Perfect Sting, Jujubee favorites in Crown finals

CREAM RIDGE, NJ — Dr. Patty Hogan’s Hogan Equine, a state-of-the-art equine medical facility, was the impressive backdrop for the post-position harness racing draws for the Breeders Crown Finals for the $600,000 3-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Pace and the $650,000 3-Year-Old Colts and Geldings Trot, which will be held this Saturday (Oct. 30) at The Meadowlands (special early post time, noon).

By virtue of his win in one of two eliminations for 3-year-old male pacers, Perfect Sting was installed as the early 5-2 morning-line favorite from post position five.

“It’s a good thing we won, or we probably would have had 10,” said Perfect Sting’s trainer, Joe Holloway. “Last week [when he won his elimination in 1:49.2] was the first time, since he qualified the very first time [in 2021], that I knew he had it. He’s had a lot of noses. Like I tell [driver] David [Miller], we’re six feet from greatness.”

The ultra-consistent son of 2016 Horse of the Year Always B Miki has had 25 career starts and hit the board every time. In 2021, he has six wins from 15 outings and has never been beaten by more than three-quarters-of-a-length. His seasonal earnings of $973,847 are tops in the sport.

Charlie May, who won the other elim in 1:49.1, drew post 2 and is the 3-1 second choice.

Trained by Steve Carter and driven by Brett Miller, Charlie May has nine wins in 18 tries this season, including a victory in the $300,000 Milstein at Northfield Park. He also crossed the wire first in the $700,000 Meadowlands Pace before being disqualified for interference.

In the 3-year-old male trot, Jujubee is the 2-1 favorite from post six. The Kentucky Futurity champion came into last week’s elimination seeking a seventh straight win but was gunned down at the wire by a neck by Cuatro De Julio 1:52.2 in one of two eliminations.

Cuatro De Julio will depart from post four and is listed at 9-2 for driver Lucas Wallin and trainer Marie Ortolan Bar.

Ambassador Hanover, trained and driven by Åke Svanstedt, won the other elim in 1:51.2 and is the 4-1 second choice from post two. The son of 2012 Horse of the Year Chapter Seven has hit the board 10 times in 14 starts this season, including 4 wins. During 2021, he finished third in the $1 million Hambletonian and second in the $500,000 Yonkers Trot.

The complete fields, with post positions, horse, nominated drivers, trainers and early odds, is as follows:

$600,000 Breeders Crown — 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings
1. Southwind Gendry by Always B Miki – Gambler’s Passion –  Cams Card Shark (Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke), 5-1
2. Charlie May by McArdle – Stipple Hanover – Western Hanover (Brett Miller, Steve Carter), 3-1
3. Heart Of Chewbacca by Bring On The Beach – Jt’s Chewbacca – Western Hanover (Dan Noble, Christi Noble), 15-1
4. Abuckabett Hanover by Betting Line – All Tucked Up – Western Ideal (Andy McCarthy, Tony Alagna), 6-1
5. Perfect Sting by Always B Miki – Shebestingin – Bettor’s Delight (David Miller, Joe Holloway), 5-2
6. Chase H Hanover by Captaintreacherous – Calgary Hanover – Western Ideal (Tim Tetrick, Scott Cox), 10-1
7. Rockyroad Hanover by Captaintreacherous – Romantic Moment – American Ideal (Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna), 8-1
8. I’ll Drink To That by American Ideal – Margarita Monday – Ponder (Todd McCarthy, Chris Ryder), 15-1
9. Southwind Petyr by American Ideal – Southwind Paris – Sportswriter (Jason Bartlett, Mark Harder), 15-1
10. Water Sports Teen by by Somebeachsomwhere – Posey Tina – Camluck (Joe Bongiorno, Jennifer Bongiorno), 15-1
AE1. Lous Pearlman by Sweet Lou – Lucy’s Pearl – Well Said (Tim Tetrick, Ron Burke)
AE2. Summa Cum Laude by Somebeachsomewhere – Western Graduate – Western Hanover (Brian Sears, Ron Burke)

$650,000 Breeders Crown — 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings
1. Inaminute Hanover by Bar Hopping – I’m On Cloud Nine – Angus Hall (Bob McClure, Luc Blais), 15-1

2. Ambassador Hanover by Chapter Seven – Angel Eyes Hanover – Cantab Hall (Åke Svanstedt, Åke Svanstedt), 4-1
3. Ritson by Cantab Hall – Sheena’s Shadow – Yankee Glide (David Miller, Mark Steacy), 15-1
4. Cuatro De Julio by Trixton – Clarabelle – Ready Cash (Lucas Wallin, Marie Ortolan Bar), 9-2
5. Delayed Hanover by Southwind Frank – Don’t Wait Up – Credit Winner (Åke Svanstedt, Åke Svanstedt), 10-1
6. Jujubee by Creatine – La Cantera – Cantab Hall (Andy McCarthy, Greg Wright Jr.), 2-1
7. Fly Light by Father Patrick – Hustle Heart – Credit Winner (Dexter Dunn, Åke Svanstedt), 6-1
8. In Range by Bar Hopping – Ilia – Windsong’s Legacy (Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander), 12-1
9. Dancinginthedark M by Readily Express – Leila – Andover Hall  (Brian Sears, Marcus Melander), 10-1
10. Logan Park by Archangel – Rite Outta The Park – Muscle Mass (James MacDonald, Rob Fellows), 15-1
AE1. Johan Palema by Bar Hopping – Sobti Hanover – Cantab Hall (Yannick Gingras, Åke Svanstedt)
AE2. Locatelli by Muscle Hill – Girlie Tough – Conway Hall (Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter)

Morning-line odds and driver changes will be finalized on Wednesday, Oct. 27 after scratch time.

by Debbie Little, for the Breeders Crown