Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

2007 Aged Breeders Crown Fields Now Set

August 28, 2007

They did it in drastically different ways but the end result was the same. Snazzy Millie surged past pacesetting Passionate Glide in the final strides of the first $37,500 (C$40,500) Breeders Crown Mare Trot elimination to win by a nose in 1:54.

Defending mare trot champion Mystical Sunshine, with Dan Dube at the helm, made a move past the quarter pole, controlled her elimination from beginning to end, and was never threatened in a coasting 1:53.3 mile. The elim was marred by a break before the start by 2005 Crown champion Peaceful Way, who has likely seen her last comeback attempt.

“She’s nice to drive,” said Dube. “When I saw those two made a break, (those are) easy fractions for her, and she responded. A nice horse like her, she does everything right, you can do everything you want.”

The connections of the two mares chose their post positions for the $250,000 (C$270,000) Breeders Crown Mare Trot final, with Mystical Sunshine taking post two and Snazzy Millie opting for post three.

Chris Christoforou, driver of Snazzy Millie, wasn’t sure of his victory till the wire had gone by.

“It’s a pretty good mare that was in front of me (Passionate Glide). I didn’t know if I could get by but I thought I had a pretty good shot. When I tipped her head out she was full of trot,” said Christoforou.

“About halfway down the lane I thought we had a pretty good shot but until we were about two steps from the wire I didn’t know for sure.”

Armbro Flight winner Lavec Dream survived an early break to finish fifth and scrape into the final.

Longshot Mares win Pace Splits
Ideal Weather and Double Dream N, both driven by Jody Jamieson, were upset winners on Friday night (August 24) in the elimination races for the $363,000 (C$392,400) Breeders Crown Mare Pace at Mohawk Racetrack.

Sent off at 15-1, Ideal Weather set the opening fraction of :26.4 before settling into second behind Armbro Dancer. Ideal Weather reclaimed the lead in the stretch and won by 1-1/2 lengths over Invitro in 1:49.3, equaling the track record. Armbro Dancer was third, followed by My Little Dragon and favorite Moving Pictures.

“It worked out that (Moving Pictures) opened up the rail and I just took it; there was no sense thinking about it, I just went,” Jamieson said. “I straightened up in the stretch and she just dug in. She was very good. I was really happy with her.”

It was the second win of the year for Ideal Weather, who has made 13 starts and earned $101,584. She is owned by Sylvia Burke, Lawrence Karr and Thomas Cherichello.

Guestimate and Four Starzz Meliss failed to advance to the final. Four Starzz Meliss was supplemented into the race for $37,500.

Double Dream N, who was 12-1, was third for much of her elim before chasing down Darlin’s Delight in deep stretch to win by a head in 1:51.1. Vysoke Tatry was third, followed by favorite Free and Marnie Hall.

It was the eighth victory of the season for Double Dream N, who has earned $184,340 in 21 races this year. She is owned by Redmak Enterprises and Briarcliff Manor.

Seven Starters in Breeders Crown Trot
The US $726,000 (C $784,000) Breeders Crown Trot, which is also the fifth leg in the World Cup Trot series, drew just five entries and two supplements for a field of seven.

Corleone Kosmos, fresh from a rousing victory in the Nat Ray Trot on Hambletonian day, drew post five in the $726,000 (C$784,000) Breeders Crown Trot with supplementals Giant Diablo, the only mare in the field, drawing post four and Equinox Bi drawing post six.

“I guess the worst we could have been was post seven so five is good for us,” said stable manager Brian Owen. “Midpack is where we want to be and we are much happier with the five hole. Last year (in the Crown) we had the nine hole so this is an improvement. We didn’t want to be on the outside and we would have liked to be inside Vivid Photo so we are definitely happy.”

Open Pacers Vie in Pace
A compact group of North America's richest and fastest pacers will contest the $540,000 Breeders Crown Pace, one of four open events scheduled for Saturday, September 1, at Mohawk Raceway.

Canadian Pacing Derby winner and defending Breeders Crown champion Lis Mara, two-time Crown winner Boulder Creek and 2006 Dan Patch Pacer of the Year Total Truth headline a field of nine pacers in the Breeders Crown Pace.

For a real treat, take a look at this clip from Breeders Crown past, courtesy of the Hambletonian Society. Narrated by Kenny Rice & race call by
Jerry Glantz. Click on link or copy/paste in your browser
http://media.putfile.com/1987-RR-Breeders-Crown-Aged-Pace