Artistic Fella will attempt to become only the third back-to-back Breeders Crown Pace winner while My Little Dragon looks to join Canadian legend Eternal Camnation as the only female pacer with three Crown trophies when Mohawk Racetrack hosts nearly $4 million in stakes Saturday.
In addition to four Breeders Crown events for older horses, two-year-old pacers will be on display in the $1 million Metro Pace for the colts and $672,000 Shes A Great Lady Stake for fillies.
The Breeders Crown Finals, along with the Metro Pace and the Shes A Great Lady Stake will be broadcast across Canada on the Score Television Network Saturday in a special 2-1/2 hour program that airs from 8:30 - 11:00 p.m.
Artistic Fella won last year's Breeders Crown by a nose over Mister Big, who is the 4-5 favourite in this season's $532,150 Breeders Crown Pace. Mister Big, who is coming off a victory in the Canadian Pacing Derby and has won six of eight starts this year. He has finished second in two previous Crown appearances.
Boulder Creek (2005 and 2004) and Red Bow Tie (1999 and 1998) are the only consecutive Breeders Crown Pace winners.
My Little Dragon won Breeders Crown titles at ages two and three. She is the 5-2 morning line favourite in the $352,815 Breeders Crown Mare Pace. Darlins Delight and supplemental entry Southwind Madonna, who won last week's elimination race, are among the mares standing in My Little Dragon's path.
Corleone Kosmos, who nearly won last year's Breeders Crown Trot before going off stride, is the 2-1 favourite in Saturday's $638,580 event. Arch Madness, who won last season's Breeders Crown for three-year-olds, and Enough Talk, who equaled the Canadian record of 1:51.1 in the Breeders Crown Trot elimination last week, are among the challengers, along with 2005 Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo.
Falls For You is the 5-2 morning line favourite in the $352,815 Breeders Crown Mare Trot. The field includes Susies Magic, who won the 2006 three-year-old filly race, and elimination winner Brigham Dream, who was the Ontario Sire Stakes Super Final champ last season.
Annieswesterncard, the fastest two-year-old pacer so far this year, is the favourite in the Metro Pace while Backstreet Sweetie, a winner of three of four starts this season, gets the nod in the Shes A Great Lady.
(Breeders Crown)