Race Preview Pocono Downs: 2013 Breeders Crown 3YO Male Pace and Trot Finals

October 17th, 2013

Nine of the top three year old male pacers and nine of the best three year old male trotters in the country will face off at Pocono Downs on Saturday, October 19th in the Breeders Crown Finals. Included are two pacers who have a history -  morning line favorite at 5/2, Captaintreacherous, 3rd place finisher in last year's Breeder's Crown, and Sunshine Beach, fourth in the morning line at 4/1, the only horse to beat Captaintreacherous this year. He did it by a nose in the Brandywine with a time that tied the world record.

Sunfire Blue Chip, second in the BC elimination that Captaintreacherous won, and Vegas Vacation, who vied with Captaintreacherous throughout that hard fought heat, will also be bringing their best game plans to this match. Lucan Hanover, the third favorite in the morning line at 4/1, has the confidence of trainer Casie Coleman, who has always had faith in the sometimes less than awe-inspiring pacer. Her confidence was proven true on one count, when he set a new world record for geldings of his age and gait on a five-eighths track in the Breeders Crown elimination.

Tim Tetrick will be driving Captaintreacherous for Tony Alagna, as usual. Brian Sears will be driving Vegas Vacation for Casie Coleman. Yannick Gingras will hold the reins for the Jimmy Takter trained Sunfire Blue Chip.

Other entries include Beach Memories in the 2 post at 10/1, Apprentice Hanover in the 4 post at 15/1 and Captive Audience in the 6 post at 12/1.

There was one scratch before the draw, Fool Me Once, which allowed Urbanite Hanover to draw into the 9 post. In the Final for Three Year Old Male Trotters, Royalty For Life with Brian Sears driving for George Ducharme is the morning line favorite at 5/2 in the 1 post. Not the best position for a trotter, but Sears has certainly contended with poor post positions before and prevailed.

All Laid Out, who was runner up to Creatine in the Kentucky Futurity, has the 2 post and is second at 3/1 in the morning line. David Miller drives for Noel Daley. Creatine, himself, is in the 5 post at 5/1. Mike Lachance drives him for Bob Stewart and he may be the sleeper in this race.

Not to be overlooked is Smilin Eli with Tim Tetrick for David Smith at 4/1 in the 7 post. He finished second by a neck to All Laid Out in their elimination. It was a hotly contested battle and it's a given that Tetrick will be trying to even the score this time out.

Spider Blue Chip with Ron Pierce for Chuck Sylvester in the 5 post is a looming threat, although posted at morning line odds of 5/1. He managed to come back and hold on for the win in his elimination over E L Rocket, in spite of a late stretch challenge by E L Rocket, which looked like it might succeed. He's proven himself on the Pocono oval by winning the Colonial Trot this summer and has only missed one in-the-money finish on a five-eighths track, when he went offstride.

Deadliest Catch with Corey Callahan for John Duer at 10/1, Dewycolorintheline with Ray Schnittker driving and training at 15/1 and Aperfectyankee with Jim Oscarsson driving and training at 20/1 complete the field.

Safe trips to all the drivers and horses on the Breeders Crown card and best of racing luck. Don't forget to watch and wager on Bet America where bonus tracks pay rewards.