With divisional honours up for grabs in the older trotting division, 12 of North America's veterans entered the Breeders Crown final to be raced August 30 at Mohawk Racetrack.
A single elimination of ten horses will compete for the remaining eight spots on the starting gate, as two entrants opted to advance directly the final.
When less than 14 but more than 11 horses are entered, byes are offered to the top seasonal money-winners, but the connections of Corleone Kosmos, the richest in the field at $379,293 this year, wanted to race this week.
Trainer Trond Smedshammer took the bye for his pupil Arch Madness and the next in line to actually accept a bye was the Rene Laarman-trained Knight of Intrigue.
The ten elimination contestants include the aforementioned Corleone Kosmos, who was denied a Crown at Mohawk last year when he slipped into a gallop just at the wire, leaving runner-up Equinox Bi to be placed first as the Crown winner.
Also entered was the popular 2005 Hambletonian winner Vivid Photo, who sewed up divisional honours south of the border last year, despite a third-place finish in this Crown event.
The Breeders Crown Trot is one of four Breeders Crown events to be raced on a stakes-laden card that includes the Metro Pace and Shes A Great Lady finals.
Elimination winners may pick their post positions. The draw for post positions for Breeders Crown finals will take place live on TV after the eliminations. Arch Madness (bye) and Knight of Intrigue (bye) will participate in the open draw. The elimination field is listed below:
$42,572 Breeders Crown Trot elim
1. Corleone Kosmos
2. Green Day
3. Digital Image
4. Armbro Chronicle
5. Man About Town
6. Enough Talk
7. Up Front Ben
8. Vivid Photo
9. Armbro Continental
10. Lanson
(Breeders Crown)