Defending Breeders Crown Open Pace champion Bettor Sweet prepped for this year's championship event with a 1:49.2 winning effort in Woodbine Racetrack's top pacing class on Saturday evening.
With just 10 horses entered in the 2012 Breeders Crown Open Pace, eliminations were not necessary. So Bettor Sweet and many of his rivals tuned up in Woodbine's $50,000 Open Pace instead.
Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras) cleared to command ahead of Golden Receiver (Tim Tetrick) following a :26.1 first quarter speed show. The sport's richest pacer then led the way to the half in :54.3 and three-quarters in 1:22.3 before being confronted by a first over Bettor Sweet.
Under the guidance of David Miller, Bettor Sweet swept up from fourth and battled with 8-5 favourite Foiled Again down the lane, eventually pulling ahead to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:49.2. Golden Receiver finished one and three-quarter lengths behind in third.
Bettor Sweet, fresh off a victory in the Allerage Farms Open in his last start on Oct. 7 in Lexington, paid $10.40 to win as the 4-1 third choice.
Thomas Cancelliere trains the seven-year-old Bettors Delight-Sweet Future gelding for his brother John Cancelliere. The $2.5 million earner notched his second win of the season and now sports a 2012 bankroll totalling $311,330.
Foreclosure N also made a stop by the winner's circle before his Breeders Crown test after putting forth as 1:48.4 winning effort in a $30,000 conditioned event. Yannick Gingras catch-drove the four-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover and Pleasing Package A to the three and a half length win for trainer Ron Burke's Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, and JJK Stables LLC. He paid $5.70 to win as the slight second choice.
The field for the $492,700 Breeders Crown Open Pace is listed below in post position order. Driver changes have not yet been finalized.
1. Put On A Show - Jody Jamieson
2. Aracache Hanover - Doug McNair
3. Up The Credit - TBA
4. Hypnotic Blue Chip - TBA
5. Golden Receiver - Tim Tetrick
6. We Will See - Ron Pierce
7. Bettor Sweet - David Miller
8. Foiled Again - Yannick Gingras
9. Razzle Dazzle - Brian Sears
10. Foreclosure N - Jim Morrill Jr.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.