Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Breeders Crown Feature Stories

October 28, 2006

Redemption for Shark Gesture
Shark Gesture, one week removed from an accident that resulted in a broken leg for Hall of Fame driver John Campbell and the death of another horse, rebounded Saturday night to win the $610,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male pacers at Woodbine Racetrack. George Brennan put Shark Gesture on the lead going into the first turn, and except for a brief challenge from Dave Panlone around the final turn, was never out of the top spot. He held off the late charge of Mister Big, who finished second, to claim the title.

In last week’s elimination race, Shark Gesture fell as the field crossed the finish line after being interfered with by Total Truth. Tony Alagna, an assistant for the Ervin Miller Stable, got the colt ready for Saturday’s final.

“It was a really rough week,” Miller said. “To get him to come back was very special. Everybody was scared of the front end tonight because of the wind; but this big, old colt doesn’t care about the wind; he’s tough. He sure showed up tonight.”

The Breeders Crown field included North America Cup champ Total Truth, Meadowlands Pace winner Artistic Fella and 2005 2-year-old champ Jereme’s Jet. Dave Panlone and Mister Big were elim winners last week.

“My horse raced real good, but there wasn’t enough early action for me,” said Brian Sears, who drove Dave Panlone and finished third. “My horse is definitely one that comes from off the pace. The half in 57 [seconds] was just giving it away and he got beat by better horses.”

Said Jody Jamieson, who drove Mister Big, “Second best is all right. They had him in top form. He got a little more air tonight than he did last week, and that certainly made a big difference. If I could have stayed behind live cover, that was the only shot I had to beat George [Brennan]. All in all, he raced great.”

Shark Gesture has won seven of 13 starts this year.

Possess The Magic Wins for Lachance & Gurfein
Mike Lachance won his second Breeders Crown title Saturday night, guiding Possess The Magic past favorite Pampered Princess in the stretch to win the trophy for 2-year-old filly trotters by 1-½ lengths in 1:57.2 at Woodbine Racetrack.

Possess The Magic, trained by recent Hall of Fame inductee Ron Gurfein, took advantage of soft early fractions to claim the lead from Sheer Soul at the half in 59.3 seconds. Pampered Princess made her move on the outside prior to the three-quarter mark and took the lead, but Possess The Magic retook the advantage in the lane.

“Honestly, I didn’t think I could beat [Pampered Princess], but we got away with a half in 59.3 and it was just a sprint in the stretch,” said Lachance, who increased his Crown total to 25 titles. “She was good and strong tonight. We couldn’t do anything with her at the beginning of the year, but now we can do everything we want.”

Possess The Magic, owned by Brittany Farms, has won nine of 13 starts and earned $697,622.

“I always thought she was as good [as Pampered Princess],” Gurfein said. “I really thought we had a good chance to win it. It’s very special.”

Adelaide Hall finished third.

“She got a good trip, second over just where I wanted to be,” driver Jack Moiseyev said. “She had a few problems at the half and got a little rough, but she straightened herself out and I was kind of hoping for third going in.”

Donato Hanover Stands Out in Crown Final
Donato Hanover won his eighth consecutive start, claiming the $600,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male trotters by three lengths in a track record 1:56 Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack. Driven by Ron Pierce, Donato Hanover made a first-over move on the final turn and overtook Adrian Chip at the top of the stretch en route to the victory. He has won eight of nine races in his young career.

“I just wanted the race to set up and I was going to float him up there and ask him to go turning for home, and that’s what we did,” Pierce said. “He’s a beautiful colt, just gorgeous. I never even let him trot tonight; he’s got real nice manners.”

Donato Hanover was mid-pack through the first half mile before making his move. Pierce had to take hold of the colt on the turn when Adrian Chip drifted a bit, but never lost momentum.

“I had a big grip on him and wanted to float him up there,” Pierce said. “He threw a step at me and I had to gather him, but he didn’t mean anything by it.”

Mythical Lindy led to the first quarter in 28 seconds, with Stunt Man Hall applying pressure from the outside. Stunt Man Hall cleared to the lead off the first turn, but Mythical Lindy retook immediately and let to the half, which was hit in 57 seconds. Adrian Chip took the lead as the field headed to the final turn as Donato Hanover brushed to the leader’s side on the outside.

“I had a second-over trip until I had to use him to get to the front,” said Adrian Chip’s driver-trainer Per Henriksen. “He’s a green horse and that took some of the sting out of him.”

Relentless Duke made a late charge in the stretch to get second place, followed by Adrian Chip and Mythical Lindy. Laddie, who won a Breeders Crown elim, went off stride.

Donato Hanover is trained by Steve Elliott and is owned by David Scharf, Golden Touch Stable and Steven Arnold. He has earned $662,753 this year.