Branded By Lindy fastest in 2YO Crown colt trots

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Domenico Cecere trainee Branded By Lindy bolted clear of his competition to post the quickest victory of the three $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot on Friday (Oct. 22) at The Meadowlands, stopping the harness racing teletimer in 1:53.

Yannick Gingras guided the 3-5 favorite with a sweeping move to lead, cutting a :57.2 half and three-quarters in 1:25.1 en route to a 2-3/4-length score over fast-charging Double Deceiver. Fast As The Wind took third.

King Of The North followed Periculum on the outside in pursuit, but to no avail. Global Pandemic was quick off the gate, but broke before the first quarter and did not recover while the others could not make any ground once Branded By Lindy got going.

Branded By Lindy, a son of Chapter Seven and The Lindy Label bred and owned by Lindy Farms of Connecticut, paid $3.00 to win. The colt raised his 2021 earnings to $165,550.

Gingras said, “He’s gotten better and better every week. This race was as easy as it looked. I just wanted to make sure we won the elimination. I thought he was the best, and he showed it.”

BRANDED BY LINDY REPLAY

David Miller used Testing Testing twice in the mile to win the first $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination for 2-year-old male trotters in a lifetime mark of 1:53.4.

Testing Testing made an early move to get the top, but settled behind S I P and a charging Temporal Hanover, who took the top over S I P in a :27.2 first panel. Temporal Hanover commanded a :56 half with S I P behind him until Miller took Testing Testing first-over and gained ground with Letsdoit S getting live cover.

Testing Testing won the challenge for the lead in a 1:24.3 three-quarter split. From there, Testing Testing rolled easily to a 1-1/4-length win. The late-closing Majestic J trotted by Letsdoit S to nab second with Temporal Hanover third.

George Ducharme trains Testing Testing, and the colt’s fourth win brings his earnings to $43,025 for owners William Donovan, Purnel & Libby, Joseph Rocco and Jim Winske. Warrawee Farm bred the son of Walner and Sound Check, who paid $7.00.

”He was a nice colt all winter,” Ducharme said, “I was high on him. The owners were gracious enough to let me do right by the horse.” Ducharme said drawing for posts one through five in the $600,000 final “certainly helps.”

TESTING TESTING REPLAY

In the second $25,000 elimination, 2-1 favorite Rebuff and Tim Tetrick held off late closers to win in 1:53.4. Rebuff relaxed in fourth off the gate with World At War Deo giving up the lead to Duly Resolved at the :28.2 first quarter. The field went in single file to the :57.1 half when Slay aimed at the leader, forcing a duel at 1:26 three-quarters.

Duly Resolved held sway until mid-stretch before Gigondas took advantage of the duel and swept forward off cover. Rebuff, however, was fastest of all, coasting by the trio to win by 2-1/4 lengths. On the far outside Cool Papa Bell soared, taking the show spot from Duly Resolved late.

Rebuff paid $6.00 to win.

Trainer Lucas Wallin co-owns Rebuff, a Muscle Hill-Meucci Madness colt who has now earned $144,095, with Kjell Magne Andersen and Pieter Delis. Steve Stewart and Michael Andrew bred the colt.

Wallin said Rebuff was talented — but green — from the beginning:

“The other owners let me take the time and race him from behind, and it started to pay off.”

REBUFF REPLAY

In addition to the top three finishers from each elimination, Duly Resolved also advances to the final field as the highest earner on the year among the fourth-place finishers.

The Breeders Crown Final draw for next week complete fields, with post positions, nominated drivers, and trainers, are as follows:

$600,000 Breeders Crown — 2-Year-Old Trotting Colts and Geldings Friday, Oct. 29
1. Cool Papa Bell by Chapter Seven – Blk Thai Optional – Muscle Hill (Brian Sears, Jim Campbell)
2. Testing Testing by Walner – Sound Check – Yankee Glide (David Miller, George Ducharme)
3. Branded By Lindy by Chapter Seven – The Lindy Label – Cantab Hall (Yannick Gingras, Domenico Cecere)
4. Rebuff by Muscle Hill – Meucci Madness – Yankee Glide (Tim Tetrick, Lucas Wallin)
5. Gigondas by Trixton – Magical Valentine – Kadabra (Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna)
6. Double Deceiver by Cantab Hall – Sarcy – Donato Hanover (David Miller, Carter Pinske)
7. Temporal Hanover by Walner – Think Twice – Cantab Hall (Tim Tetrick, Marcus Melander)
8. Duly Resolved by Resolve – Motown Muscle – Muscle Mass (Paul MacDonell, John Bax)
9. Majestic J by Walner – Upfrontluckycarol – Andover Hall (Todd McCarthy, Tony Alagna)
10. Fast As The Wind by Cantab Hall – Wind Stroll – Muscle Mass (Dexter Dunn, Tony Alagna)

For full race results, click here.

by Frank Cotolo, for the Breeders Crown