Open Elims
Dean Gillette Photos
Tattoo Artist Wins 7th Straight; Bythemissal Snares Second Breeders Crown Open Pace Elimination
By Keith Gisser for the Breeders Crown
On a rough night for favorites, 1-9 choice Tattoo Artist, piloted by Louis Roy, did not let his backers down, coasting to an easy 1:50 victory over 55-1 Abuckabett Hanover in the first $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination for Open Pacers.
Roy put the Ian Moore trainee on the front, although he was parked out nearly to the quarter, reached in 26 seconds. The six-year-old son of He’s Watching got a soft middle half of 58.1 as Charlie May mounted a futile first-over move at the five-eighths pole, but Tattoo Artist was never seriously challenged as he posted his seventh straight victory. It took a photo to determine the third spot, but when the ink dried, Linedrive Hanover had bested Charlie May and Lou’s Pearlman, who rallied late from the outside. All three will join the first two in next week’s Breeders Crown Final.
“He’s so nice to drive,” Roy said. “So easy, you can change your mind with him. It’s such a long stretch here, I didn’t want to let him pace too early, but when I let him, he was like a little rocket.”
Tattoo Artist, owned by Let It Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing, along with Frank Cannon yielded a paltry return of $2.10 across the board. He was bred by Tara Hills Stud of Canada. Abuckabett Hanover returned $15.40 and $3.80, while Linedrive Hanover paid $3.80 to show.
When six horses are competing for five spots in a final, there’s often not much action in an elimination. That was certainly not the case in the second Crown elimination. Longshot Chase H Hanover took the field past the quarter in a fast 25.1 as 3-5 favorite Bythemissal found a seat third. As the field approached the three-eighths pole, pocket sitting Ponda Warrior, the hometown hero, pulled and went by the early leader, only to be met and passed by the favorite, who clicked the half-mile timer in 54.1. Yannick Gingras continued to lead, as Bythemissal, a Ron Burke-trainee, hit the three quarters in 1:23 and then flew home in 26 seconds to post an impressive 1:49 win over closing Allywag Hanover by about two lengths. It was the first sub-1:50 mile of the evening.
“I didn’t want a slow middle half, “Gingras explained. “I know I can go with him, but it’s a deep group.”
Ponda Warrior closed inside to finish third, while Taurasi and Chase H Hanover also advanced to the final, finishing fourth and fifth respectively.
Bythemissal is a four-year-old son of Downbytheseaside, owned by Burke Racing, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. He was bred in New Jersey by Dr. Stephen Dey. He paid $3.20 to win, while posting his ninth victory in 12 seasonal starts. The win pushed his career earnings over $1.7 million dollars.
Logan Park Never Headed in Sole Breeders Crown Open Trot Elimination
By Kimberly Rinker for Breeders Crown
Logan Park and driver Doug McNair led from start to finish to capture the $25,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot Elimination on Saturday, Oct. 21, at Hoosier Park in 1:52.1. Robert Fellows trains the 5-year-old gelded homebred son of Archangel for the Outofthepark Stable, Reg. W. Higgs, and Arped Szabo.
It was the 11th win of the season in 18 starts for Logan Park, who was sent off at 3-1 odds, and his 23rd lifetime triumph in 62 career starts. He now has $216,893 in seasonal earnings and $785,452 in his career bankroll.
Logan Park left handily from the gate from post eight, assumed command and was never headed, takin the field of nine trotters to a :26 opening panel, then backing the speed down a bit, and passing the half mile marker in :55.3 (:29.3), before storming to a 1:24.1 three-quarter clocking to easily hold off both Southwind Tyrion and It’s Academic.
“He’s been good all year,” said winning trainer Robert Fellows. “He’s on a roll, racing good, and is a good horse so it was a no-brainer to bring him here. The horses that took the bye, they’re going to be tough to beat.”
Southwind Tyrion, the even-money favorite was second for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt, with 2-1 It’s Academic (David Miller) getting up for third. Delayed Hanover was fourth, Pretender fifth, Take All Comers sixth, Lovedbythemasses seventh, and Kildare King was eighth.
Venerate failed to advance by virtue of his ninth-place finish.
The first eight finishers advance to the final to join Alrajah One IT and Rattle My Cage, who both accepted byes into the rich Breeders Crown Final.
Max Contract, Kobe’s Gigi Take Breeders Crown Mare Pace Eliminations
By Ray Cotolo, for Breeders Crown
ANDERSON, Ind.— An off-the-pace effort from Max Contract and a down-the-road mission by Kobe’s Gigi planted them in the winner’s circle of their respective $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown Mare Pace on Saturday night (Oct. 21) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Max Contract burst off the pegs and down the center of the track to win going away in the first elimination for the Mare Pace with a 1:50.3 effort
Silver Label, the 7-5 favorite, pushed from the pylon post for the lead to a :26.4 first quarter while Max Contract settled into fourth. Mikala, positioned third, launched for the front up the backstretch and swooped to the lead through a :55.3 half. To the far turn, Mikala coasted unfettered through three-quarters in 1:23.3 and spun the mostly single-file field for home. Max Contract broke rank out of fourth and barreled to grab the lead in midstretch, spurting clear by 2-1/4 lengths over Mikala. Drama Act closed for third with Silver Label leveling off in fourth and Marloe Hanover rounding the top five.
“She loves the long stretch here and loves to close,” winning driver Andy Miller said. “It's just a shame we were not able to race her in Lexington on a big day. She got sick on us. She raced here in Indiana and then got sick on us for two weeks. We were fighting that and seems back to being healthy now.”
A 4-year-old mare by Huntsville, Max Contract has now won 14 races from 25 starts and earned $435,305 for owners Andy Miller Stable Inc. and Jean Goehlen. Steve Jones bred the mare who paid $6.80 to win.
Kobe’s Gigi circled for the lead after the quarter and slipped clear of her competition in progress to a 1:50.1 victory in the second elimination.
Valar Dohaeris fired from post 5 (moving in one slot after the late scratch of Prohibition Legal) for the lead through a :25.4 quarter with Kobe’s Gigi yielding control to sit second. As Valar Dohaeris settled on the point into the backstretch, driver Dexter Dunn swung Kobe’s Gigi from the pocket to retake the lead before a :55.2 half. Kobe’s Gigi charged through the final turn on an expanding lead that grew wider after she clicked past three-quarters in 1:23. Through the lane, Kobe’s Gigi kicked away to a decisive victory under wraps by 2-3/4 lengths over Valar Dohaeris. Boudoir Hanover finished third with 1-5 favorite Grace Hill, trying to close from last, in fourth. Dabarndawgswatchin completed the finalists.
“We put blinders on her and she was sharp,” Dunn said of the mare’s victory.
Melissa Essig trains Kobe’s Gigi, a 5-year-old mare by JK Endofanera bred by Harvey Fry, for owners Leander Schwartz and Black &White Stable. She won for the 14th time from 50 starts and has now earned $554,891. Off the 7/2 second choice, Kobe’s Gigi paid $9.20 to win.
Jiggy Jog S Jogs and Refined Upsets in Breeders Crown Open Mare Trot elims
by Frank Cotolo for The Breeders Crown
Anderson, Ind. – With overwhelming support from the betting public, Jiggy Jog S (Dexter Dunn), at 1-9, won the first of two $25,000 Open Mares Trot elims. The time for the mile was 1:55 on Saturday, Oct. 21 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.
Leaving the gate, Jiggy Jog S took it easy sitting in third as Adare Castle (James MacDonald) grabbed the lead followed by Weslynn Quest (Andy Miller). Jiggy Jog S let her foes dream about finishing in that order with :28.1, :59.2 and 1:29 fractions to three-quarters.
At three-quarters, Dunn had plenty of room to move off the pylons and allow Jiggy Jog S effortlessly trot to a 1:55 victory. Adare Castle took second, HP Mama B finished third. Herculisa and Weslynn Quest also made the final.
Mischevious Rose (Louis Roy), who galloped just before the gate opened, got back to trotting too late to be one of the five finishers eligible for the final.
Dexter Dunn said the win was as easy as it looked. “I was happy where I was and she has such a great turn of foot. She has put in great performances all year.”
Ake Svanstedt trains Jiggy Jog S for owner Jorgen Sparredal, Inc. Vestmarka Ab bred the Walner—Hot Mess Hanover mare. Her bankroll now reads $1,878,779. She paid $2.10 to win.
In the second Open Mares Trot elim, 12-1 Refined (Uncle Peter—Reinvent) was guided through the stretch by driver Doug McNair and upset heavy hometown favorite M-M’s Dream by a nose in the 1:54.1 mile.
Refined left well and quickly cut the first quarter in :26.4. Martysmagicmoment (Tony Hall) took the catbird seat with M-M’s Dream (David Miller) third. The field raced in line until Miller took M-M’s Dream to the outside and gained command towards a :57.1 half.
M-M’s Dream moved swiftly towards the turn while Warrawee Xenia (Tim Tetrick) moved first over, giving cover to Raised By Lindy (Scott Zeron) forming potential challenges as three-quarter passed in 1:27.2.
Refined found a path to attack M-M’s Dream and pressured the leader to hustle for a win but Miller’s urging could not fault Refined’s momentum and at the wire the photo showed a neck win for the Virgil Morgan Jr.-trained 7-year-old.
M-M’s Dream held for second and Warrawee Xenia was third. Refined paid $26.40 to win for owners Joyce A. McClelland and Larry W. Willis.
Walnut Hall Stock Farm bred the winner of six in 19 starts this season. Her bankroll increased to $985,733.
McNair said, “She was great today but my mare has been great every time I go with her. [Tonight] I moved her fairly early and she trotted right through to the wire.”
Trainer Morgan, Jr. said “We bought her after her three-year-old season and she has just been a pleasure to train. She has done nothing wrong and been ultra-consistent.”
