Breeders Crown Elims Wrap Up

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Published: October 2, 2010 06:58 pm EDT

Eliminations for the 2010 Breeders Crown wrapped up on Saturday night at Pocono Downs as the fields for three-year-olds and aged pacing mares were finalized

. Recaps and replays of the events are available below. Post draws will be available here as they occur.

Eliminations were not necessary for the three-year-old trotting colts/geldings, aged trotting mares, open pace and open trot divisions. For a look at the open fields, click here.

Eliminations for two-year-olds took place on Friday night and recaps are available here.

The $6 million finals of the Breeders Crown will go to post beginning at 5 p.m. next Saturday, October 9.

Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies

Ultimate Cameron, the 1-2 choice, won the first of three $25,000 Breeders Crown sophomore filly trot eliminations at Pocono Downs on Saturday, going the mile in 1:54.

Taking the top from the start, “Cameron” had a few threats. First, longshot Levis Lady (Dewayne Minor) left with her and challenged before breaking and then coming back a second time to battle.

When “Lady” was done, Fortunes Dream (Yannick Gingras) picked up the challenge with a three-wide brush around the tiring Levis Lady.

Ultimate Cameron kept up the lead even as Wilsonator (Scott Zeron) and Bramalea Hanover (David Miller) closed from the inside to take third and second, respectively.

Driver George Brennan said, “She got a little weak late but [1]:54 is a good mile...Without a doubt having a start here helped.”

Bob Stewart trains the daughter of Yankee Glide-Cameron Hall for Diamond Creek Farm LLC of Paris, Kentucky.

The second Breeders Crown elim for sophomore filly trotters went to Fashion Feline. The mile went in 1:55.2.

The Jim Campbell-trained filly did some dueling early as Coast Rica (Ron Pierce) urged to the top during a :27.4 first panel. "Costa" took over, giving "Feline" a ground-saving pocket trip while Up Front Juansteen (Tim Tetrick) came first up to make a lunge at the leader.

On the inside, Fashion Feline was able to close and overcome Costa Rica as "Juansteen" stayed strongly outside to get second.

Spicy Wings (John Campbell) was in the mix late, getting third.

Jim Campbell said, "She came into the race on a good note...the season hasn’t gone the way we wanted it to go for her but she’s on her way now. She likes this track and goes well with Jim [Morrill Jr]."

Fashion Farms LLC of New Hope, Pennsylvania owns the Broadway Hall-Sly Fox filly.

The last Breeders Crown elim for sophomore filly trotters went to Behindclosedoors at Pocono Downs. The mile went in 1:54.3.

Munis Blue Chip (George Brennan) took the top early with Merger Blue Chip (David Miller) until that one broke.

But from the rail Behindclosedoors was not content to take a pocket trip; she took over and cruised through a half in :56.2, moving onto three-quarters in 1:24.2 and soaring home with daylight between the finish line and second-place Impressive Kemp (Jim Morrill Jr.).

Dave Palone, who drove, said he thought he was going to follow Bar Slide (Tim Tetrick) but he changed his tactics and went to the top, where she was satisfied to stay the rest of the way.

Merger Blue Chip regained her gait after the early jump and managed to finish third.

Chuck Sylvester trains the Andover Hall-Margarita Nights filly, owned by Melvin Hartman of Ottawa, Ont., Herb Liverman of Miami Beach and David McDuffee of Delray Beach, Florida.

Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts/Geldings

One More Laugh returned to form and won the first of two Breeders Crown sophomore colt pace eliminations at Pocono Downs, going the mile in 1:50.

The Ray Schnittker-trained colt just about went wire-to-wire, while dismissing early challenges from BGs Folly (David Miller) and Art N Charm (John Campbell).

“Folly” got the lead at the :26.4 quarter but “Laugh” took the top and cut a :55 half and 1:22.2 three-quarters and went on to extend his lead late.

Valentino (George Brennan) went first-up to take a shot at One More Laugh but had little to gain by doing so.

Rockin Image (Yannick Gingras) made a three-wide brush, as he did going after One More Laugh in the Cane Pace, and wound up second. BGs Folly held on for third.

“He did it really well,” said driver Tim Tetrick. “Good horses bounce back. He didn’t have a good ‘Jug’ day but he was impressive tonight.”

Schnittker co-owns the millionaire son of McArdle-Fancy Creek Funny with breeder Mathias Menzinger of Central Islip and Jerry Silva of Long Beach, New York.

His foes tried to make a drama of this, the second sophomore colt pace elim for the Breeders Crown at Pocono Downs, but Little Brown Jug winner Rock N Roll Heaven took control and sped up to leave tons of space between the wire and We Will See (Brett Miller), who finished second.

The mile went in 1:49.1.

“He got real good this time last year,” said trainer Bruce Saunders, admitting that he doesn’t care how “Rock” wins, leaving the judgment to driver Dan Dube.

Shoobees Place (David Miller) left early, while “Rock” sat fourth at the quarter. Fred And Ginger (Brian Sears) gave Rock second-over status, good enough for Rock N Roll Heaven to loop three-deep after a 1:21.4 three-quarters and pace strongly away from the field.

Fred And Ginger got third and Hes Gorgeous (Jim Morrill Jr.) made the final on the merit of his season’s earnings, though he finished fifth here.

Frank Bellino of Bronxville, New York owns the son of Rocknroll Hanover-Artistic Vision, who has banked over $1.8 million in his career.

Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies

The first of two sophomore filly pace eliminations for the Breeders Crown went to the big choice, millionaire Put On A Show, at Pocono. The mile went in 1:50.2.

Northwest Hanover (Brett Miller) bravely took the lead early but lost it to Put On A Show and Tim Tetrick at the :55.1 half. “Northwest” was done at three-quarters, finishing fourth.

Naughtytiltheend (Andy Miller) attempted a first-up challenge but had nothing left late.

Higher And Higher (Jim Morrill Jr.) closed stoutly, passing tired ones, she came way off the pace and maneuvered to finish second.

Put On A Show never let go of the front once on top.

Craig Henderson of Chicago, Illinois, and Richard and Joanne Young of Coconut Creek, Florida own the Rocknroll Hanover-Steinams Place filly and Chris Ryder trains.

The second sophomore filly pace elim for the Breeders Crown went to Cannae Cammie at Pocono Downs. The mile went in 1:50.2.

“When I saw the other filly coming at her I thought we were in trouble,” said trainer Paul Reid, who said he loves Jim Morrill, Jr. and his filly as a team.

“Cannae” went right for the lead and commanded the fractions. In the process she hung the big favorite, Western Silk (Mark MacDonald), at the half and three-quarters.

Rock N Soul (Yannick Gingras) was in the third pocket and moved out at the top of the stretch and caught Panagler (Dave Palone) for second with a mad and promising late charge.

Hulas Z Tam (Pat Lachance) from the middle of the field came right beside Rock N Soul to finish third.

Bulletproof Enterprises of Boca Raton, Florida owns the daughter of Cams Card Shark-Cannae Peach.

Aged Pacing Mares

Not Enough won the battle of the shuffle in the solo elim for the Breeders Crown Mare Pace at Pocono Downs, going the mile in 1:50.2.

Steve Elliott’s millionaire mare came around to take the top after she lost it to Tug River Princess (John Campbell), who lost it to On The Glass (Yannick Gingras), who fought off "Tug" trying to take it again as three-quarters blistered in 1:21.3.

"I wanted to get position, kicked the plugs early and fired her up," said driver Jim Morrill, Jr. "All these [mares] have their day and one is as good as another. It depends on post position and racing luck because on any given day any of these mares can win."

However, Ramona Disomma (George Brennan) was the only eliminated-from-the-final mare here, as she finished last. Dreamfair Eternal received a bye based on seasonal earnings.

In the late going, though Chancey Lady (Andy Miller) made a big push to get into the fray, it was Southwind Tempo (Tim Tetrick) closing hard to get second and Tug River Princess holding for third.

Bulletproof Enterprises of Boca Raton, Florida owns the four-year-old Grinfromeartoear-Party Planner mare.

(With files from Hambletonian Society)

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