Harnesslink will be updating the results from Pocono Downs Saturday night with all of the results from the 14 elimination divisions.
WILKES-BARRE, PA – Guardian Angel AS and Top Flight Angel recorded commanding wins in their respective $25,000 Breeders Crown or Open Trot elims at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Oct. 20.
In the first elim, Matt Kakaley steered Guardian Angel AS to victory after taking the lead after the :28.1 first quarter set by Pinkman. Guardian Angel AS easily came from third to take control of the race, going on to cut the half in :57 and three-quarters in 1:24.3.
Pinkman drafted behind Guardian Angel AS as Cruzado Dela Noche attempted a second-tier challenge, which was only enough to finish third, as Pinkman held for second. Yes Mickey broke at the top of the stretch, causing no interference with Marion Marauder, who floated behind Cruzado Dela Noche and finished fourth.
The winning time was 1:52.3 and the winner paid $11.60.
Lindy The Great finished fifth but would not make the final since every horse in the second elim already earned more than him.
Anette Lorentzon trains Guardian Angel AS (Archangel—Provide AS) for owners ACL Stuteri AB, also the breeder, and Kjell Johansson.
Andy Miller guided the Julie Miller-trained Top Flight Angel to a similarly dominating win in the second $25,000 Open Trot elim. Top Flight Angel went directly for the lead leaving the gate, followed by Dunbar Hall, Warrawee Roo and Homicide Hunter.
Top Flight Angel recorded a :27.3 first quarter and continued afloat as the leader in a :57.1 half. Warrawee Roo came out of the pocket to challenge the leader heading for three-quarters but never got close enough to truly threaten as three-quarters went in 1:25.
The top three remained in their stalking positions as Top Flight Angel floated home to win in 1:52.3. Will Take Charge finished fourth and Homicide Hunter took fifth to be the last eligible entry for the final.
Legendary Standardbred Farm owns Top Flight Angel (Archangel—Top Photo), who was bred by Alan C. Hainsworth.
The winner paid $20.60.
Post positions for the Open Pace and Open Trot will be drawn on Tuessday, Oct. 23 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
With Lather Up breaking stride around the first turn and placed towards the back of the pack, Shnitzledosomethin swept past pacesetter Hayden Hanover heading to three-quarters and maintained control from Grand Teton closing and a recovering Lather Up to take the final of three $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday, Oct. 20.
Stay Hungry took the lead with Hayden Hanover between horses and Lather Up carried three wide attempting to clear the lead around the turn. Lather Up broke stride heading to a :26.3 opening quarter and got back on gait into the stretch, positioned fifth while Hayden Hanover brushed to the lead.
Shnitzledosomethin launched his first-over move heading to a :55.2 half. As Hayden Hanover faltered towards the inside, the Dylan Davis-trained colt by Fred And Ginger darted to the lead with Done Well chasing first over and Lather Up second over to a 1:22.3 third-quarter. Shnitzledosomethin, slowing into the stretch, held a wide enough margin to best Grand Teton, sweeping from last to finish second, and Lather Up, from second over, in third.
Returning $81.00 to win, Shnitzledosomethin won his third race in 15 starts this season and his ninth in 28 overall, earning $536,087. The Aaron Dale Stutzman-bred colt from the Sand Shooter mare Summer N Sand races for owners Bfj Stable, Thomas Lazzaro, Edwin Gold and Abraham Basen and had David Miller in the bike.
Youaremycandygirl ($4.20), a noted frontstepper, moved to the lead in front of the stands and went on to a hard-fought head victory over Alexa’s Power in the sole $25,000 three-year-old pacing filly Breeders Crown elimination Saturday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.
The sophomore fillies saw eleven horses declare for the Breeders Crown, with Kissin In The Sand and Baron Remy taking byes into the Championship (earnings-based) and the other nine being reduced by two in the elim.
Alexa’s Power fired to the top early ahead of Double A Mint; Youaremycandygirl and driver Yannick Gingras were on the move from third approaching the 27.4 quarter on the sloppy track, grabbed the lead, and cut fractions of 56.3 and 1:24.2 without great pressure. Through the stretch Alexa’s Power made a good rally on the inside, but just missed to Youaremycandygirl at the end of the 1:52 mile.
Behind the top two, the qualifiers for the Crown final, in finish order, were Double A Mint, Solitary, Dance Blue, Percy Blue Chip, and Strong Opinion.
The winner was the third of the night for trainer Ron Burke, and his fourth of the Crown weekend. Defending Crown champion Youaremycandygirl, bred by Birnam Wood Farms, now has career earnings of $1,304,473 for owner W.J. Donovan.
Here is the draw for the $530,000 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Pacing Colt Championship, to be held next Saturday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono (* – elimination winner), followed by trainer and the driver in the elimination (a choice will have to be made):
1 – *Dorsoduro Hanover – Ron Burke – Matt Kakaley
2 — *This Is The Plan – Ron Burke – Yannick Gingras
3 – Springsteen – Rene Allard – Simon Allard
4 – Thinkbig Dreambig – Jimmy Takter – Yannick Gingras
5 — *Shnitzledosomethin – Dylan Davis – David Miller
6 – American History – Tony Alagna – Andrew McCarthy
7 – Grand Teton – Jimmy Takter – Andrew McCarthy
8 – Lather Up – Clyde Francis – Montrell Teague
9 – I’m A Big Deal – Chris Ryder – Brett Miller
Here is the draw for the $500,000 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly Championship, to be held next Saturday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono (* – elimination winner), followed by trainer and the driver in the elimination (a choice will have to be made):
1 – Strong Opinion – Ron Burke – Joe Bongiorno
2 – Alexa’s Power – Jim Campbell – Tim Tetrick
3 – Double A Mint – Ron Burke – David Miller
4 – Percy Bluechip – Ron Burke – Matt Kakaley
5 — *Youaremycandygirl – Ron Burke – Yannick Gingras
6 – Dance Blue – Nancy Johansson – Andrew McCarthy
7 – Baron Remy – Ron Burke – Chris Page
8 – Solitary – Nick Surick – Brett Miller
9 – Kissin In The Sand – Nancy Johansson – Scott Zeron
The Somebeachsomewhere gelding, This Is The Plan, powered to the front early and wired his competition with a 1:51 performance to take the second of three $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday, Oct. 20.
The Ron Burke trainee slid to the top from post seven with I’m A Big Deal securing the pocket to a :26.4 quarter. Courtly Choice, sent the 4-5 favorite and positioned fourth to the quarter, angled first over and ranged into second heading to a :55.4 half.
Courtly Choice continued to pressure This Is The Plan heading past three-quarters in 1:23.1 before giving way into the final turn. This Is The Plan spun into the stretch and sprinted to the wire under pursuit from I’m A Big Deal chasing to finish second ahead of American History, circling past Courtly Choice from second over, closed for third.
Winning his third race in 16 starts this season and his fifth in 29 overall, This Is The Plan, out of the Western Ideal mare That’s The Plan, competes for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Silva Purnel and Libby and Lawrence Karr. Yannick Gingras drove the gelding bred by Moni Market Breeders and paid $18.80 to win.
From start to finish, Atlanta and driver Scott Zeron led the six-horse field and won the second $25,000 Breeders Crown elim for three-year-old trotting fillies on the “sloppy” track at Pocono Downs on Oct. 20, skillfully holding off a late-closing Lily Stride to win in 1:53.
The field lined up behind Atlanta, with Lily Stride next, followed by Manchego, then Ciao Dolce, Supergirl Riley and Phaetosive. Atlanta cut the fractions in :28, :57.4 and 1:26.
At three-quarters the only movement behind Atlanta came from Phaetosive. She came to the outside after lagging behind the five others and picked off enough of them to finish fourth and make the final.
Manchego rolled in the stretch to get third as Lily Stride was pushed futilely to try to catch Atlanta and finished second.
Atlanta is by Chapter Seven—Hemi Blue Chip. She was bred by Order By Stable.
“I wanted to command the lead early,” Scott Zeron said in the winner’s circle, “and [Atlanta] stole the first fraction. It took her a bit to get back after the two heats in the Hambletonian and she was coming off two heats at the Red Mile, so tonight was good.”
Rick Zeron trains Atlanta, the 2018 Hambletonian winner, and he co-owns her with Crawford Farms, Howard Taylor, Brad Grant and Holland Racing Stable. She paid $4.20 to win.
Here is the draw for the $500,000 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly Championship, to be held next Saturday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono (* – elimination winner), followed by trainer and the driver in the elimination (a choice will have to be made):
1 — *Plunge Blue Chip – trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt
2 – Supergirl Riley – Erv Miller – Marcus Miller
3 — *Atlanta – Rick Zeron – Scott Zeron
4 – Lily Stride – Mark Harder – Tim Tetrick
5 – Looking For Zelda – Norm Parker – Matt Kakaley
6 – Courtney Hanover – Rick Zeron – Scott Zeron
7 – Phaetosive – trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer
8 – Manchego – Jimmy Takter – Yannick Gingras
9 – Impinktoo – Ron Burke – Brian Sears
Brushing to the lead before the half, the Ron Burke-trained Somebeachsomewhere gelding Dorsoduro Hanover held off the passing-lane bid from pocket-sitter Thinkbig Dreambig to take the first of three $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Saturday, Oct. 20.
Driver Matt Kakaley positioned Dorsoduro Hanover fourth to the quarter as Hitman Hill swooped to the top from post seven. Thinkbig Dreambig, away second, pulled from the pocket approaching the quarter and cleared past the :27.1 opening marker while Dorsoduro Hanover made his move first over in progress to a :55.2 half.
Dorsoduro Hanover controlled the pace heading to three-quarters with Ideal Feeling, tracking the favorite’s stand-side brush, advancing into second through the 1:22.4 clip. Thinkbig Dreambig, off the pocket trip, thrust into the passing lane after Dorsoduro Hanover through the stretch but settled for second in the 1:50.1 mile. Springsteen, trailing the field throughout, fanned widest of all into the stretch and stormed home for third.
“I just didn’t want to be first up tonight,” Kakaley said after the race. “I had him first up in his last couple of starts, so I just controlled things my own way [and] he was really good. When they get to his bridle, he usually digs in and fights—when Yannick [Gingras on Thinkbig Dreambig] shot into the passing lane he just hit another gear; he was super.”
Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLc, Silva Purnel And Libby, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Wingfield Five LLC, Dorsoduro Hanover won his ninth race from 17 starts this season and his 11th from 31 overall, earning $991,856. The Hanover Shoe Farms-bred gelding from the Artsplace mare Deer Valley Miss returned $4.60 to win.
Favored Six Pack won the second $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination for three-year-colt trotters, in line to trainer/drive Ake Svanstedt. The 1-5 betting favorite took the lead two steps out of the gate and took one more step toward divisional honors.
Six Pack posted fractions of 28, 57.1:25.1 and 1:53.3 over the sloppy surface to post a tight, but comfortable victory over fast closing Fiftydallarbill and Run Director, who were the only horses to make headway in the cover flow. Second Choice Crystal Fashion finished fourth from far back to qualify for the $500,000 Breeders Crown Final next week and fifth place finisher Wolfgang also advances to the final by virtue of having higher 2018 earnings than first heat's fifth place finisher, Gemologist.
World Champion Six Pack won for the 10th time in 13 seasonal starts. He has earned over $970,000 this year and nearly $1,170,000 in his career. A son of Muscle Mass from the Cantab Hall mare Pleasing Lady, Six Pack was bred by the Brittany Farms of Kentucky and is owned Ake Svanstedt Inc., of New Jersey The Little E Llc of New York, New York, Stall Kalmar of Sweden and Lars Berg of Delaware.
Earlier, favored Tactical Landing with Brian Sears in the sulky kicked off Saturday night Breeders Crown elimination action winning the first$25,000 Crown elimination for three-year-old trotting colts in 1:52 over Met’s Hall.. Sears moved from well back at the 3/8, battling leader Met’s Hall before pulling away at the top of the stretch to win by five lengths. Met’s Hall finished second, with Jula Downtown third and Evaluate fourth. Those four all advance to the $500,000 Breeders Crown Final next Saturday.
The $500,000 Breeeders Crown Final for three-year-old trotting colts will be one of twelve Crowns to be awarded on Saturday, October 28 at Mohegan Downs at Pocono. Special first race post time is 5:30 PM Eastern.
Plunge Blue Chip and driver/trainer/co-owner Ake Svanstedt once again dominated a field of three-year-old trotting fillies, this time in the Breeder’s Crown’s first of two $25,000 eliminations for her division on Oct. 20 at Pocono Downs, winning easily in 1:53.3 on a track rated “sloppy.”
The daughter of Muscle Mass—Dunk The Donato sat fourth off the gate as Top Expectations grabbed the lead with Looking For Zelda in the catbird seat and Courtney Hanover behind her in single file. The first quarter was clocked in :27.
Leading the field to a half in :56.2, Svanstedt pulled Plunge Blue Chip into the first-over position to challenge the leader. She tagged along side of Top Expectations until the 1:25 three-quarters near the final turn when she eased to the front the entering the stretch.
Plunge Blue Chip drew away to win in 1:53.3 with a lot of trot left.
Passing tired foes, Impinktoo slid into second, while Looking For Zelda locked into third and Courtney Hanover checked in fourth. Top Expectations was fifth.
Ake Svanstedt owns Plunge Blue Chip along with Blue Chip Bloodstock, which is also the breeder, Tomas Andersson and Rick Zeron Stable.
Plunge Blue Chip paid $3.20 to win.
The field for Saturday’s $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot is set after Emoticon Hanover and NF Happenstance won their respective eliminations earlier tonight. The next three finishers — Ariana G, Ice Attraction and Celebrity Ruth from the first split and Barn Bella, Pink Pistol and Caprice Hill from the second elimination — will join the winners, in the final, along with Broadway Donna from the second division, , the fifth place finisher with the highest earnings.
Second choice Emoticon Hanover, trained by Luc Blais, sat in the pocket behind Ariana G to win the first $25,000 elimination in 1:52.4, going by he favorite in deep stretch to win by 3/4 of a length in 1:52.4. Ariana G posted fractions of 27.4, 57 and 1:24.4 to set up the Emoticon Hanover win. Both are previous Breeders Crown champs.
Emoticon Hanover, a five-year-old bay mare by Kadabra from the Ken Warkentin mare Emmylou Who, posted her 20th career win and pushed her earnings past $1.24 million dollars for owners Determination of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Bred by L. Wellwood, T. Aspden, A. Shunock and D Ingham, Emoticon Hanover was a $165,000 yearling purchase at the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The second $25,000 division went to 9-1 NF Happenstance, who cleared to the front just before the 27 second first quarter pole and then took the field past fractions of 56.3 and 1:25.4 over the sloppy racing surface before facing a modest challenge from favored Dream Together, who eventually made a break in stride, wiping out the second choice, Broadway Donna and opening up the easy win for the Jack Parker Jr- driven NF Happenstance. Her winning margin was three and one quarter lengths.
Broadway Bella survived an inquiry to finish second and 95-1 Pink Pistol finished third. Broadway Donna finished sixth in the race, but was placed fifth due to interference from Dream Together, and that placing means the millionaire daughter of Donato Hanover will also race next week in the final.
NF Happenstance is an eight-year-old bay daughter of SJ’s Caviar, from the Conway Hall mare Moira Hall. She is trained by Carole Jamieson-Parker for owner James D Moore III of North Carolina. The win was her 11th this year and 31st in 110 career starts as she pushed her lifetime earnings over $600,000. NF Happenstance was bred in Pennsylvania by John Huntgen.
The $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot is one of twelve Breeders Crown Finals to be featured Saturday, October 28 at Mohegan Sun Pocono. First race post time is set at an early 5:30 PM Eastern.
Here is the draw for the $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot Championship, to be held next Saturday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono (* – elimination winner), followed by trainer and the driver in the elimination (a choice will have to be made):
1 – Broadway Donna – Jim Campbell – David Miller
2 – Barn Bella – trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer
3 – *NF Happenstance – Carol Jamieson-Parker – Jack Parker Jr.
4 – Caprice Hill – Chris Oakes – Brian Sears
5 – *Emoticon Hanover – Luc Blais – Daniel Dube
6 – Celebrity Ruth – trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer
7 – Pink Pistol – Peter Shody – Tim Tetrick
8 – Ariana G – Jimmy Takter – Yannick Gingras
9 – Ice Attraction – trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt
The ironsided New Zealand pacing mare Shartin N ($4.40) was hustled to the lead over a “sloppy” track Saturday at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, then went on to a one-length victory in her $25,000 elimination of the Open Mare pace.
The daughter of Tintin In America, who is now tied for second in wins in North America with her 17th win of the year (one behind Always A Prince), left well from post eight for driver Tim Tetrick, and she would not settle for an early “tuck,” but went on to the front in a demanding 26.3 opener.
Shartin N, the second choice behind even-money chalk Caviart Ally, was able to back off the half to 56, and then was ready when that one advanced towards the lead down the backstretch. But Caviart Ally never got right up tight with the leader as she reached the third station in 1:24.1, and then Shartin N kept a safe margin through the 27.4 final kicker.
Twinkle, who sat in the pocket, came up the inside to be a length behind; then came Caviart Ally, another half a length behind, with another half-length to fourth-place Blue Moon Stride; Nike Franco N, the stablemate of Shartin N, was fifth and made next week’s Championship because of superior seasonal earnings.
Shartin N boosted her seasonal earnings to $832,361 and her lifetime bankroll to $909,478. Trainer Jim King Jr. trains the game mare for his wife, Jo Ann Looney King, and owner Richard Poillucci. With a $270,000 Championship next Saturday, the $31,250 fee to make Shartin N eligible via supplementation is looking like a pretty sound investment.
Call Me Queen Be, a Breeders Crown winner in 2016 at age three, continued her sharp form spree in her $25,000 elimination of the Breeders Crown Mare Pace Saturday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, traversing a “sloppy” oval in 1:50.3.
Eric Carlson, the hottest “longshot driver” in eastern Pennsylvania the last two months, sent the 18-1 daughter of Somebeachsomewhere streaking to the lead from the outside post eight, hitting the quarter in 26.2. He was able to give the mare a breather to a 55.3 midpoint clocking, then picked up the speed as Agent Q progressed first-over, with Pure Country, the winner’s contemporary who won Crown Championships in 2015 and 2017, right on her back.
But the outer tier, and pocketsitter Carol’s Z Tam, could not stay with the “Queen” at the 1:23.1, and she proceeded home sharply in 27.2 to be 4 ¼ lengths to the good at the finish. Pure Country came a long way in the lane to be second, a half-length ahead of Newborn Sassy, who in turn photoed Carol’s Z Tam for third.
Trainer Ross Croghan and owners Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Mr. Dana Parham saw the John Carver-bred five-year-old boost her earnings to $1,359,085, winning her fifth race in her last seven starts. Call Me Queen Be paid $38.00 for the win.
Favored Tactical Landing with Brian Sears in the sulky kicked off Saturday night Breeders Crown elimination action from Mohegan Sun Pocono, winning the first $25,000 Crown elimination for three-year-old trotting colts in 1:52.. Sears moved from well back at the 3/8, battling leader Met’s Hall for most of the mile before pulling away at the top of the stretch to win by five lengths. Met’s Hall finished second, with Jula Downtown third and Evaluate fourth.
Those four all advance to the $500,000 Breeders Crown Final next Saturday. Gemologist was fifth and could advance as a wild card pending the second elimination’s results.
Lawmaker battled Met’s Hall for the early lead, taking the field to the quarter in 26.4, but Met’s Hall and Andy Miller were immediately on the move, taking control as the field headed to the half-mile mark, which was reached in 55 seconds flat. Met’s Hall continued to lead the field past three-quarters, but he was feeling pressure from Tactical Landing, who easily took his measure late. Tactical Landing paid $3.60 to win.
Tactical Landing, an $800,000 yearling purchase, is a son of Muscle Hill from the Varenne mare Southwind Serena, a Breeders Crown champion of 2007. He is trained by Jimmy Takter for the Tactical Landing Stable of Perrysburg, Ohio. The win is his seventh seasonal starts and pushes his 2018 bankroll to $392,800. Earlier this season he won the Bluegrass Stakes and eliminations of the Hambletonian and Kentucky Futurity.it