After five top-three finishes in eight Breeders Crown finals since 2007, Montreal horse owner Richard Berthiaume figured he was due for a victory.
It finally happened Saturday when Traceur Hanover hung tough for a half-length victory over favourite In The Arsenal in 1:51 in the $500,000 final for two-year-old pacing colts at The Meadowlands.
Berthiaume, 68, opted at the last minute to stay at his winter home in Florida rather than fly to New Jersey.
"I wasn't feeling 100 per cent and my trainers also tell me that I'm bad luck for my horses, since something always seems to happen when I'm there. So I stayed and watched it on TV," he said.
“I’m very happy. This is not something that happens often in a lifetime.”
He was represented in the winner’s circle by Claude Bardier, who along with brother Normand Jr., selects and develops yearlings for Berthiaume, who’s owned horses for 40 years.
“They have complete latitude to buy what they like,” Berthiaume said.
“And I always pay them into the Breeders Crown. It’s a gift I give myself,” said Berthiaume, whose horses have now collected a total of $681,250 in Crown events over the years.
Traceur Hanover, a son of Western Ideal, was a $100,000 yearling. His biggest win before Saturday was in a $91,425 division of the Nassagaweya at Mohawk in August. He was also fourth to Artspeak in the Metro final.
“He was sick early in the year but he’s so strong. We were a little unlucky with him earlier in the year but the last three or four starts were good, especially the elimination (a first-over victory). He doesn’t quit.”
Berthiaume said the victory was a credit to the Bardiers and also trainer Corey Johnson, now suspended by the Ontario Racing Commission pending a hearing over a positive test earlier this month.
“I’m behind him. I’m not going to drop him. These are things that happen,” Berthiaume said. “He works hard and has a lot of talent."
Berthiaume’s other Crown finalist, Voelz Hanover (ninth in the Mares pace after being involved in a punishing speed duel), will remain with Johnson and race in New York this winter.
“She’ll tell us when she’s through, but we don’t see that yet,” said Berthiaume of the nine-year-old mare who date has earned $1.7 million.
As for Traceur Hanover, he will return to Quebec to winter with the Bardier brothers, with the North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace as obvious targets for 2015.
(a Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)