Breeders Crown 2YO 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 first of the two-day feature carnival begins Friday (Oct. 28) with the two-year-old pacers and trotters of each sex ready to do battle and there is 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!

Walner was incredible in leading the two-year-old trotting sires list for money won with his debut crop and he finds himself yet again in a great battle with his own champion sire, Chapter Seven.

Barely $250,000 separates the pair in the 2022 money list, and as to be expected, they are well represented in each of tomorrows finals with twelve runners spread across the two contests. The quantum shift of dominance from the Chapter Seven line has been immense, and a win in the 2YO colts final for Chapter Seven would put him in a great position to turn the tables on Walner.

Generational trotting stallion, Muscle Hill, might not be the dominant juvenile sire he once was, but the champion son of Muscles Yankee has the distinction of not only siring four finalists, but also being the damsire of four finalists also.

It’s ironic that some of the stiffest competition he now faces is not only that of Walner and Chapter Seven, but the greatness of his own daughters who are now making their own mark at stud as valuable commodities.

Like Chapter Seven, Muscle Hill is also represented by his siring son in former Breeders Crown champion, Tactical Landing. His debut crop have done a wonderful job on the track and a win by one of his three daughters in the fillies final would add to the impressive CV for the stallion’s pedigree which reads as being a Breeders Crown champion, by a Breeders Crown champion, out of a Breeders Crown champion, and full brother to a Breeders Crown champion.

Race 6 Breeders Crown Final – Two-year-old colt trotters $810,000

1. Gaines Hanover by Cantab Hall – Gatka Hanover – Muscle Massive
2. The Gruffalo by Chapter Seven – Clementine Dream – Infinitif
3. Kierkegaard K by Chapter Seven – Gone Baby Gone – Muscle Hill
4. Celebrity Bambino by Muscle Hill – Celebrity Ruth – Archangel
5. Kilmister by Chapter Seven – Treviso – Muscle Massive
6. Spitfire Oversees by International Moni – Legal Lady – Deweycheatumnhowe
7. Osceola by Muscle Mass – Armbro Exquisite – Conway Hall
8. Winners Bet by Walner – Side Bet Hanover – Donato Hanover
9. Oh Well by Muscle Hill – Fine Tuned Lady – Cantab Hall
10. Dire Straits by Muscle Hill – Southwind Cocoa – Chocolatier
11. NA – Buckhead Ridge by Nuncio – Tuonela – Cantab Hall
12. NA – Crown by Chapter Seven – Amour – Cantab Hall

Race 8 Breeders Crown Final – Two-year-old filly trot $810,000

1. Silly Me Hanover by Walner – Shared Past – Chocolatier
2. Tactical Planner by Tactical Landing – Dressed To Impress – Andover Hall
3. Instagram Model by Chapter Seven – Check Out Trixie – Trixton
4. Special Way by Walner – Special Hill – Muscle Hill
5. Mambacita by Tactical Landing – Bills Lady – Donato Hanover
6. Walner Payton by Walner – Lonely Lady – Muscle Hill
7. Righteous Resolve by Resolve – Motown Muscle – Muscle Mass
8. Life Itself by Walner – Inspired By Life – Muscle Massive
9. Blonde Bombshell by Walner – Hey Blonde – Cantab Hall
10. Secret Volo by Walner – Secret Serenity – Muscle Hill
11. NA Shesundertheradar by Tactical Landing – Barn Diva – Conway Hall
12. NA Proud To Be Lindy by Muscle Hill – Lindys Lulaby – Cantab Hall

The pacing finals feature seven of the top ten leading 2YO money winning sires, and as to be expected are littered with progeny by sons of the late great Somebeachsomewhere, with Captaintreacherous, Downbytheseaside, Stay Hungry, and Huntsville all represented.

Captaintreacherous leads the 2YO money list and is chasing his fourth leading money winner crown for the juvenile ranks. He currently has a $750,000 buffer on second place and is represented by three runners across the two finals including three emergencies.

Breathing down his neck however is the son of Yankee Cruiser in Sweet Lou. The ‘great white blaze’ could significantly bridge the gap should either of the pair of runners he has in each of the finals go on to Breeders Crown glory. Either way, this current crop of juveniles are the best performed of his young siring career since his first crop hit the tracks back in 2017.

Despite not having quite the same success of his first two juvenile crops, Always B Miki is the best represented of any sire with five runners across the two finals. He sits in ninth on the juvenile money list at present and a big performance from any of the five finalists will see him surge up the money list in a hurry.

There is also a New Zealand connection with the first progeny of any NZ bred stallion to contest a Breeders Crown final in the 2YO Colts final for Lazarus N. Handlelikeaporsche is a stunning individual and win for the son of the former kiwi champion would be a massive coup for his dual hemisphere stallion credentials with his first crop currently 7th in the money list.

In a stark contrast to the down under pacing ranks, the great Bettor’s Delight is nowhere to be seen if not for his sole damsire credit in the fillies division.

Race 7 Breeders Crown Final – Two-year-old filly pacers $810,000

1. Charleston by Downbytheseaside – Western Montana – Western Hanover
2. Strong Poison by Always B Miki – Fiyonce – Rocknroll Hanover
3. Horizontal by Always B Miki – Geometry – Somebeachsomewhere
4. McSeaside by Downbytheseaside – McGibson – McArdle
5. Slyvia Hanover by Always B Miki – Shyway – Artiscape
6. Light And Tight by American Ideal – Dont Point At – At Point Blank
7. Proud Mary by Sweet Lou – Tug River Princess – Badlands Hanover
8. Sweet Amira by Sweet Lou – Bolt Of Thunder – Rocknroll Hanover
9. Bellisima Hanover by Captaintreacherous – Bedroom Confessions – American Ideal
10. Zanatta by Stay Hungry – Major Dancer – Art Major
11. NA Caviart Davia by Captaintreacherous – My Little Dragon – Dragon Again
12. NA Front Page Story by Captaintreacherous – Wenditions – Rocknroll Hanover

Race 9 Breeders Crown Final – Two-year-old filly pace $810,000

1. Tip Top Cat by Always B Miki – Western Top Cat – Western Hanover
2. Handlelikeaporsche by Lazarus – The Signature – American Ideal
3. Confederate by Sweet Lou – Geothermal – A Rocknroll Dance
4. Christchurch by Always B Miki – Darlinonthebeach – Somebeachsomewhere
5. Huntinthelastdollar by Huntsville – Eighthunrodolarbill – Bettors Delight
6. Combustion by Captaintreacherous – Acquavella – Western Ideal
7. Stockade Seelster by State Treasurer – Soree Seelster – Big Jim
8. Act Fast by Downbytheseaside – Act Like A Diva – Roll With Joe
9. Ammo by Sweet Lou – Beach Gal – Somebeachsomwhere
10. Ervin Hanover by Captaintreacherous – Eloquent Grace – Well Said
11. NA Save America by Captaintreacherous – My Lady Day – Western Ideal
12. NA Redwood Hanover by Stay Hungry – Rockincam Park – Rocknroll Hanover

For complete Friday race entries, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink