Eight straight for Confederate in Breeders Crown elim

Confederate (Sweet Lou) continued his winning ways from off the pace and soaring past harness racing rivals in the late stages to capture the first of three $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on Saturday night.

Driven by Tim Tetrick, Confederate posted a 1:49.4 mile in outsprinting a gutsy Stockade Seelster to the wire with Huntinthelastdolar third across the wire.

Tetrick left for position early but was content as Doug McNair and Huntinthelastdolar moved to the front in the early stages ahead of Buzzsaw Russ. Huntinthelastdolar hit the quarter in :26.3 but felt immediate pressure from Stockade Seelster with David Miller as that pair remained parked from the outset and assumed command well before the :54.4 half mile was reached.

Stockade Seelster slowed the pace a bit during the third quarter and that prompted Tetrick to get a move on with the 1-20 favorite and Confederate moved with purpose to get near the leaders before three quarters were completed. McNair also saw the opportunity to tackle the leader with Huntinthelastdolar and pulled the pocket briefly forcing Confederate a little wider in early stretch. With three-quarters timed in 1:23.2 the field went into full sprint mode and Confederate was widest of all with Tetrick urging him sufficiently in deep stretch to get his attention and prompt him to pass the leaders.

Stockade Seelster was resolute in his fight with the remainder and held off Huntinthelastdolar as those two were eye-to-eye through the homestretch.

Owned and bred by Diamond Creek Farm, Confederate, now a winner in 11 of 12 starts this year, is trained by Brett Pelling. As the heavy chalk Confederate paid the minimum $2.10 to win.

“My colt did the job right,” said Tetrick. “He’s just a champion.”

Coach Stefanos (Tellitlikeitis) and Trace Tetrick blitzed the final quarter in the second Crown elimination and rolled by favored It’s My Show as if he were standing still in midstretch to score in 1:50.3 with the final quarter on the board in :25.2 and his significantly faster. The gelding won for the sixth time in 2023 and has been first or second in all but one of his 13 starts for trainer Erv Miller.

It’s My Show, the 9-5 choice with Scott Zeron aboard went right to the front ahead of Ants Marching and Ammo and cut the opening quarter in :27.1. Zeron wasted no time in backing down the action hitting the half in a pedestrian :57.1 and appeared to have the field at his mercy. Tetrick and Coach Stefanos came out past the half and followed the cover of Redwood Hanover with Dexter Dunn, but the pair didn’t make up that much ground through the :28 flat third quarter.

In the homestretch It’s My Show pulled away briefly but by midstretch Coach Stefanos was airborne and passed with authority. It’s My Show was well clear for second with Ammo holding third and Command coming on late to finish fourth.

Owned by K.W. Duffy, D &M Trading II LLC and Mr. J. Chris Stefanos, Coach Stefanos was bred by Victory Hill Farm. As the third public choice he returned $8.00 to win.

“The colt raced super,” said Trace Tetrick in the winner’s circle. “He was sharp in his first qualifier and been good ever since. It’s a great opportunity [to have the Breeders Crown here]. It provides chances when it’s right here in your backyard. It allows everyone to get involved in. It’s a great honor to be involved.”

El Rey (Captaintreacherous), purchased recently in an online auction paid dividends immediately for co-owner and trainer Andrew Harris capturing the third $25,000 Crown elimination for driver Dexter Dunn in 1:50.3, overtaking favored Cannibal nearing the wire. El Rey was a winner for the third time in 16 sophomore starts.

El Rey and Dunn left well from the inside but yielded to the speed of Hungry Angel Boy and then Voukefalas before the first turn came up. Cannibal and Yannick Gingras were also present in the early action, but they would be parked well past the :26.2 opening quarter cut by Voukefalas and Jordan Stratton before clearing to the top.

Cannibal led through the half in :55.3 with El Rey and Dunn waiting patiently to move without cover. El Rey moved with purpose late on the final bend for Dunn but Cannibal still had control through the 1:24.3 three-quarters with Gingras asking him to pace strongly through the stretch.

Dunn ducked in briefly behind Cannibal with El Rey but then tipped him off cover and the colt did the rest rather impressively. Bred by Riverview Breeding LLC, El Rey defeated Cannibal with Admiral Hill coming on late between horses for third and advancing to the final.

Owned by Harris along with William Pollock and Bruce Areman, El Rey returned $5.20 to win.

“He’s certainly lived up to expectations,” said Harris in the winner’s circle.

The three elimination winners Confederate, Coach Stefanos and El Rey will draw for a post from the inside five spots. The remaining seven finalists are Stockade Seelster, Huntinthelastdolar, It’s My Show, Ammo, Command, Cannibal and Admiral Hill.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Jay Bergman, for the Breeders Crown