Hambo winner scores again in Breeders Crown

2023 Hambletonian winner, Tactical Approach (Tactical Landing), came from sixth place at the top of the stretch to gun down his rivals in capturing the $672,000 Breeders Crown for three-year-old trotting colts Saturday (Oct. 28) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

The 11^th race co-feature saw Up Your Deo (Ake Svanstedt) shoot to the early lead with Helpfirstedition (John De Long) sitting second and Air Power (Mattias Melander) in third place on the outside.

Going to the opening quarter mile in :26.4, Air Power took the lead away from Up Your Deo, then Helpfirstedition came out and powered to the lead after the half mile in :55.

Heading to the final turn, Ari Ferrari J (Dexter Dunn) came first-over with Celebrity Bambino (Yannick Gingras) second-over and third-over was the 2-1 race favorite, Tactical Approach and driver Scott Zeron.

They passed the three-quarters in 1:23.3 with Helpfirstedition still in front and coming on from the far outside was Tactical Approach. Then ducking inside along the pylons was Up Your Deo, but Tactical Approach was the strong horse, holding off Up Your Deo to win by one length in 1:51.2. French Wine (Andy Miller) closed well to be third.

TACTICAL APPROACH REPLAY

It was the ninth win this year for Tactical Approach, who is trained by Nancy Takter for owners Robert Leblanc, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco and Jaf Racing. He paid $6.00 to win.

His purse earnings in 2023 surpassed $1 million. Lifetime he has now won $1,310,739.

“It was more stressful for me in the first turn,” Zeron said. “After that I was right where I wanted to be in the backstretch. I was following two really nice horses in that flow, and I trust that my horse has a nice finish.”

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink