Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Eight Breeders Crown championships, worth $4.7 million, for 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers were featured on the Saturday night card at The Meadowlands.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Breeders Crown Recaps
John Campbell hit the $250 million in earnings mark with his victory aboard Snow White in the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot.

When asked what the milestone meant to him, Campbell quipped, "It just means I'm getting older and have been around a long time."

Campbell missed last year's Breeders Crown championship night because he had fractured his leg in an accident in a Crown elimination. Campbell, 52, entered the weekend just $163,365 short of the $250 million mark.

He is the richest active reinsman in racing -- harness or thoroughbred -- in the world today. He leads his closest harness rival, Mike Lachance, by $75 million.

His $249,836,645 career earnings place him only behind Pat Day ($297 million), Jerry Bailey ($296 million) and Chris McCarron ($263 million) on the thoroughbred side. (Incidentally, Campbell’s 9,899 career wins would place him behind only jockey Russell Baze). More than half of Campbell’s bankroll was amassed at the Meadowlands, where he has held the leading driver title 16 times.

The Breeders Crown has already proven momentous for Campbell. He reached earnings of $100 million in the 1991 Breeders Crown with Armbro Keepsake and $200 million in 2001 with Syrinx Hanover.

However, last year’s event, held at Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack, will be remembered for the accident in which he fractured his left leg. Campbell was sidelined for five months and did not return to the racetrack until April 1, 2007. He has earned more than $9 million in the eight months since, making it his best season since 2002.

$650,000 2-Year-Old Filly Trot Final
PP Horse Driver
5 Snow White John Campbell
6 Somebody To Love David Miller
1 Its My Time Ron Pierce
7 It's Coast Time Cat Manzi
8 Saorse Tim Tetrick
3 Lindy's Heiress Mike Lachance
2 Celebrity Tribute Brian Sears
4 Satin Pillows Jody Jamieson
:28 :57.1 1:26.4 1:55.1

Snow White proved herself as the fairest of them all, as she drew off to a 12 ?-length victory in the $650,000 Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Filly Trot, the second race.

Snow White covered the mile in a stakes record 1:55.1, posting her 11th win in 13 starts and pushing her earnings over the $1.2 million mark. Snow White is the world record holder for a two-year-old trotter with her 1:52.4 mile at Lexington's Red Mile on October 2.

The daughter of Self Possessed - Mom's Millionaire was sent off as the 1-9 favorite and returned $2.20, $2.10, $2.10. Somebody To Love [$5.80, $4.00] was second best and it was 13 ? lengths back to Its My Time [$2.40] in third.

Snow White provided trainer Kevin Lare with his second starter and first winner in the championship series. Hall of Famer John Campbell scored his 42nd Breeders Crown victory, which lifted his career earnings to more than $250 million, making him the first horseman to reach that plateau.

"She came to her first baby race with exceptional ability," said Campbell. "Kevin [Lare] thought he had a top filly and even this goes beyond our expectations, what she's done this year. She's very gifted. She takes huge steps with her gait. There's no waste of motion. Her manners are good. I wouldn't ask for more as a driver, and I'm just very fortunate to get to drive her.

"She's the best two-year-old I've driven, male or female," added Campbell. "She's head and shoulders above any two-year-old trotter I've been associated with."

"It's just been a great ride, words can't explain it," said Lare. "We've had a blast. We're having fun with it, and we just hope to repeat next year."

Snow White, bred by Moni Maker Breeders, was a $43,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase by North State Street Stable [Joseph Petrosky, Curtis Larrimore and Mark Stoneslifer] of Dover, DE and Harness The Power [Kevin and Suzanne Lare] of Viola, DE. Jerry Silva of Bellmore, NY purchased a 20 percent interest in the filly on October 23.

$650,000 2-Year-Old Colt Trot Final
PP Horse Driver
3 Deweycheatumnhowe Ray Scnhittker
7 Celebrity Secret Brian Sears
2 Lear Jetta Tim Tetrick
5 Keystone Blitz Ron Pierce
6 Little Moon Lake John Campbell
8 Di Manggio George Brennan
9 Crazed Mike Lachance
1 Nautical Notion Jan Johnson
10 Intimidator Andy Miller
4 Yankee Matthew Dave Palone
:28.4 :57.1 1:28.1 1:57.2

Deweycheatumnhowe [$3.20, $2.40, $2.10] wrapped up his unblemished campaign with a one-length victory over Celebrity Secret [$7.40, $2.60] in the $650,000 Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Colt Trot, the third race. Lear Jetta [$2.20] was three lengths back in third.

Ray Schnittker, the trainer-driver and co-owner of the Muscles Yankee - Trolley Square colt, fired him off the gate, battled a bit on the first turn for the lead and controlled a modest pace for a winning effort in 1:57.2.

It was 3-5 favorite Deweycheatumnhowe's tenth win in 10 starts and lifted his earnings to $936,191 for the partnership of Schnittker, Ted Gewertz of New York City, Charles Iannazzo of Tappan, NY and the Deweycheatumnhowe Stable of Frank Baldassare, Alan Leavitt and Walnut Hall Ltd.

"This is probably the second best night he's had to race and he came through," said Schnittker. "He's been in all kind of horrendous tracks, windstorms and everything and he just overcomes everything. He's just a good horse.

"He's had a lot of luck, nothing has really gone bad for him," noted Schnittker. "He just overcomes everything.

"I was just sitting it out," he said of the early challenge from Lear Jetta and driver Tim Tetrick. "I could see he was going to let me go. I was a little worried about the 10-horse [Intimidator]. I didn't like his chances all the way out there. But once he let me go, I kind of had to really slow it down and had the race."

'Dewey' will likely head to Kentucky for a vacation before he returns to battle as a three-year-old.

When asked about his plans with for 2008, Schnittker said: "I thought that the Donato [2007 Hambletonian winner Donato Hanover] connections were very smart. So we're going to follow that procedure and do exactly what Steve [Elliott did] with that horse did."

$650,000 2-Year-Old Filly Pace
PP Horse Driver
1 Stylish Artist George Brennan
5 Up Front Bethann Ron Pierce
3 Dragonfest Tim Tetrick
6 Good News Lady Mike Lachance
7 Ready To Win Yannick Gingras
9 Wondrous Grace Jody Jamieson
10 All Accounted For David Miller
3 A And G's Confusion John Campbell
2 Chancy Lady Mark MacDonald
8 Dreamlands Latte Daniel Dube
:27.2 :56 1:25.1 1:53

Stylish Artist [$11.40, $6.60, $5.40] burst through late to win the $650,000 Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Filly Pace. Driven by George Brennan, Stylish Artist motored to a 1:53 victory, her fifth in 10 career starts. Mark Steacy trains and co-owns the homebred filly with Peter Heffering and David Reid of Ontario.

Up Front Bethann [$17.80, $9.00] rallied for the place spot, while Dragonfest [$5.40] held on for third after a brief stretch bid.

$650,000 2-Year-Old Colt Pace Final
PP Horse Driver
8 Santana Blue Chip Jody Jamieson
2 Sand Shooter David Miller
7 Robert's Rage Mark Macdonald
1 Legacy N Diamonds Yannick Gingras
10 Art Official Cat Manzi
6 Dontloseyourdayjob George Brennan
4 Daley Deposit Only Dan Daley
3 Brother Ray Brian Sears
5 Dragon King Eric Goodell
9 Dragoon K Tim Tetrick
:27.4 :55.3 1:24.1 1:51.3

It was a lucrative night for the Jamieson family as all three of their entrants picked up checks in the $650,000 Two-Year-Old Colt Pace, the heftiest by winner Santanna Blue Chip.

Driver and co-owner Jody Jamieson was in the sulky behind the colt as he nosed out Sand Shooter at the wire in 1:51.3, in the fourth race. Santanna Blue Chip [$5.80, $3.00, $2.80] was one of three entrants in the final trained by Jody's father, Carl Jamieson. Robert's Rage and Legacy N Diamonds, Jamieson's other entrants, finished third and fourth respectively. Santanna Blue Chip and Robert's Rage advanced to the Breeders Crown final on the basis of their seasonal earnings.

Santanna Blue Chip rolled to his fifth win in 10 career starts. The son of Art Major was a $75,000 yearling purchase by Jamieson, Jeffrey Gillis and George Arthur.

Arch Madness bests Donato Hanover in Breeders Crown Trot

Arch Madness & Trond Smedshammer Donato Hanover & Steve Elliott

Arch Madness, who upset Donato Hanover last week in the elims, repeated the outcome in the $610,000 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot, the ninth race on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Donato Hanover, who won his first 11 starts of the year, including the $1.5 million Hambletonian in August, took the lead at the quarter but Arch Madness came after him, pressured him and caught him in the final 70 yards for his third straight victory.

Arch Madness [$6.00, $3.60, $2.10] trotted the mile in a stakes record time of 1:52.4, winning by neck. Flirtin Man [$4.20, $2.20] got up for second.

Donato Hanover [$2.10] held on for third, a length and a quarter back, completing his career with 19 wins, one second and two thirds from 22 starts and earnings of more than $3 million.

$555,000 3-Year-Old Colt Trot Final
PP Horse Driver
2 Arch Madness Brian Sears
3 Flirtin Man John Campbell
10 Donato Hanover Ron Pierce
8 Prayer I Am Andy Miller
5 Standpoint Tr Smedshammer
6 Great Success David Miller
4 Please Poppy Mark Macdonald
9 Laddie Paul MacDonell
7 Photo Maxx M Johansson
Scratched: Bayside Volo
:28 :56.2 1:24.4 1:52.4

Arch Madness, driver Brian Sears' second Breeders Crown victory of the night, is a three-year-old son of Balanced Image- Armbro Archer, owned and bred by Marc Goldberg of Woodmere, NY and Willow Pond [Barry Goldstein] of Hewlett, NY. The trotter was a $62,500 supplemental entry.

"It was pretty much the same scenario as last week," said Sears. "I knew I was going to come first up. My horse is just razor sharp. Trond [trainer Trond Smedshammer] has just done a super job and everyone involved with the horse has done a great job. When I pulled him he just couldn't wait to get along side of him [Donato].

"I just tried to tight rein him a little bit, but he came down the lane and just really raced incredibly tough," added Sears, who won the Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Filly Pace with Artcotic two races earlier. "Like I said, he's razor sharp and he was really game tonight."

"I'm just stunned," said Smedshammer. "I can't describe this horse. I never expected him to be that good, even last week. I honestly didn't really think he could do it again. He's going to have off now for seven to eight weeks, and then he'll start training again for next season. He won't race until May the earliest."

"We were just hoping for some good racing luck; actually we didn't get it," said owner Barry Goldstein. "We had the toughest trip imaginable. He got up along side of him [Donato], and I could just see Arch begin [coming on]. This week was a replay of last week. Take nothing away from Donato. For my money he's the best colt trotter I've ever seen."

"He just wasn't himself tonight," driver Ron Pierce said of Donato Hanover. "He must have a touch of a flu or a cold, otherwise he would have run off. He did what he could do, but it just wasn't good enough. He probably has something deep down that doesn't show up until he's stressed. The sad part is, we've had a great run with this colt all year long and tonight was his last turn to shine. It would have been better to go out a winner, but you can't take anything away from what he has done this season."

Winless in two starts at two, Arch Madness picked up his 10th win with six seconds and one third from 21 starts this year. The gelding has a career bankroll of $954,230.

$610,000 3-Year-old Filly Trot Final
PP Horse Driver
8 Southwind Serena Yannick Gingras
6 Pampered Princess John Campbell
3 Falls For You Brian Sears
2 Michelle's Angel David Miller
7 Lock Katrine Cat Manzi
10 Vulcanize Steve Condren
5 Apecs Andy Miller
9 Wishful Me Mike Lachance
4 Sing Me To Sleep Jim Doherty
1 Danae Tim Tetrick
:29.3 :59 1:28.1 1:55.2

Longshot Southwind Serena out-sprinted 7-5 Pampered Princess to the wire to win the $500,000 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Filly Trot, the sixth race on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Southwind Serena lit up the toteboard with payoffs of $102.80, $22.00, $6.40, getting up in the final strides for a half-length victory over Pampered Princess [$3.60, $2.60]. It was three and a half lengths back to Falls For You [$2.40] in third.

Southwind Serena, who provided driver Yannick Gingras with his first Breeders Crown victory, sat a two-hole trip, tipping out from behind the pacesetting Pampered Princess at the sixteenth pole and scoring in a lifetime best, 1:55.2.

Bred by Southwind Farms of Pennington, New Jersey, the daughter of Varenne- Spice On It was a $45,000 yearling purchase by George Lowenfeld who races as the Andrea Lea Racing Stables of Lakefield, Quebec.

"We didn't have to use her too much early," Gingras said of his trip. "As soon as I crossed over I knew Pampered Princess was behind me, John [Campbell] was moving her to the front so I was trying to take it easy on the fractions. I didn't think I was going to win it, but you know I was hoping to be second or third that way. With the fractions I knew it was going to be a sprint.
"At the top of the stretch I felt pretty confident," Gingras added. "I was waiting for as long as I could. I was waiting for Pampered Princess to get tired a little bit because she was trotting really strong at the top of the stretch but half way down the stretch she was coming back to me a little bit so that's when I made the move."

Gingras was happy with the victory, but he knows he is in trouble at home. "I told my wife not to come tonight," he mused. "She's going to be pretty mad at me."

Winless in three starts at two, Southwind Serena was handed over the Norwegian-born conditioner Per Henriksen in July of 2006. Henriksen had previously won the Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Filly Trot twice before - with Oolong in 1999 and Expressway Hanover in 1993.

"I inherited her last year," Henriksen said. "She had some problems, but she was in good shape when I got her, and we worked with her and worked with her and finally it paid off. At the top of the stretch, with the fractions, I thought she had an excellent shot."

It was the third win with four seconds and four thirds in 19 starts this year for Southwind Serena. She has lifetime earnings of $385,088.

Pampered Princess, the divisional champion at two with 10 wins in 12 starts, has earned more than $900,000 this year but now has six wins, seven seconds and one third from her 15 starts in 2007. Lifetime, she has banked more than $1.6 million.

$500,000 3-Year-Old Filly Pace Final
PP Horse Driver
2 Arcotic Brian Sears
8 Real Velocity Yannick Gingras
3 Elusive Prey Jody Jamieson
5 Hana Hanover George Brennan
1 Southwind Tempo Toby Lynch Jr.
4 Little Miss Dragon John Campbell
7 Me And My Baby Cat Manzi
10 Art's Fantasy Tony Morgan
9 Captiva Island Tim Tetrick
6 Mind Boggling David Miller
:27 :55.2 1:23 1:51.2

$500,000 3-Year-Old Colt Pace Final
PP Horse Driver
10 Artist's View George Brennan
5 Watta Hotshot Ron Pierce
9 Forensic Z Tam Pat Lachance
6 Won The West Greg Grismore
8 Hot Rod Mindale Yannick Gingras
7 Running Book John Campbell
4 Southwind Lynx TIm Tetrick
2 Tell All Jody Jamieson
3 Always A Virgin Brian Sears
1 Golden Seven Mark MacDonald
:26.1 :53.2 1:21.2 1:50.4