Jim Morrill Jr., no stranger to Pocono Downs racing fans, will be displaying his driving talents in seven Breeders Crown races Saturday
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“I’m excited about it,” he said. “It’s great that the Hambletonian Society chose our track to host this big event. I’m certainly looking forward to my seven Breeders Crown drives.
“Most people know me for driving here and on the New York Sire Stakes circuit. I really didn’t know what to expect as to getting named to drive these top horses. I feel I have some live ones.”
One of those ‘live’ ones is See You At Peelers in the $500,000 Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Filly Pace. She’ll be leaving from Post 1.
See You At Peelers, trained by Jimmy Takter, comes into the race undefeated, as she has won 12 straight races. She was victorious in her Crown elim last week in a time of 1:51.3.
Leaving alongside her will be Idyllic, another undefeated distaff pacer who will bring a seven-race win streak of her own into the race.
“I feel See You At Peelers is my best shot at getting a Crown,” Morrill, Jr. said. “Both my horse and Idyllic are nice fillies. I’m hoping my filly shows up with her 'A' game.”
Will Morrill, Jr. have the pre-race butterflies before the Breeders Crown races?
“Of course I will,” he responded. “Everyone does but once you’re on the track they go away and it’s all business. These are the best horses in the world and I’ll be giving it my best shot.
“You’re hoping the horse you’re driving is 100 per cent physically and you don’t make any crucial mistakes on the track during the race. Next you have to have some luck.
“It’s going to be real exciting with thousands of people watching.”
Morrill, Jr. knows Pocono's five-eighths of a mile racetrack quite well since he’s been a regular at the track for the past several years and one of its top drivers.
Bruce Saunders, trainer of top three-year-old pacer Rock N Roll Heaven, recently paid Morrill Jr. one of the highest compliments. He said Morrill, Jr. is the greatest ground-saving drivers in the sport.
Last year at the Meadowlands, Morrill, Jr. drove Won The West to a victory in the Breeders Crown for older open pacers with a World Record time of 1:47. That’s the fastest time ever recorded by any pacer in Crown history.
(Pocono)