Two-year-olds in nine Breeders Crown elims

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – A pair of undefeated harness racing sensations topped a total of 71 two-year-old entrants dropped into the box Tuesday morning to create a total of nine eliminations as the Breeders Crown makes its return to The Meadowlands for the first time since 2016 on Friday night.

The action will feature 2-year-olds of each sex and gait, with all eliminations going for a purse of $25,000. All four $600,000 finals will take place Friday, Oct. 29. Post time for both Friday race cards is 6:20 p.m.

The filly trot attracted a total of 15 entrants, making it necessary for a pair of splits. Mohawk Million, Peaceful Way and Jim Doherty winner Venerable, unbeaten in eight starts in 2021, will attempt to win a ninth in a row for trainer Nifty Norman and driver Dave Miller.

The top five finishers from each elim will move on to the final, with the winners drawing for post positions 1-5.

Elimination One – Race 5 (horses listed in post position order): Ebbies Lady, Shestheluckyone, Brickhouse Babe, Selfie Queen, Lilbitalexis, Venerable, Jaya Bae.

Elimination Two – Race 6 (horses listed in post position order): Jiggy Jog S, Mrs Taylor, Joviality S, Valentina Blu, Delilah Hanover, Raised By Lindy, I’m Happy Hanover, Palermo Hanover.

Niki Hill will attempt to run her unblemished record to seven wins in as many starts in the lone elim for filly pacers. The Chris Ryder student won the She’s A Great Lady as the 1-9 favorite in a lifetime-best equaling 1:50.2 in late September and her connections opted to not take the bye to the final. Don’t Fence Me In and Lyons Serenity accepted byes and go straight to next week’s final.

The top eight finishers from the elimination will qualify for the championship dash with the winner drawing post position 1-5.

Elimination – Race 12 (horses listed in post position order): Captain Cowgirl, Sea Silk, Boudoir Hanover, Gotthegreenlight, Galleria Hanover, Queen Of Success, Niki Hill, Yes And Yes, Frantasy Hanover, Treacherous Dragon.

A total of 23 colt and gelding trotters will be split into three elims. Duly Resolved, who’s won half of his 10 starts this season and finished second in the other half, will venture away from his home track of Woodbine Mohawk Park for the first time in his career for trainer John Bax.

The Ray Schnittker-trained King Of The North, the William Wellwood and Peter Haughton champion, suffered an interference break as the second choice in the wagering in the Mohawk Million but managed to rally and cash a fifth-place check.

The top three finishers from the three elims plus the fourth-place finisher with the highest lifetime earnings will qualify for the final. The winners will draw for post positions 1-5.

Elimination One – Race 1 (horses listed in post position order): Southwind Domino, S I P, Testing Testing, Letsdoit S, Temporal Hanover, Majestic J, Keg Stand.

Elimination Two – Race 8 (horses listed in post position order): Cool Papa Bell, Slay, Duly Resolved, Classic Hill, Gigondas, World At War Deo, Rebuff, Pretender.

Elimination Three – Race 10 (horses listed in post position order): Fast As The Wind, Branded By Lindy, Threepointbluechip, Double Deceiver, Periculum, Robertsin, Global Pandemic, King Of The North.

The colt and gelding pace attracted a total of 21 who will be split into three elims. Monte Miki, the Mark Evers trainee who pulled off a 15-1 upset in the Metro Pace after racing in 10th at the half, is one of a handful to watch in a highly competitive field.

True Blue Lindy (the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes winner), Pebble Beach (who won the Kentucky Sire Stakes title in 1:48.4) and Gulf Shores (the Ohio Sire Stakes champion) are others with solid resumes.

The top three finishers from the three elims plus the fourth-place finisher with the highest lifetime earnings will qualify for the final. The winners will draw for post positions 1-5.

Elimination One – Race 7 (horses listed in post position order): Lous Sassin, Caviart Camden, Hammering Hank, Market Based, Monte Miki, Gentle Giant, Fourever Boy.

Elimination Two – Race 9 (horses listed in post position order): True Blue Lindy, Beach Glass, Six Feet Apart, Birthday, The Boss Said, I Did It Myway, Nautical Hanover.

Elimination Three – Race 11 (horses listed in post position order): Atlas Hanover, Early Action, Pebble Beach, Gulf Shores, Loukes Perry, River Ness, Fulfullnmydestiny.

by Dave Little, for The Meadowlands