Breeders Crown 3YO & Open Trotting Finals | Sire Analysis

North American harness racing reaches a tipping point this weekend with the Breeders Crown finals set to be contested at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

They don’t say it “all it comes down to the Breeders Crown” for nothing!

The second of the two-day feature carnival kicks off on Saturday (Oct. 28) with the Open trot and pace along with three-year-old pacers and trotters of each sex ready to do battle. But there is much more than just the purse money at stake for the connections of the runners.

The results from the Breeders Crown will play a huge factor in deciding Horse of the Year honours for the respective categories. But almost more importantly, the winners will provide a significant boost to the credentials of the stallions with progeny in the richly contested finals!

The first of the trotting features begins with the hotly contested Open Trot for the mares.

Balla Bellini was a BC champion last year in the three-year-old division and is one of only two progeny of Bar Hopping to contest the Saturday features.

Bar Hopping was a Breeders Crown champion himself at three and the millionaire son of Muscle Hill has done a solid job since heading to the breeding shed in 2017 with 29 of his progeny having a lifetime mark of 1:55 or better. He currently sits in 9th on the All-Age money list and could leapfrog Father Patrick into eight should his progeny snare a Breeders Crown tomorrow.

With Bella Bellini, Bar Hopping has sired the ninth equal fastest mile of all time ever trotted in North America, and the fourth fastest mile for a trotting mare. She posted 1:49.4 in the Steele Memorial back in August and it’s the fastest mile recorded in 2022.

The fifth fastest mile recorded by a trotting mare in North America was also recorded in 2022 by none other than comeback queen, Atlanta. The daughter of Chapter Seven has won just about every major trotting race in North America but seeks an elusive maiden Breeders Crown title in the Open Mares trot.

Chapter Seven was the winner of consecutive Breeders Crown titles himself in 2011 and 2012 winning the three-year-old final and the Open trotting final. He has already sired the winner of an Open Trot final when Gimpanzee took out the 2020 crown, but he is yet to see one of his daughters snare an Open Trot crown. It would be oh so fitting if Atlanta could be the one to get it done before her imminent retirement this season.

Race 2 Breeders Crown Final – Open Mare Trot – $472,500

1. HP Mama B by Royalty For Life – Winters Jewel – Self Possessed
2. Sorella by Muscle Hill – Kadealia – Kadabra
3. Next Level Stuff by Sebastian K – Natab – Cantab Hall
4. Amazone Duharas by Muscle Hill – Cleopatre Duharas – Cantab Hall
5. Bella Bellini by Bar Hopping – Bella Dolce – Kadabra
6. Refined by Uncle Peter – Reinvent – Malabar Man
7. Atlanta by Chapter Seven – Hemiblue Chip – Cantab Hall
8. When Dovescry by Muscle Hill – Cedar Dove – Andover Hall

Jovialty S will be on most punters tickets to go back-to-back in the Breeders Crown and add a three-year-old final to her ever-growing CV. She is one of two daughters of Chapter Seven in three-year-old final and one of the big reasons her sire is a clear leader in three-year-old money list for 2022.

Just like the Open Mares Trot, Chapter Seven has never sired the winner of a three-year-old fillies final on Breeders Crown day. Will the Swedish bred filly be the one to finally break the duck egg? Bare My Soul loves to hit exotics in these types of races and is not without her chance.

Walner has done a remarkable job in siring 60% of the finalists. If he is to make up any of the ground on his own father in the three-year-old money list in which he trails by nearly $750,000, he will almost need to sire the first three runners’ home.

He too has a Swedish bred daughter in Jiggy Jog S, and she looks to be one of the main dangers to Jovialty S chances, along with Fashion Schooner who looks to be the tempo setter in the final.

While Muscle Hill will be at long odds to add to his two 3YO filly crowns with the only runner sired that isnt by Chapter Seven or Walner, he looks a big chance to secure his first as a damsire. Joviality S will hold the cards in more ways than one it seems.

Race 4 Breeders Crown Final – Three-year-old Filly Trot – $911,250

1. Bare My Soul by Chapter Seven – Celebrity Angel – Yankee Glide
2. Jiggy Jog S by Walner – Hot Mess Hanover – Cantab Hall
3. Mischevious Rose by Muscle Hill – Vegas Virgin – Donato Hanover
4. Joviality S by Chapter Seven – Pasithea Face – Muscle Hill
5. Misswalner Fashion by Walner – Sweet Love – Chocolatier
6. Fashion Schooner by Walner – Broadway Schooner – Broadway Hall
7. Warrawee Xenia by Walner – Endless Flirt – Andover Hall
8. Raised By Lindy by Walner – Birthright – Credit Winner
9. Pure Country by Chapter Seven – Southwind Cartier – Muscle Hill
10. Venerable by Walner – Jolene Jolene – Muscle Hill
11. NA Saundra by Resolve – World Class Image – Balanced Image
12. NA Baby Longstocking by Muscle Mass – Armbro Exquisite – Conway Hall

In one of the most open races of the day, the three-year-old trotting final looks to be the hardest to narrow down.

Remarkably, Keg Stand is the only trace of Muscle Hill from a siring perspective through his son, Bar Hopping. It’s another of the trotting features heavily dominated by the Chapter Seven line through either the latter or his incredible son, Walner.

Gimpanzee is the only son of Chapter Seven to have won a 3YO crown final, but he must be favoured to pick up another with the likes of Slay, Branded By Lindy and Cool Papa Bell all leading chances.

Sons of Walner have drawn the inside and outside of the gate and after an incredible elimination performance, last season’s 2YO male trotter of the year, King Of The North and his connections will be hoping for a big run as a possible career at stud looms at the end of this year.

The ageless Cantab Hall deserves mention as while he is probably better renowned these days as a broodmare sire, he currently sits in sixth on the three-year-old money list and has two runners with a chance in tomorrow’s final.

Race 6 Breeders Crown Final – Three-year-old Colt Trot – $810,000

1. King Of The North by Walner – Check Me Out – Donato Hanover
2. Fast As The Wind by Cantab Hall – Wind Stroll – Muscle Mass
3. Slay by Chapter Seven – Swinging Royalty – RC Royalty
4. Double Deceiver by Cantab Hall – Sarcy – Donato Hanover
5. Branded By Lindy by Chapter Seven – The Lindy Label – Cantab Hall
6. World At War Deo by Chapter Seven – Yalta Hanover – Andover Hall
7. Keg Stand by Bar Hopping – Palm Beach Bi – Angus Hall
8. Twin B Archie by Archangel – Affair Hall – Deweycheatumnhowe
9. Cool Papa Bell by Chapter Seven – Blk Thai Optional – Muscle Hill
10. Golden Wall AS by Walner – Golden Door Lindy – Cambest
11. NA Temporal Hanover by Walner – Think Twice – Cantab Hall
12. NA Pretender by Muscle Hill – Maven – Glidemaster

The Open Male final paints a wonderful picture for trotting genetics and showcases why the gait has so much room for growth. The ten-horse field includes starters by nine different sires.

The international gait of trotting is starting to experience some wonderful results with European and North American genetics combining for some wonderful results, as evidenced in this field.

The two most dominant French sires in the last 20 years are represented with runners with sons of Ready Cash and Love You. Back Of The Neck probably leads the Ake Svanstedt contingent given how sharp he has been in his last three starts, and a win for the son of Ready Cash would be the second Open Trot final win for his sire after Bold Eagle impressively came and conquered the final back in 2019.

USA Trotter of the Year, Jujubee has been priming for this race. And not just in his campaign. With each start he’s slowly regained form and looks ready to show his ability at the top level again. Last year’s USA Trotter of the Year is looking to replicate the deeds of his own sire, Creatine, with a win in the Open Trot final, to go with his 3YO crown from last season.

Race 8 Breeders Crown Final – Open Trot – $810,000

1. Lindy The Great by Crazed – Highscore Kemp – Muscles Yankee
2. Fashion Frenzie by Archangel – Striking Fashion – Striking Sahbra
3. Amigo Volo by Father Patrick – Margarita Momma – Yankee Glide
4. Logan Park by Archangel – Rite Outa The Park – Muscle Mass
5. Ecurie D Dk by Infinitif – To Soon – Muscles Yankee
6. Jujubee by Creatine – La Cantera – Cantab Hall
7. Its Academic by Uncle Peter – Annapolis – Muscle Hill
8. Back Of The Neck by Ready Cash – Big Barb – Andover Hall
9. Rattle My Cage by Love You – Caress The Senses – Andover Hall
10. Ambassador Hanover by Chapter Seven – Angel Eyes Hanover – Cantab Hall
11. Forbidden Trade by Kadabra – Pure Ivory – Striking Sahbra

For complete race entries, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink