Pocono Downs offers Breeders Crown elims
For more than 30 years the most popular phrase in harness racing has been "It All Comes Down To The Breeders Crown" and over the past two nights Pocono Downs in Pennsylvania has offered a bevy of elims for the lucrative finals slated for next Saturday.
On Friday night the two-year-old trotters and pacers were on display and there was a good blend of sharp triumphs and surprise winners, setting the stage for several intriguing finals next weekend.
In the first Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old trotting fillies, Champagne Jane (Bob McClure) picked the ideal time to garner her first victory when she forged a mild 7-1 upset in 1:55.4. A juvenile daughter of Holiday Road trained by Luc Blais, Champagne Jane notched the first victory in nine career outings - she had been second three times - and pushed her earnings past the $100,000 plateau. Whispering Oaks (Yannick Gingras) settled for third as the 6-5 favorite for trainer Jimmy Takter.
Then one race later in the second Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old filly trotters, Woodside Charm (Verlin Yoder) maintained the perfect start to his career when she proved much the best as the 1-5 favorite in 1:53. A juvenile daughter of Chapter Seven trained and driven by Yoder, Woodside Charm has won all six of her lifetime tries - five as the odds-on choice - and pushed her earnings past $220,000 and looms the solid choice for next week's final.
One race later in the first Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old colt pacers, No Mas Amor (Matt Kakaley) continued his longshot winning ways when he posted 10-1 upset for trainer Linda Toscano. A freshman son of Sweet Lou fresh off a 114-1 shocker at Lexington, No Mas Amor notched his second win from nine starts and handed Air Force Hanover (David Miller) his second straight surprise defeat for trainer Brian Brown.
Then one race later in the first Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old colt trotters, Gimpanzee (Brian Sears) maintained his perfect record when he lived up to his billing as the even-money choice despite post eight when he scored in 1:54.4. A freshman son of Chapter Seven trained by Marcus Melander, Gimpanzee has won all eight of his starts and banked over $290,000 and will certainly be a major player in the final.
One race later in the first Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old filly pacers, St Somewhere (Gingras) scored as the tepid 8-5 favorite for trainer Ron Burke when she scored in 1:52.2. A juvenile daughter of American Ideal, St Somewhere notched her second straight score and fifth win in 12 starts this year and pushed her seasonal earnings past $180,000. Queen Of The Pride was a good third for trainer Kevin Lare and owner Frank Chick.
Then one race later in the second Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old filly pacers, Tall Drink Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) forged a mild 5-2 upset in 1:51.3 while 4-5 choice Warrawee Ubeat (Gingras) failed to hit the board. A juvenile daughter of Captaintrecherous trained by Tony Alagna, Tall Drink Hanover recorded her fourth straight score and now owns seven wins and $356,000 banked from 10 starts. Maryland-bred Zero Tolerance (Miller) was a game second in defeat and looms a threat in the final.
One race later in a Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old filly trotters, When Dovescry (Simon Allard) posted a mild 70-2 upset when she upset 1-2 choice The Ice Dutchess (Gingras) in 1:54. A freshman daughter of Muscle Hill trained by Rene Allard, When Dovescry notched her fourth straight score and now sports four wins and $64,000 banked from six starts. The Ice Dutchess was game in defeat and merits a chance to rebound in the final.
Then one race later in the first Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old colt pacers, Smooth Lou (Tim Tetrick) posted a surprise in 1:52.1 for Brown. The juvenile son of Sweet Lou notched his fourth win from six starts and banked almost $34,000, but he may get overshadowed in the final next week despite finishing ahead of Captain Crunch (Scott Zeron) and Proof (Miller) in the elim.
One race later in the Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old colt trotters, Smart As Hill (McClure) recorded a 17-1 shocker in 1:53.4 while Green Manalishi (Tetrick) finished second and Cantab Fashion (Miller) offered little. Then in the Breeders Crown elim for freshman pacing colts, Captain Trevor (McCarthy) posted a 4-1 upset in 1:52.3 as Blood Money (Gingras) finished second for Takter while Lyons Johnny JNR (Sears) got third at 25-1 while 1-2 favorite Workin Ona Mystery (Tetrick) failed to fire.
On Friday night the two-year-old trotters and pacers were on display and there was a good blend of sharp triumphs and surprise winners, setting the stage for several intriguing finals next weekend.
In the first Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old trotting fillies, Champagne Jane (Bob McClure) picked the ideal time to garner her first victory when she forged a mild 7-1 upset in 1:55.4. A juvenile daughter of Holiday Road trained by Luc Blais, Champagne Jane notched the first victory in nine career outings - she had been second three times - and pushed her earnings past the $100,000 plateau. Whispering Oaks (Yannick Gingras) settled for third as the 6-5 favorite for trainer Jimmy Takter.
Then one race later in the second Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old filly trotters, Woodside Charm (Verlin Yoder) maintained the perfect start to his career when she proved much the best as the 1-5 favorite in 1:53. A juvenile daughter of Chapter Seven trained and driven by Yoder, Woodside Charm has won all six of her lifetime tries - five as the odds-on choice - and pushed her earnings past $220,000 and looms the solid choice for next week's final.
One race later in the first Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old colt pacers, No Mas Amor (Matt Kakaley) continued his longshot winning ways when he posted 10-1 upset for trainer Linda Toscano. A freshman son of Sweet Lou fresh off a 114-1 shocker at Lexington, No Mas Amor notched his second win from nine starts and handed Air Force Hanover (David Miller) his second straight surprise defeat for trainer Brian Brown.
Then one race later in the first Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old colt trotters, Gimpanzee (Brian Sears) maintained his perfect record when he lived up to his billing as the even-money choice despite post eight when he scored in 1:54.4. A freshman son of Chapter Seven trained by Marcus Melander, Gimpanzee has won all eight of his starts and banked over $290,000 and will certainly be a major player in the final.
One race later in the first Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old filly pacers, St Somewhere (Gingras) scored as the tepid 8-5 favorite for trainer Ron Burke when she scored in 1:52.2. A juvenile daughter of American Ideal, St Somewhere notched her second straight score and fifth win in 12 starts this year and pushed her seasonal earnings past $180,000. Queen Of The Pride was a good third for trainer Kevin Lare and owner Frank Chick.
Then one race later in the second Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old filly pacers, Tall Drink Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) forged a mild 5-2 upset in 1:51.3 while 4-5 choice Warrawee Ubeat (Gingras) failed to hit the board. A juvenile daughter of Captaintrecherous trained by Tony Alagna, Tall Drink Hanover recorded her fourth straight score and now owns seven wins and $356,000 banked from 10 starts. Maryland-bred Zero Tolerance (Miller) was a game second in defeat and looms a threat in the final.
One race later in a Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old filly trotters, When Dovescry (Simon Allard) posted a mild 70-2 upset when she upset 1-2 choice The Ice Dutchess (Gingras) in 1:54. A freshman daughter of Muscle Hill trained by Rene Allard, When Dovescry notched her fourth straight score and now sports four wins and $64,000 banked from six starts. The Ice Dutchess was game in defeat and merits a chance to rebound in the final.
Then one race later in the first Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old colt pacers, Smooth Lou (Tim Tetrick) posted a surprise in 1:52.1 for Brown. The juvenile son of Sweet Lou notched his fourth win from six starts and banked almost $34,000, but he may get overshadowed in the final next week despite finishing ahead of Captain Crunch (Scott Zeron) and Proof (Miller) in the elim.
One race later in the Breeders Crown elim for two-year-old colt trotters, Smart As Hill (McClure) recorded a 17-1 shocker in 1:53.4 while Green Manalishi (Tetrick) finished second and Cantab Fashion (Miller) offered little. Then in the Breeders Crown elim for freshman pacing colts, Captain Trevor (McCarthy) posted a 4-1 upset in 1:52.3 as Blood Money (Gingras) finished second for Takter while Lyons Johnny JNR (Sears) got third at 25-1 while 1-2 favorite Workin Ona Mystery (Tetrick) failed to fire.
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