Paul Kelley trainee Obrigado looks to defend his title in Friday (August 26) evening's $193,000 Crawford Farms Open Trot at Vernon Downs, but he'll once again have to contend with the likes of Resolve, Homicide Hunter, and Flanagan Memory after squaring off against them throughout the season.
Obrigado (7-2 morning line second choice, post seven) has won four of 11 races this year, including the Maxie Lee Memorial at Harrah's Philadelphia, the Charlie Hill Memorial at Scioto Downs, and the Cleveland Classic at Northfield Park. While doing his best work on small tracks this season, his most impressive performance may well have come over two turns in the Cashman Memorial at Rhe Meadowlands earlier in the month, where he escaped traffic on the far turn and stormed home in :26.4 in pursuit of Resolve. Regular driver Mark MacDonald will once again pilot the sux-year-old Boy Band gelding for the partnership of the Paul Kelley Racing Stable, the SRF Stable, Linwood Higgins, and Stable 45.
Elitloppet runner-up and Cashman winner Resolve (5-2, post six) looks to lead the charge to upend the defending champion in the night's 10th event, having also won the Arthur Cutler Memorial this season. Åke Svanstedt trains and drives the five-year-old Muscle Hill entire. Flanagan Memory (9-2, post eight) also enters from the Cashman, finishing a gathered-in third after seizing command through a bold middle move. The six-year-old Kadabra entire earned all four of his seasonal wins in Preferred company at Mohawk Racetrack. Brian Sears will take over the lines for trainer Rene Dion.
While Obrigado, Resolve, and Flanagan Memory have faced each other on multiple occasions this year, a new shooter is quickly gathering momentum. Homicide Hunter (6-1, post two) -- representing Crawford Farms Racing -- enters off a decisive 1:50.1 victory in last week's Sebastian K Invitational at Pocono, brushing to the fore with a circuit to go and edging away to a four-length score. David Miller handles the driving duties of the four-year-old Mr Cantab gelding for trainer Chris Oakes.
In the $170,000 Muscle Hill for distaff trotters (race nine), 21-time winner Hannelore Hanover (5-2, post seven) looks to maintain her dominance after winning 12 of her 13 assignments this year. The four-year-old daughter of Swan For All proved a decisive and handy winner in her Miss Versatility preliminary at Tioga Downs on August 14, completing the mile in 1:52.4 over off going yet with much in reserve. Yannick Gingras will remain aboard the Ron Burke trainee, who also captured the Miami Valley Distaff and the Armbro Flight, as well as the Fresh Yankee and Hambletonian Maturity over the 1-1/8-mile distance.
Among those aiming to hand Hannelore Hanover her second defeat of the year are Jewels In Hock (7-2, post two, John Campbell), 2015 Empire Breeders Classic winner Barn Doll (9-2, post four, Jeff Gregory), and double millionaire Shake It Cerry (6-1, post five, David Miller).
A pair of New York Sire Stakes events for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings headline the undercard, with the undefeated Serious Major and Funknwaffles due to square off in the $55,500 eighth event.
Horsemen are reminded that entrants for the Crawford Farms and Muscle Hill events will race out of the detention barn, and they are due to arrive no later than 8 p.m. Thursday (August 25). Horsemen in need of hotel rooms for the weekend are advised to contact the race office at 315-829-6825.
Following are the fields for the Crawford and Muscle Hill.
$193,000 Crawford Farms Open Trot
Race 10 – Post time 9:45 p.m. (EDT)
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Line
1. Crescent Fashion – Jim Morrill Jr. – Ake Svanstedt – 10/1
2. Homicide Hunter – David Miller – Chris Oakes – 6/1
3. JL Cruze – John Campbell – Eric Ell – 8/1
4. Canepa Hanover – Yannick Gingras – Jimmy Takter – 10/1
5. Centurion ATM – Steve Smith – Ake Svanstedt – 8/1
6. Resolve – Ake Svanstedt – Ake Svanstedt – 5/2
7. Obrigado – Mark MacDonald – Paul Kelley – 7/2
8. Flanagan Memory – Brian Sears – Rene Dion – 9/2
9. Musical Rhythm – Scott Zeron – Benoit Baillargeon – 5/1
$170,000 Muscle Hill Mares Trot
Race 9 – Post time 9:25 p.m. (EDT)
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Line
1. Harley Momma – Ake Svanstedt – Ake Svanstedt – 8/1
2. Jewels In Hock – John Campbell – Linda Toscano – 7/2
3. Rules Of The Road – Jim Morrill Jr. – Janice Connor – 5/1
4. Barn Doll – Jeff Gregory – Jeff Gregory – 9/2
5. Shake It Cerry – David Miller – Jimmy Takter – 6/1
6. Kelseys Keepsake – Scott Zeron – Ron Burke – 8/1
7. Hannelore Hanover – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke – 5/2
8. Im So Fancy – Mark MacDonald – Tony Alagna – 10/1
(With files from Tioga Downs)