Breeders Crown Finals Sextet Offers Outsiders With Powerful Potentials

This, our penultimate Breeders Crown Countdown, the exclusive TwinSpires blog dedicated to the events that would lead to the cast of characters in the Breeders Crown, the Hambletonian Society’s richest and most prestigious events now features the main attractions: the Breeders Crown Finals at Hoosier Park on Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28. The $6-million championship events offers six “Crown” races per evening

Along with the main harness blog, we are sharing the program. Here is analysis of the six races from the Friday, Oct. 27 program at Hoosier. Our words on the other finals appear in the main blog.

BREEDERS CROWN MARE TROT

The sport’s smallest division presents another mini-field, though there are betting possibilities that could be approached for a worthy price due to the sharing of talent in the handful. Forecasting the favorite is bound for a consensus opinion of Emoticon Hanover but we will be supporting Flowers N Songs.

She will go under the betting radar with what should be a decent price considering the lack of field members. Flowers N Songs was very impressive at the Meadows earlier this month. Albeit a cheaper race, Flowers N Songs dominated the field with late speed and a lot of class. Her half-a-million-plus bankroll is worthy challenging this group.


BREEDERS CROWN TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT

This final revolved around Machego, the unbeaten Jimmy Takter-trained filly that has towered over any and all fields at two. Even the winner of the other elim in this division, Phaetosive, pales by comparison. This is Machego’s race to lose and that possibility is highly unlikely.

This race caps the Pick 4 that began with Race 5, so there will be many “singles” purchased on tickets, as well as bargain-hunters may press the “all button” in case of a wild upset. If there were an upset, we would back SMS Princess. Her elim against Machego was well earned at 101-1. Ake Svanstedt’s filly, a Cantab Hall product, took fourth with steady gains after starting in seventh, 10 lengths behind the speedy Manchego. “SMS” should be considered in single-race exotics as well, since she will still go off a big price.


BREEDERS CROWN THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE

Regardless of the huge upset in the elim (a disheartening event for us, since the winner, Ella Christina, was 35-1 and our choice, Jaye’s A Lady, was 36-1, with the style of the race firmly forecast though with the wrong longshot), we don’t give much of a shot to Ella Christina this time around. The true surprise of the race was Idyllic Beach going off at 9-1 (she finished second by a nod).

We backed Idyllic Beach this season more than most and she was not her best until a few races ago. She is definitely in a win-mode cycle now, racing best in the cool autumn weather and is apt to be ignored again in the soph-filly final. Why? Beaten-favorite Blazin Britches had a tough trip but won’t be dismissed by bettors. Nor will Agent Q or Caviart Ally—they will receive the best action, leaving us with the grand dam herself—Idyllic Beach at another good price.

BREEDERS CROWN THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT

Overdraft Volo was our winner in the soph-filly trot last week at 9-2. In the final, however, we will shift our action to another filly, one that excelled in that very race and charts to be a major contender for us in the finale.

Under-the-radar Sunshine Delight has been earning well and making noise with all of the division’s biggest stars and last week she was all out late, crafting a marvelous trip from post 9, proving once again that when she peaks with a win it will be expected by those who have watched her perform through the second half of the season.


BREEDERS CROWN TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE

We handed out seconds in both frosh-filly pace elims with Firestorm (11-1) and Reign On Me (6-1), both standing up to big favorites Rainbow Room and Youaremycandygirl in their respective elims.

However, here we take into consideration Majorsspeciallady, who, in the Rainbow Room elim, finished fourth at 17-1. This is Ron Burke’s other entry along with probable co-favorite Youaremycandygirl and she must be considered in this mix.

The Somebeachsomewhere filly made two moves in her elim, surviving a decision to take to the outside, which at first cost her a few steps. Her second move was to gain in the stretch and almost catch Come See The Show, closing strongly at 12-1.


BREEDERS CROWN MARES PACE

Seventimesavirgin made it into the final (she was our outside contender in an elim) but she drew the 9 hole from here and as well as she may improve from that elim, the competition here could prove to be too tough for her to get up for first.

Certainly, 8-1 on Bedroomconfessions was a major overlay. Her trip against “Nike” was powerful enough to prove she could have easily defeated Nike had she traveled the Seventimesavirgin route. She has only to stay out of trouble to overcome the obvious public choices, including first-elim-winner Darlinonthebeach, who benefited from a perfect trip.
 

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Follow major 2017 Breeders Crown champion hopefuls battling at Hoosier Park in the Breeders Crown Countdown blog and the TwinSpires harness blog weekly, with archived reports on the results at the Hambletonian Society web site.