Even to those who knew nothing about horses or harness racing, Danish-bred trotter Ecurie D always looked special.
“I’ve got a lot of friends that don’t watch horse racing, never seen horses, and they would look at him the moment he came out [to race] and would say this is a winner,” said Marko Kreivi, who is among Ecurie D’s owners. “I think he is one of the most beautiful horses there is. He’s a marvelous horse.”
This past weekend at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Ecurie D became the first horse since Fools Goal in 2002-2003 to win the Breeders Crown Open Trot in consecutive years. The six-year-old stallion won by three lengths in a stakes record-equalling 1:51 with Dexter Dunn driving for trainer Ake Svanstedt.
It was Ecurie D’s second win in six races this year and first since his season opening triumph in the Cutler Memorial in a world record 1:49.1. Last year, Ecurie D’s first in North America, he went two-for-two with victories in the Allerage Open and Breeders Crown.
“We got off to a really good start with two wins last year and a world record in the first race this year,” said Kreivi. “But you know horse racing, sometimes things don’t go your way. This [Breeders Crown] was really big. It is never simple, but Dexter does a marvelous job and makes it look simple. I’m so happy.”
Ecurie D, a son of Infinitif-To Soon, was a Group 1 winner overseas, where he captured 15 of 21 races. Overall, he has won 19 of 29 starts and earned $1.49 million.
His victory in this year’s Breeders Crown followed a ninth-place finish in the MGM Yonkers International Trot, raced at 1-1/4 miles, that saw him lead through fast early fractions before giving way after three-quarters.
“I changed to a blind bridle on him and that was wrong,” said Svanstedt. “He was nice when I scored him down, but when he got behind the gate, he got too fired up.”
With a return to his regular bridle, Ecurie D was a winner again.
“That’s the Ecurie D I know,” said Kreivi. “He’s had his ups and downs this year, but I think everybody knows that he is a good horse and here he got to show it.”
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Bella Bellini became the first female trotter in eight years to win a Breeders Crown as a three-year-old and transition to the older ranks and win the Mare Trot at age four. Winning trainer Nifty Norman and owner Dave McDuffee were well acquainted with the previous horse to accomplish the feat — Bee A Magician.
“That’s amazing,” said Norman. “That’s nice company to be in. It’s kind of a thrill to have the last two. That’s very cool.”
Norman trained Bee A Magician, the 2013 Horse of the Year who retired with $4.1 million in career earnings, and McDuffee was among her owners.
Bella Bellini, a Dan Patch Award winner last year, surpassed $2 million in lifetime earnings. This season, she has hit the board in 16 of 17 races, winning eight. She has been worse than third only twice in her past 36 starts.
“I’ve been impressed with her staying so good for so long as a four-year-old,” said Norman. “The four-year-old year is a tough year for a lot of them. For most of them, it’s a down year and she’s been better than ever.”
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Grace Hill spoiled Test Of Faith’s bid to become the first female pacer to win a Breeders Crown as a three-year-old and return to capture the Mare Pace at age four. Grace Hill and driver Doug McNair held off fast-closing Test Of Faith by a head in a stakes record-equalling 1:48.4.
“She was great,” said trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.. “She was game and Doug drove great. He put her into play early, retook and she fought to the wire. They tried to collar her and she just kept digging.
“I was [confident]. She was loaded in the elimination and I think that trip helped set her up for [the final], and it showed late. She’s so versatile. [In her elimination], she won from sitting dead last. This time, she won on the front. She is a big, strong mare and a model of consistency.”
The victory put Grace Hill over the million-dollar mark for owner Tom Hill. It also gave Morgan his second Breeders Crown. His first came with Mister Big in 2008.
“It’s awesome,” said Morgan, who ranks No. 2 in history with 7,160 career training wins. “That’s what you work for, that’s what you strive for. This is where you want to be. I couldn’t be happier.”
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Dexter Dunn capped a four-win night sitting behind Bulldog Hanover in his 1:46.4 Canadian record-equalling performance in the Open Pace. He became the fifth driver in Breeders Crown history to win four trophies in a year twice, joining John Campbell, Ron Pierce, Brian Sears and Yannick Gingras. Interestingly, Pierce and Sears did it in the same years, 2004 and 2005. No driver has ever won four Crowns three times.
“I’ve been lucky to be driving some good horses,” said Dunn. “It’s a great night, a great weekend to be part of. I’m just lucky to be here.”
Bulldog Hanover extended his record for sub-1:47 victories with his Breeders Crown triumph, accomplishing the feat for the sixth time as he gave trainer/co-owner Jack Darling his first Crown. The only other horse with more than one sub-1:47 win is Allywag Hanover with two.
Also noteworthy is Bulldog Hanover paced those sub-1:47 miles in a span of 10 starts over four months. Entering this year, there had been only 11 sub-1:47 race miles in history.
“It’s been unbelievable, especially all the people,” Bulldog Hanover’s caretaker Johnny Mallia said about the horse’s season. “It’s crazy. It’s a lot of pressure, but a lot of fun at the same time.”
Added co-owner Brad Grant, “It’s been great. Jack has looked after him, and Johnny’s looked after him and Dex has done a wonderful job with him. I can’t say enough about the team.”
(With files from USTA; Top photos by New Image Media, clockwise from top left: Bulldog Hanover, Ecurie D DK, Bella Bellini and Grace Hill)