of Hungry Angel Boy and then Voukefalas before the first turn came up. Cannibal and Yannick Gingras were also present in the early action, but they would be parked well past the :26.2 opening quarter cut by Voukefalas and Jordan Stratton before clearing to the top.
Cannibal led through the half in :55.3 with El Rey and Dunn waiting patiently to move without cover. El Rey moved with purpose late on the final bend for Dunn but Cannibal still had control through the 1:24.3 three-quarters with Gingras asking him to pace strongly through the stretch.
Dunn ducked in briefly behind Cannibal with El Rey but then tipped him off cover and the colt did the rest rather impressively. Bred by Riverview Breeding LLC, El Rey defeated Cannibal with Admiral Hill coming on late between horses for third and advancing to the final.
Owned by Harris along with William Pollock and Bruce Areman, El Rey returned $5.20 to win.
“He’s certainly lived up to expectations,” said Harris in the winner’s circle.
Celebrity Bambino, Up Your Deo and Helpfirstedition Stamp Spots into Breeders Crown
By Ray Cotolo, for Breeders Crown
ANDERSON, Ind.— A trio of $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding trotters went to post on Saturday night (Oct. 21) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park with top honors claimed by Celebrity Bambino, Up Your Deo and Helpfirstedition.
Celebrity Bambino unfurled a front-stepping effort as the 8-5 second choice to dominate the first elimination in 1:53.1.
Yannick Gingras pushed Celebrity Bambino for the front through a :27.1 first quarter and coasted up the backside to a :57.1 half. Celebrity Bambino remained strong on the helm through the final turn and clocked by three-quarters in 1:25.4 before kicking dust to the field in the lane and posting a 1-1/2-length victory over 3-2 favorite French Wine, who pushed first over through the final turn to take second. Osceola completed the finalists.
“Yeah I wanted to play it by ear and see how the gate would unfold,” Yannick Gingras said. “I thought Dougie [McNair with Osceola] would move, but he didn't and I was looking to follow somebody, but I had to pull. It just worked out that way and he went on to the wire.”
A colt by Muscle Hill, Celebrity Bambino has now won 10 times from 26 starts and earned $859,945 for owners Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva Stables, Knox Services and Phil Collura. White Birch Farm bred the Ron Burke trainee who paid $5.40 to win.
Up Your Deo mounted a furious charge up the open stretch to snag a 1:53.1 victory in the second elimination.
Trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt sent Up Your Deo for the top but yielded command to Kilmister through a :27 first quarter with Winner’s Bet on the wings. Winner’s Bet then brushed to the front up the backstretch and took the field by the half in :56.4. He snagged a breather through the final turn to clock three-quarters in 1:26 but folded when under siege in the lane. A four-pronged battalion swarmed into action in the last eighth with Up Your Deo cutting through the inside to grab the lead which he held to the beam by three-quarters of a length. Tactical Approach ground first over to take second with Kilmister swooping into third and Air Power, on seasonal earnings, securing the last berth into the final.
“It's actually been a little up and down [for him this year] but now he is finding himself again,” Sarah Svanstedt said. “He did great today. I am very thankful for our horses and the team behind us. It's a whole team so I want to thank everyone out there. They work very hard.”
Winning his sixth race from 20 starts, Up Your Deo has now banked $612,702 for owners Ake Svanstedt, Suleyman Yuksel Stables, Deo Volente Farms and Van Camp Trotting Corp. Deo Volente Farms bred the colt by Walner who paid $11 to win.
The final elimination went emphatically to the lone supplement of the 2023 Breeders Crown when Helpfirstedition rolled to the lead and knocked out his rivals with a 1:53.1 mile.
Getting away fifth, Helpfirstedition followed the outer flow through a :26.2 first quarter set by Dire Straits before Point Of Perfect took the lead. Point Of Perfect then reigned back for the pocket up the backside when 4-5 favorite Ari Ferrari J swooped to take the lead. Helpfirstedition soon found himself uncovered on the rim and pressed forward to complete the shuffle for the lead and clock a :56 half. From there Helpfirstedition peeled away from his peers. He clocked by three-quarters in 1:25.2 and sailed away to a 3-1/2 length victory over Ari Ferrari J with Dire Straits holding third.
“I had a sense of relief when he hit the stretch,” said Lester Schmucker of Running Wild Stable. “I kind of thought he was home free. It was the first time he has ever been on the front and I just want to give thanks to the team.”
Helpfirstedition paid a $72,000 supplemental fee to compete in the Breeders Crown after his 1:53.3 victory in the $250,000 Indiana Sires Stakes final on Oct. 13. Unraced as a 2-year-old, the gelding by Helpisontheway has won eight times from 19 starts and accrued $394,875 for owners Erv Wickey, John Graber, Running Wild Stable and John Schmucker. Martin Wickey bred the Melissa Essig trainee. John De Long piloted him to a victory where he returned $8.20.
Special Way and Bond Headed for a Crown Showdown in Sophomore Filly Trot Final
By JAY BERGMAN for Breeders Crown
Special Way and driver Tim Tetrick came from off the pace wide down the homestretch to capture the first of two $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old trotting fillies at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday night, Oct. 20. Last year’s Crown champion in this division, Special Way trotted the mile in 1:55 for her fifth win in seven sophomore starts.
Kentucky Futurity Filly champion Mommamia Volo was sent off as the 1-2 favorite and driver Todd McCarthy left strongly looking for the front but made a break heading into the first turn and was never a threat afterwards. Quick Stop and Tony Hall left from the pole position and kept control of the race as a 67-1 offering, cutting the first half fractions of :28.1 and :58.1 uncontested.
Special Way moved to the outside with Tetrick following to the half and flushed the cover first of Heaven Hanover and Brian Sears and then Silly Me Hanover came up without cover nearing three quarters to put him in third over position.
Following a three quarters set by Quick Stop in 1:27.2 Special Way rallied wide and quickly gained traction swooping the field by midstretch and coasting home to an easy score. Hambletonian Oaks winner Heaven Hanover rallied late for second with Baroness Hill coming between horses for third. Quick Stop held well enough for the fourth spot with Silly Me Hanover completing the qualifiers.
Trained by Ake Svanstedt, Special Way is owned and was bred by Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.
“She was a little short in the Futurity,” said Tetrick, “She just flew by them tonight.”
As the second choice in the field Special Way returned $8.60 to win.
Svanstedt-trained fillies swept the divisions when Ake piloted Bond in the second $25,000 stanza to an impressive 1:52.2 victory pulling away late from pacesetter Railee Something for her seventh win in 11 starts this year. The daughter of Southwind Frank scored as the prohibitive 1-5 favorite.
Bond and Railee Something left out hard at the start with the latter assuming control before the field hit the first turn for driver Dexter Dunn. Railee Something cut the opening fraction in :27 1/5 and was able to settle the pace down nicely in the second quarter hitting the halfway marker in :56 4/5.
With little action coming from the rear Railee Something and Bond pulled away from the field through the three quarters clocked in 1:25 2/5 and the two locked horns in early stretch where Bond shifted into high gear and trotted off powerfully through the :27 final quarter to win in hand. Railee Something was a solid second with Rose Run Yolanda rallying late for the third spot. Bravo Angel S and Blonde Bombshell will also return for the final having finished fourth and fifth respectively.
Owned by Svanstedt along with partners Little E LLC and L. Berg Inc., Bond was bred by Diamond Creek Farms.
“My plan was to sit behind Dexter (Dunn),” Svanstedt said following the race. “And it worked out.”
Now with 14 victories in 20 career starts Bond and Special Way will have the advantage of drawing within the first five posts for the final.
Zanatta, Strong Poison Foil Star Fillies in Breeders Crown Eliminations
By Ray Cotolo, for Breeders Crown
All year long Sylvia Hanover and Twin B Joe Fresh have reigned atop the divisional standings, but both were upset as odds-on choices when Zanatta and Strong Poison struck gold in the pair of $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace on Friday night (Oct. 20) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
The long Hoosier stretch aided a persistent Zanatta in the first elimination as she plugged off a pocket trip to a last-inch victory against 1-9 favorite Twin B Joe Fresh in a 1:52 mile to take the first elimination.
Twin B Joe Fresh marched forward from post 5 for the lead with Zanatta, leaving from the pylon post, securing the pocket. After a :28.1 first quarter, no one bid to challenge Twin B Joe Fresh up the backstretch. She strolled uncontested by a :57.3 half and gradually gathered speed to the far turn while Zanatta followed with keen interest on her helmet. Twin B Joe Fresh clicked by three-quarters in 1:25.4 and spun for home well held until the pressure kept mounting from pocket-pulling Zanatta in midstretch. Twin B Joe Fresh extended for the finish but Zanatta came with a final lunge that landed a nose blow at the beam. Always B Naughty grabbed third from McSeaside and Front Page Story rounded the top five.
“I have absolute faith in this filly,” winning trainer Jenn Bongiorno said. “She is amazing. I was just really proud of how she could hunt her [Twin B Joe Fresh] down tonight. She has been my favorite the whole time training down as a baby. Last year she won the Three Diamonds and it was amazing. This is a huge feat for her. Winning a Breeders Crown elim with my brother means the world to me. I hope we are back here [in the winner's circle] next week. That would top everything but right now I'm a really happy girl.”
Jenn’s brother, Joe Bongiorno, piloted Zanatta to her sixth victory from 27 starts, which pushed her bankroll to $600,085 for owner One Legend Stable Inc. AM Bloodstock Inc. bred the daughter of Stay Hungry who returned $24.80 to win in the upset.
Strong Poison then went on a speed mission down the highway to victory lane over 1-5 favorite Sylvia Hanover with a 1:51.2 win in the second elimination.
Leaving from post 6, driver Yannick Gingras planted Strong Poison on the helm by a :27 first quarter while Sylvia Hanover settled into fourth. With no challengers oncoming, Strong Poison snagged a breather to a :57.3 half and pushed on the pedal as Sylvia Hanover mounted a first-over charge to the far turn. Strong Poison slipped to a wider lead coming to three-quarters in 1:25.3 and fired down the stretch with a :25.4 final quarter to seal a 2-3/4 length victory over Sylvia Hanover. Charleston closed up the inside for third with Beach Cowgirl finishing fourth and Sweet Amira completing the finalists.
“She's been knocking on the door all season and the Lasix tonight may have made a difference,” Yannick Gingras said. “She was getting a little weak in the last 16th every week in Lexington but she was strong to the wire tonight. They were walking up there so I figured why not give [going to the front] a shot.”
Winning her eighth race from 25 starts, Strong Poison has now banked $751,975 for owners Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva Stables, Knox Services and Beasty LLC. The Ron Burke-trained daughter of Always B Miki was bred by Steve Stewart and Charles and Julie Nash. She paid $10.20 to win.
