Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Breeders Crown Fields Set

November 20, 2007

Donato Hanover, Tell All, Southwind Tempo and Falls For You were named morning line favorites in their respective Breeders Crown championships on Saturday night (November 24) at the Meadowlands. The leaders of the sophomore class headline $4.7 million in events for 2- and 3-year-old trotters and pacers, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Paid admissions receive a commemorative Breeders Crown knit cap (while supplies last). Guests who bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the Kings Super Market Food Drive to benefit the Community Food Bank of N.J. will receive free admission and a coupon for a free knit cap.

In the most anticipated showdown of the night, Donato Hanover will try to rebound from his first loss of the season as the 7-5 favorite in the $610,000 3-year-old colt trot. The frontrunner for Horse of the Year honors had his winning streak snapped at 19 races by supplemental entrant Arch Madness last week, putting him into Tuesday's open draw. The Hambletonian winner drew post 10, prompting an audible gasp from the audience.

"He raced very good (last week)," said Donato Hanover's trainer, Steve Elliott. "He just got beat by a horse who was better that day. A post position is just a starting point."

"The five weeks off really hurt him," driver Ron Pierce said of the colt's elimination loss. "He didn't get much of a qualifier at Gaitway. He wasn't quite up to that fast of a mile. I kind of figured it would take me awhile to get to the lead. That's the way I've been racing him all year, floating him away from the gate. We had a soft middle half, but the other horse has been racing every week."

Arch Madness will have one edge against Donato Hanover in Saturday's race. Elimination winners earned the privilege of choosing their post position for the final and trainer Trond Smedshammer and driver Brian Sears chose post two for Arch Madness.

Convinced of their colt's ability, owners Barry Goldstein and Marc Goldberg anted up $62,500 to supplement Arch Madness to the Breeders Crown. Arch Madness enters the final with a record of nine wins in 22 career starts.

The $555,000 3-year-old colt pace also promises fireworks as millionaires Always A Virgin and Tell All engage in their final battle for divisional honors.

Tell All was given the slight nod as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the race. Blair Burgess and Jody Jamieson won first crack at picking a post position and selected post two for Tell All. The North America Cup and Little Brown Jug champion won the faster of the two elimination races last week, holding off Watta Hotshot in 1:50.4.

Trainer Joe Holloway and driver Brian Sears took post three for Always A Virgin, who is the 3-1 second choice. Always A Virgin won his Breeders Crown elimination in 1:51.1, adding to a hefty list of credits that includes victories in the Messenger, Cane Pace, New Jersey Classic and Oliver Wendell Holmes this year.

Southwind Tempo, another Steve Elliott trainee, was tabbed the 2-1 favorite in the $500,000 3-year-old filly pace. Co-owner Toby Lynch will drive the filly in Saturday's final. He elected to leave from post one.

Southwind Tempo has won 16 of 20 races this season.

Falls For You earned the 5-2 favorite's role in the $500,000 3-year-old filly trot after collaring Pampered Princess in their elimination race.

Trainer Trond Smedshammer chose to start the filly from post three. The ultra-consistent Falls For You has hit the board in 11 of 15 starts this season and counts the Kentucky Filly Futurity among her eight victories.

A quartet of $650,000 championships for 2-year-olds are also featured on Saturday's card. Snow White is the prohibitive 4-5 morning line favorite in the 2-year-old filly trot, while undefeated Deweycheatumnhowe is the 6-5 favorite in the 2-year-old colt trot. In the pacing divisions, Chancey Lady is the 5-2 favorite in the filly event, while Sand Shooter tops the colt and gelding field at 3-1.