Nine eligible mares and one supplement will comprise the field for the $331,500 (U.S.) Breeders Crown Mare Pace, which will take place Saturday, August 22 at the Meadowlands
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Darlins Delight, the richest pacing mare racing with over $2.9 million in earnings, will seek her first 'Crown' victory after finishing second three out of four times in the past five years. Her nemesis, three-time Crown winner My Little Dragon, was retired from racing earlier this year.
Competition for Darlins Delight comes in the form of defending divisional champ and Golden Girls winner Southwind Tempo and 2008 sophomore Crown champ A And Gs Confusion. Dreamfair Eternal, a recent winner of the Roses Are Red Stakes, was supplemented for a tag of $37,500.
Six of the 10 mares entered opted for a prep race on Saturday, August 15. The field from the rail out for the prep (which will be contested as Race 5) is Tidewater Dragonfly, Tug River Princess, Go On BB, Dreamfair Eternal, Darlins Delight and A And Gs Confusion.
Btwnyurheartnmine, who sizzled in the first race on Hambletonian Day with a 1:48.3 clocking, opted for the week off, as did Southwind Tempo and Cuz She Can, while Hana Hanover is entered in a filly and mares open at Mohawk Racetrack on Friday, August 14.
Since no eliminations were necessary, an open draw will be televised live on Big M TV during the Saturday, August 15 card. The track is dark Friday, August 14.
The Breeders Crown Mare Pace is one of four open events worth a combined $1.6 million (U.S.), along with $400,000 Woodrow Wilson and $350,000 Sweetheart scheduled for closing night at the Meadowlands, Saturday, August 22.
$331,500 (U.S.) Breeders Crown Mare Pace Field In Alpha Order:
Horse - Trainer - Declared Driver
A And Gs Confusion - Coleman, Casie - Miller, David
Btwnyurheartnmine - Croghan, Ross - Sears, Brian
Cuz She Can - Harder, Mark - Dube, Daniel
Darlins Delight - Stafford, Jeff - Gingras, Yannick
Dreamfair Eternal - Fletcher, Patrick - Kerwood, Tony
Go On Bb - Burke, Ron, Morrill, Jim Jr.
Hana Hanover - Steacy, Mark - Brennan, George
Southwind Tempo - Croghan, Ross - Tetrick, Tim
Tidewaterdragonfly - O'Donnell, Kelly - Pierce, Ron
Tug River Princess - Croghan, Ross - Campbell, John
(With files from the Hambletonian Society)