A number of the sport's brightest stars were in action Friday evening at The Meadowlands, as the New Jersey oval hosted four Breeders Crown eliminations and a 'prep' race for the sports's fastest performer of all-time.
Here's a recap of Friday's events:
Breeders Crown Mare Pace - $25,000 eliminations
Lady Shadow turned in monster mile in the second elimination, winning by nearly eight lengths in an eye-catching clocking of 1:48.4.
On the heels of disappointing eighth-place finish in the Allerage Farms Mares Open in Lexington on October 9, the OSS graduate sat third early before marching to the top at the half in :54 for driver Yannick Gingras. From there she sliced out the three-quarter clocking in 1:21.1 before storming home in :27.3 to defeat Bedroomconfessions, Regil Elektra, Skippin By and Bettor Be Steppin.
Ron Adams trains the five-year-old daughter of Shadow Play-Lady Camella for partners David Kryway, Carl Atley, Edwin Gold and BFJ Stable. The 26-time winner has stashed away more than $1.5 million to date.
Controversy was front and centre in the first elimination as a result of the distaffers racing in tight quarters in deep stretch.
Solar Sister was the first horse to cross the finish line, but she had her number taken down when the Judges ruled she impeded Sassa Hanover in the closing strides. Solar Sister brushed to the lead shortly past the quarter pole and proceeded to slice out sensible panels of :57.1 and 1:24.3. Solar Sister sprinted home in :26.3 to win in 1:51.1, but she was later placed fourth for changing course in the lane and interfering with Sassa Hanover.
Frost Damage Blues came on strong for driver Brett Miller to finish second, but she was eventually awarded the win. Sassa Hanover was third placed fourth for a lapped-on break at the wire, but was later placed back to third when Solar Sister was set back for interfering with that foe. Divine Caroline was fourth, placed third and later placed second. Solar Sister was first placed fourth. The fifth-place finisher was Katie Said.
“I was hollering pull, her pull her,” said owner Bill Augustine. “Brett Miller was just sitting back and he was just waiting. The race was so slow, even the announcer that was calling the race was saying how slow it was for the quality calibre of the horses. She's a fantastic mare, they're all great horses but she's a fantastic filly, mare.”
Tom Fanning trains the four-year-old daughter of Western Ideal-Art Matters who won for the fifth time this season and for the 12th time in her career. The $12,500 payday lifted her lifetime earnings to $123,012.
$250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Pace
1. Divine Caroline
2. Lady Shadow
3. Katie Said
4. Frost Damage Blues
5. Solar Sister
6. Skippin By
7. Sassa Hanover
8. Regil Elektra
9. Bettor Be Steppin
10. Bedroomconfessions
Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Filly Trot - $20,000 eliminations
Thats All Moni won as she pleased in the second elimination for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Jimmy Takter.
Sent off at odds of 9-5, the daughter of Cantab Hall-Moms Millionaire shot to the top from Post 6 and had the field chasing her past the quarter pole in :27.4. Cameron Hill was parked and pressing the favourite, and she eventually worked her way to the front. As soon as she cleared to the top it was Treviso who shot out of third and rolled to the lead in the backstretch. Treviso hit the half in :55.3, and she wasn’t able to catch a breather thanks to the final turn pressure of Thats All Moni. Those two went at it to the three-quarter pole in 1:24.4 before Thats All Moni edged away from the competition. Thats All Moni went on to stop the teletimer in 1:54.1 en route to defeating a dead game Treviso. Also advancing to the final were Hillarmbro, Cameron Hill and Evelyn.
"She gave one of her gamer efforts and she raced really well," said driver Tim Tetrick. "She's still green but she trots really beautiful and she had the right trip."
Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld own the consistent campaigner who now boasts a 5-3-2 record from 10 trips postward. Her cash stash jumped to $250,459 with the victory.
Chezatter knocked off heavily-favoured Ariana G in the first elimination thanks in large part to the two-hole trip mapped out by driver David Miller.
The daughter of Explosive Matter-Chez Lucie, who started from Post 6, was hustled to the lead by Miller and together they sliced out the opening panel in :28. Ariana G marched out of the four-hole in the backstretch, and in a matter of strides she took over command of the tempo. She cruised by the mid-way point in :57.1 and the three-quarter pole in 1:26 before coming under attack in the lane. Chezatter rallied alongside and then past the 1-5 favourite en route to posting the mini upset at odds of 4-1 in a time of 1:53.4. Ariana G held on for second, with the final berths to the final going to Princess Aurora, Sunshine Delight and Broadway Idole.
"This filly has been good all year and the breed has changed a little bit the last few years," said trainer Trond Smedshammer. "They get to their speed so quickly and this filly is very talented so I didn't see no reason not to give her a chance. She just loves to chase down horses. She's good, she's not as experienced."
The four-time winner is owned by the Purple Haze Stables LLC of Fairport, NY. From 10 trips postward the talented lass has manufactured a 4-4-1 record while stockpiling earnings of $175,062.
$600,000 Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Filly Trot
1. Thats All Moni
2. Cameron Hill
3. Chezatter
4. Ariana G
5. Hillarmbro
6. Sunshine Delight
7. Evelyn
8. Treviso
9. Broadway Idole
10. Princess Aurora
$25,000 Open Pace
After earning the label of ‘world’s fastest standardbred’ in an historic performance at The Red Mile, Always B Miki overcame Post 10 and a parked out trip to win a prep for next weekend’s Breeders Crown Open Pace.
David Miller floated off the gate and dropped his charge into a brief six-hole before putting him into the flow as the field headed into the backstretch. The five-year-old son of Always A Virgin-Artstopper had fractions of :26.1, :53.4 and 1:21.1 to chase, and when Miller flipped the switch the Jimmy Takter trainee took off and drew clear to win in 1:48 over Dealt A Winner and Artistic Major.
The victory was the 10th of the season and the 28th to date for the career winner of $2,419,676. He’s owned by Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable and Christina Takter.
$421,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace
1. Split The House
2. Shamballa
3. Mach It So
4. Always B Miki
5. Dealt A Winner
6. All Bets Off
7. Wiggle It Jiggleit
8. Luck Be Withyou
9. Melmerby Beach
10. Americanprimetime
The post position draws were also completed for the Open Trot and the Mare Trot. They are as follows:
$500,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot
1. Il Sogno Dream
2. Resolve
3. JL Cruze
4. Windsun Revenge
5. Crescent Fashion
6. Centurion ATM
7. Flanagan Memory
8. Crazy Wow
9. Lookslikeachpndale
$250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot
1. Charmed Life
2. Hannelore Hanover
3. Classical Annie
4. Im So Fancy
5. Bee A Magician
6. Barn Doll
7. D One
8. Shake It Cerry
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Meadowlands.
I agree that it was a real
I agree that it was a real shame he was scratched and definitely hurt his chances. Seems the chances of racing the older horses are unlikely too, unless the Meadowlands offers him the invite as the 3 year old to the TVG final where, Meadowlands Pace winner Control The Moment had to be retired.
It would be nice to see as Betting Lines final race. It could also give him the chance at HOY again too.
It was a shame to see Betting
It was a shame to see Betting Line scratched out of his elimination race.
It takes away from the 3 yr old colt pace and the breeders crown night in general. Thru no fault of his own it may have eliminated him from being horse of the year. The only way he could win it now is to race the aged horses and beat them, which would be unlikely.
Sorry just saw post draw and
Sorry just saw post draw and see that the outside ones are horses that have not been consistent in the top group all year, so that is good as it is better than having them draw inside and the better ones outside and potentially mess up what appears to be a super field.
Best of luck to all the horses and owners in this race.
I really hope the WEG and Hambo Society re-consider going back to the 5 year old stallion rule after they see the loss of fans and quality of races next year because of it.
What a super horse. 10 hole,
What a super horse.
10 hole, parked most of the way and still never a moment to worry. He pulled away with ease down the stretch with every stride.
Considering that there were 5 others from the BC that he faces next week, not a bad start especially since it was just to keep him tight. The :48 trip was easy on the horse (can only say that as he has went in low 47's so many times) and he did what was expected in an overnight event.
Seems he is ready for the Breeders Crown. :)
Best of luck to his competition. They are really going to need it plus and/or a bad post draw may help some.