Eldorado Scioto Downs will host eliminations for the $8 million USD Grade 1 Breeders Crown this weekend, and there will be no shortage of past champions and up-and-coming stars in action over the two days of competition.
Eight of last year’s Breeders Crown titlists will race on Saturday, Oct. 17 when Scioto Downs hosts eliminations for the three-year-old and Open events. One night earlier, Friday’s elims for two-year-olds will include undefeated male pacer Shalom Hanover, who is ranked sixth in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, as well as three Grade 1 stakes winners: filly trotter Athenas Girl, colt pacer Eastie Boy and colt trotter Wrong Sounds Right.
Eliminations will be required for 10 of the 12 Breeders Crown events, with the Two-Year-Old Filly Pace and the Mare Trot going directly to their finals.
All elimination purses are $25,000 USD. Elimination winners, as well as “Win and You’re In” two-year-old filly trotter Birr Castle (who advanced directly to her final thanks to winning the Grade 1 Jim Doherty Memorial), 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.
First-race post time is 6 p.m. (EDT) both Friday and Saturday at Scioto Downs.
Following is a brief overview of the 10 Breeders Crown events with eliminations this weekend.
Friday Night
Two eliminations will be contested in each of Friday’s three events for two-year-olds. For the freshman male trotters and male pacers, the top four finishers from each elim plus the fifth-place finisher with the highest seasonal earnings will advance to their respective finals. For the two-year-old filly trotters, the top four finishers in each elim will advance to join Birr Castle in the final. All two-year-old finals have a purse of $700,000 USD and will be held Oct. 23.
Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
Fourteen horses were entered, with Wrong Sounds Right drawing into the second of two eliminations. He is the season’s richest two-year-old male trotter, with $821,721 in earnings, and co-fastest freshman male trotter in history thanks to his 1:51.1 victory in the Mohawk Million on Sept. 26 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Jim Campbell trainee will leave from post one Friday with Todd McCarthy in the sulky. Graded-stakes winner Yankee Boss (PP4, Tim Tetrick, Åke Svanstedt) also is in the second elim.
Wrong Sounds Right heads to the Breeders Crown with five wins in his past six starts. His only setback was a second-place finish behind Lifetime Dreamer in the New Jersey Sire Stakes championship on Aug. 8 at The Meadowlands. Lifetime Dreamer’s winning time was 1:51.1, also equalling the world record for a two-year-old male trotter. He will start from post two in first elim with Yannick Gingras listed to drive for Svanstedt. Graded-stakes winners Special Day, Whateverittakes As, Presidente and Access Now also are in the field.
Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
Sixteen horses were entered, with Shalom Hanover (PP2, Louis-Philippe Roy, Dr. Ian Moore) drawing into the second elimination. The multiple graded-stakes winner is seven-for-seven this year. The elim also includes Starstruck Dreamer (PP4, Todd McCarthy, Noel Daley), who is this season’s fastest freshman male pacer – 1:48.4 – and lost to Shalom Hanover by a head in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship last month for his only loss in six races.
Metro Pace winner Eastie Boy (PP2, Ronnie Wrenn Jr., Ron Burke) is in the first elimination along with graded-stakes winners Mascarpone (PP6, Scott Zeron, Dr. Ian Moore) and Blazin Lou (PP8, Dexter Dunn, Tony Dinges).
Two-Year-Old Filly Trot
Seventeen horses were entered, with Peaceful Way winner Athenas Girl (PP3, Dexter Dunn, Marcus Melander) landing in the second elimination. The field also includes graded-stakes winner Climatic Hanover (PP8, Yannick Gingras, Lucas Wallin).
The first elimination includes this season’s fastest freshman trotting filly Kissme Ifyoucan (PP4, Austin Hanners, Todd Luther), who has a mark of 1:51.4. She was runner-up in the Ohio Sires Stakes championship for two-year-old filly trotters to Blue Ranger (PP2, Dunn, Melander). The field also includes graded-stakes winner Orinoco (PP3, Gingras, Åke Svanstedt), who was second to Birr Castle in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship and will now try to join her in the Breeders Crown final.
SATURDAY NIGHT
Two eliminations will be contested in the events for three-year-old male trotters, three-year-old male pacers, three-year-old filly pacers and the Open Pace. The top four finishers from each elim plus the fifth-place finisher with the highest seasonal earnings will advance to their respective finals. There will be three elims for three-year-old filly trotters, with the top three from each advancing to the final. The purses for all three-year-old finals will be $664,500 USD, and the Open Pace is $662,000 USD.
There will be single eliminations for both the Open Trot (the connections of Super Chapter and On To Norway accepted byes based on earnings) and Mare Pace (Tarapasta and Unreasonable accepted byes), with the top seven finishers advancing to their respective finals. The purse for the Open Trot final is $600,000 USD, and for the Mare Pace it is $443,000 USD. The Mare Trot (no elims) has a final purse of $400,000 USD.
Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
Thirteen horses were entered and divided into two eliminations. Beau Jangles, who won the Breeders Crown last year on his way to Horse of the Year honours in the U.S. and Canada, will start from post one in the first of two eliminations. James MacDonald will be in the sulky for trainer Dr. Ian Moore. The elim also features Redland Rocket Man, who will enter with a four-race winning streak that includes the Little Brown Jug. He will leave from post five with Jody Jamieson driving for John Pentland. Adios winner Al Papi will go from post seven for trainer Ron Burke, with Yannick Gingras listed to drive.
In the second elimination, Brandon Blvd, ranked second in the sport’s Top 10 poll, will start from post three with Dexter Dunn driving for Andrew Harris. He has won five graded stakes this year, including the Meadowlands Pace. North America Cup winner Odds On Mr Mamba will leave from post six for trainer Melanie Wrenn, and graded-stakes winner Melillo will start from post four with Ronnie Wrenn Jr. listed to drive for Ron Burke.
Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot
Seventeen horses were entered, with defending champion Spencer Hanover landing in the second elimination for driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Marcus Melander. He will leave from post six. That field also includes Kentucky Futurity and Canadian Trotting Classic winner Nix Nacken (PP8, Scott Zeron, Melander) and Hambletonian runner-up Big Ranger (PP2, Tim Tetrick, Anette Lorentzon).
The first elimination features Hambletonian winner Apex (PP3, Dunn, Melander), Yonkers Trot winner Inexpressable (PP4, Zeron, Lucas Wallin) and supplemental entry Strobe Lite (PP1, Louis-Philippe Roy, Ben Baillargeon).
Three-Year-Old Filly Pace
Fifteen horses were entered, with returning champion Loua Dipa, a two-time Grade 1 winner this season, drawing post eight for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and trainer Ron Burke in the first elimination. Graded-stakes winner Be Perfect Bg (PP7, Dexter Dunn, Anthony Beaton) also is in the elim.
The second elimination includes multiple graded-stakes winners Sangria Summer (PP4, James MacDonald, Luc Blais) and Topville Lucky (PP6, Todd McCarthy, Andrew Harris) as well as supplemental entry Miss Jum Jabber (PP5, Andrew McCarthy, Brett Pelling).
Three-Year-Old Filly Trot
Twenty horses were entered, creating the only three-elimination event. The third elimination will include defending champion Storybook Love (PP2, Todd Ratchford, Matt Bax), Kentucky Filly Futurity winner Shes Moni (PP7, Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter) and Elegantimage winner Nuance (PP1, James MacDonald, Marcus Melander).
Hambletonian Oaks winner Nezuko Kamado S (PP3, Scott Zeron, Marcus Melander) will go in the first elimination. Delmonica Hanover winner Victorianas Secret (PP3, Ronnie Wrenn Jr., Vernon Beachy) and supplemental entry Little Road (PP1, Brady Brown, Roger Hammer) are in the second.
Open Pace
Fourteen horses were entered, with last year’s winner Ervin Hanover getting post two for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Dave Menary in the second elimination. The field also includes Dan Patch Stakes winner Dandy Ideal (PP4, Jason Bartlett, Brett Pelling), Dayton Pacing Derby winner Harrisburg Heist (PP7, Chris Page, Ron Burke) and multiple graded-stakes winner Prince Hal Hanover (PP5, Todd McCarthy, Dr. Ian Moore).
The first elimination includes Canadian Pacing Derby winner Best Chip (PP6, Joe Bongiorno trains and drives), who was a supplemental entry, as well as multiple graded-stakes winner Ken Hanover (PP2, Tim Tetrick, Roland Mallar) and 2023 Breeders Crown Open Pace champ Bythemissal (PP4, Page, Burke).
Open Trot
Last year’s winner French Wine (PP3, Jason Bartlett, Nancy Takter) was among the 11 horses entered and will look to join bye recipients Super Chapter and On To Norway in the final. The elim also features 2025 Dan Patch Trotter of the Year Lexus Kody (PP6, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke) and O’Brien Award winner Emoticon Legacy (PP2, Bob McClure, Luc Blais).
Mare Pace
Always B Naughty (PP9, Austin Hanners, Todd Luther) won last year’s event and is joined in the nine-horse elimination by 2024 champion Twin B Joe Fresh (PP6, Dexter Dunn, Chris Ryder) and 2025 three-year-old filly champ (in a dead heat) The Last Martini (PP1, Doug McNair, Jared Bako). Also looking to join bye recipients Tarapasta and Unreasonable in the final is Milton Stakes winner Francent N (PP3, Louis-Philippe Roy, Pat Lachance), who was a supplemental entry.
The full fields for all 19 eliminations are below.
Friday, Oct. 16 Breeders Crown Eliminations
Race 3 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies (1st elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. City Of Light - Tim Tetrick - Nancy Takter
2. Blue Ranger - Dexter Dunn - Marcus Melander
3. Orinoco - Yannick Gingras - Ake Svanstedt
4. Kissme Ifyoucan - Austin Hanners - Todd Luther
5. Putitondadstab - Scott Zeron - Lucas Wallin
6. Rbssouthwindcentra - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Henry Graber Jr.
7. Nevis Peak - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
8. Fleur Delacour - Dexter Dunn - Marcus Melander
Race 5 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Two-Year-Old Pacing Colts (1st elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. L A Captain - Bob McClure - Luc Blais
2. Eastie Boy - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke
3. Ocean Party - Chris Page - Ron Burke
4. Billy Hill - Austin Hanners - Todd Luther
5. Night Agent - Andrew McCarthy - Joe Holloway
6. Mascarpone - Scott Zeron - Dr. Ian Moore
7. Mr Bear - Marcus Miller - Erv Miller
8. Blazin Lou - Dexter Dunn - Tony Dinges
Race 6 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts (1st elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Mats - Dexter Dunn - Ake Svanstedt
2. Lifetime Dreamer - Yannick Gingras - Ake Svanstedt
3. Special Day - Andrew McCarthy - Chris Beaver
4. Whateverittakes As - Tony Hall - Anette Lorentzon
5. Top Reacher - Scott Zeron - Marcus Melander
6. Presidente - Tim Tetrick - Nancy Takter
7. Access Now - Bob McClure - Luc Blais
Race 7 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies (2nd elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Shes A Home Run - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Vernon Beachy
2. Two Day Hangover - Dexter Dunn - Marcus Melander
3. Athenas Girl - Dexter Dunn - Marcus Melander
4. Heart Of Secret - Yannick Gingras - Petter Engblom
5. Dandelion Wine - Dexter Dunn - Ake Svanstedt
6. Gabriela Beatriz S - Yannick Gingras - Ake Svanstedt
7. Rio De Janeiro - Joe Bongiorno - Nancy Takter
8. Climatic Hanover - Yannick Gingras - Lucas Wallin
Race 10 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts (2nd elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Wrong Sounds Right - Todd McCarthy - Jim Campbell
2. Captain Kenny J - Jason Bartlett - Linda Toscano
3. Gios Hope - Dexter Dunn - Marcus Melander
4. Yankee Bos - Tim Tetrick - Ake Svanstedt
5. Carbon Fiber - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
6. Opposition - Andrew McCarthy - Marcus Melander
7. Jimdougie Armitage - Ake Svanstedt - Ake Svanstedt
Race 11 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Two-Year-Old Pacing Colts (2nd elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Stonebridge Blitz - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
2. Shalom Hanover - Louis-Philippe Roy - Dr. Ian Moore
3. Night Surfer - Dexter Dunn - Virgil Morgan Jr.
4. Starstruck Dreamer - Todd McCarthy - Noel Daley
5. Hamilton Hanover - Bob McClure - Luc Blais
6. Totally Tyler - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
7. Lounado - Austin Hanners - Todd Luther
8. Seine - Joe Bongiorno - Joe Bongiorno
Saturday, Oct. 17 Breeders Crown eliminations
Race 1 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies (1st elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Southwind Chaska - Tim Tetrick - Jim Oscarsson
2. Madam Cheval - Tim Tetrick - Nancy Takter
3. Nezuko Kamado S - Scott Zeron - Marcus Melander
4. Jailbird Jog - Anthony MacDonald - Jason Mcginnis
5. Custom - Jason Bartlett - Petter Engblom
6. Isabella Bi - Ake Svanstedt - Ake Svanstedt
Race 2 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Older Pacing Horses (1st elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Admiral Hill - Joe Bongiorno - Petter Engblom
2. Ken Hanover - Tim Tetrick - Roland Mallar
3. Swingtown - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke
4. Bythemissal - Chris Page - Ron Burke
5. Women Layer - Yannick Gingras - Virgil Morgan Jr.
6. Best Chip - Joe Bongiorno - Joe Bongiorno
7. Surreal Ideal - Tim Tetrick - Vernon Beachy
Race 3 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies (1st elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. A Clean Deal - Doug McNair - Rob Fellows
2. Im A Lou Lou - Tim Tetrick - Ron Burke
3. Whoomp - John De Long - Roger Welch
4. Prtynproud Hanover - Yannick Gingras - Brian Brown
5. Hope Hill - Dexter Dunn - Petter Engblom
6. Darlins Angel - Lauren Tritton - Juan Cano
7. Be Perfect BG - Dexter Dunn - Anthony Beaton
8. Loua Dipa - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke
Race 4 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts (1st elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Strobe Lite - Louis-Philippe Roy - Ben Baillargeon
2. Ardonne - Joe Bongiorno - Joe Bongiorno
3. Apex - Dexter Dunn - Marcus Melander
4. Inexpressable - Scott Zeron - Lucas Wallin
5. Diabolic Hill - Todd McCarthy - Annie Stoebe
6. American Power - James MacDonald - Marcus Melander
7. Silverstein - David Miller - Matthew Burkholder
8. Jim Beam - Tim Tetrick - Scott Di Domenico
9. AI - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke
Race 5 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Older Trotting Horses (single elim, top seven advance)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Go Dog Go - Scott Zeron - Carter Pinske
2. Emoticon Legacy - Bob McClure - Luc Blais
3. French Wine - Jason Bartlett - Nancy Takter
4. Private Access - Tim Tetrick - Michael Hitchcock
5. Up Your Deo - Ake Svanstedt - Ake Svanstedt
6. Lexus Kody - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke
7. Gimpanzee Dancer - David Miller - Christopher Beaver
8. Antognoni S - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
9. Mr Mouton - TBD - Ake Svanstedt
Race 6 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies (2nd elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Little Road - Brady Brown - Roger Hammer
2. Sharp Seven - Jody Jamieson - George Ducharme
3. Victorianas Secret - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Vernon Beachy
4. Emmas Mystery CCL - Andrew McCarthy - Noel Daley
5. Setyoursightshigh - Dexter Dunn - Marcus Melander
6. R Ro - Andy Miller - John Butenschoen
7. Kngtstlkrs Games - Louis-Philippe Roy - Peter Shody
Race 7 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts (2nd elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Zephyr Kemp - Todd McCarthy - Marcus Melander
2. Big Ranger - Tim Tetrick - Anette Lorentzon
3. Read The Room - Ake Svanstedt - Ake Svanstedt
4. Captain Jordan - Tim Tetrick - Scott Di Domenico
5. Captain Naughty - Yannick Gingras - Petter Engblom
6. Spencer Hanover - Jason Bartlett - Marcus Melander
7. Gustav - David Miller - Mark Silva
8. Nix Nacken - Scott Zeron- Marcus Melander
Race 8 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts (1st elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Beau Jangles - James MacDonald - Dr. Ian Moore
2. Gentlemans Club - Andrew McCarthy - Aaron Lambert
3. Funky Buddha - Tim Tetrick- Tony Dinges
4. Sweet Lovin Lou - Scott Zeron - Dan Lagace
5. Redland Rocket Man - Jody Jamieson - John Pentland
6. Ubrute - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
7. Al Papi - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
Race 9 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Older Pacing Mares (single elim, top seven advance)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. The Last Martini - Doug McNair - Jared Bako
2. Champagne Room - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke
3. Francent N - Louis-Philippe Roy - Pat Lachance
4. Talk Curdy To Me - Tim Tetrick - David Menary
5. Rocket Deo - Tim Tetrick - Brett Pelling
6. Twin B Joe Fresh - Dexter Dunn - Chris Ryder
7. Skywalker Sea - Jody Jamieson - Todd Luther
8. Rodeo Drive Deo - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
9. Always B Naughty - Austin Hanners - Todd Luther
Race 10 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts (2nd elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Fragment - Jason Bartlett - Petter Engblom
2. Be Sting - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke
3. Brandon Blvd - Dexter Dunn - Andrew Harris
4. Melillo - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke
5. Cooperstown Boy - Doug McNair - Jared Bako
6. Odds On Mr Mamba — TBD - Melanie Wrenn
Race 11 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Older Pacing Horses (2nd elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Twisted Destiny - Luke Hanners - Virgil Morgan Jr.
2. Ervin Hanover - Dexter Dunn - Dave Menary
3. Calicojack Hanover - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
4. Dandy Ideal - Jason Bartlett - Brett Pelling
5. Prince Hal Hanover - Todd McCarthy - Dr. Ian Moore
6. Coaches Corner - Jason Bartlett - Petter Engblom
7. Harrisburg Heist - Chris Page - Ron Burke
Race 12 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies (3rd elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Nuance - James MacDonald - Marcus Melander
2. Storybook Love - Todd Ratchford - Matt Bax
3. Carve - Andrew McCarthy - Noel Daley
4. Shimmering Hanover - Bob McClure - Luc Blais
5. Busy Miss Lissy S - Dexter Dunn - Ake Svanstedt
6. Ginger Tree Lex - Andrew McCarthy - Sam Beegle
7. Shes Moni - Yannick Gingras - Nancy Takter
Race 13 - $25,000 USD Breeders Crown Elimination for Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies (2nd elim)
Post - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1. Shes A Bulldog - Yannick Gingras - Ron Burke
2. Perfect Thought - Anthony MacDonald - Jason McGinnis
3. Say Goodnight - Tyler Buter - Nicholas Devita
4. Sangria Summer - James MacDonald - Luc Blais
5. Miss Jum Jabber - Andrew McCarthy - Brett Pelling
6. Topville Lucky - Todd McCarthy - Andrew Harris
7. Seaside Shuffle - Chris Page - Ron Burke
(Hambletonian Society & Standardbred Canada)