Standout sires of the 2023 Breeders Crown Championships

Last weekend, the Breeders Crown Championships were contested at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with 12 races offering a total of more than $7 million in prize money. Ten harness racing horses were entered per event, and from those 120 named, there was only one scratch, meaning that 119 horses went post ward at the Anderson, Indiana seventh-eighth’s mile oval.

Studying not only the winners of each Breeders Crown Championship but their sires, allows for some interesting statistics.  For instance, there were a total of 30 trotting sires represented in the Crown events, while among those within the pacing gait, just 22 sires had foals competing. As well, the 12 Crown winners were represented by nine sires; four on the trotting side (Walner, Muscle Hill, Tactical Landing, Southwind Frank); and five on the pacing side (Downbytheseaside, Captain Crunch, Sweet Lou, Always B Miki, Huntsville).

Among the trotters, Walner was the clear leader of participating progeny, with 12 of his foals (6 older horses, 5 sophomores, 1 freshman) competing, while his father, Chapter Seven (3 older horses, 1 sophomore, 2 freshman), was next in line with six representatives. Muscle Hill saw five of his progenies go postward (2 older horses, 3 sophomores), with Tactical Landing and Muscle Mass represented by three foals; and Bar Hopping, Father Patrick, Southwind Frank, and Uncle Peter represented by two foals each.

In the pacing ranks Sweet Lou had the most performers, with 11 foals in action (1 older horse, 6 sophomores, 4 freshmen); while rival sire Captaintreacherous had 10 (6 older horses, 3 sophomores, 1 freshman); and Always B Miki had seven (4 older horses, 3 sophomores).  Bettors Delight, Huntsville, and Downbytheseaside were represented by four foals each: with Captain Crunch, JK Endofanera, American Ideal, He’s Watching, and Betting Line all having two foals each participating in the Crown action.

Trotting sire Walner saw Warrawee Michelle win the $700,000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt, with Walner daughters Soiree Hanover and Buy A Round finishing second and third respectively in this same event.  Walner’s 4-year-old daughter Jiggy Jog S captured the $400,000 Open Mare Trot for Svanstedt, while his 3-year-old daughter Special Way was second in the $600,000 Breeders Crown for sophomore trotting fillies, and his 3-year-old son Up Your Deo was second in the $672,000 Breeders Crown sophomore colt trot—both for Svanstedt.

Tactical Landing was the sire of $700,000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Trot winner Karl, was also the father of $672,000 3-year-Old Colt Trot victor Tactical Approach, who both are conditioned by trainer Nancy Takter.

Stallion Muscle Hill saw his 5-year-old son Southwind Tyrion capture the $600,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot for Svanstedt, while sire Southwind Frank saw his sophomore daughter Bond take the $600,000 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot for Svanstedt.

On the pacing side of the coin, Sweet Lou had a winner with My Girl EJ in the $700,000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace for trainer Ronnie Burke, as well as the impressive 1:48.1 mile put forth by Confederate in the $600,000 Breeders Crown 3-year-old Colt and Gelding Pace for trainer Brett Pelling. In addition, Sweet Lou’s other son, Cannibal, was third in that same sophomore event, will another Burke trainee, Lou’s Pearlman, was second in the $600,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace.

When Sylvia Hanover won the $600,000 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace for trainer Mark Steacy, she did so representing her sire Always B Miki, who also saw his daughter Always B Naughty finished third in this same Crown contest.

Captain Crunch was represented by the winning Gem Quality for trainer Chris Ryder in the $700,000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace, with his sire, Captaintreacherous represented by second place finisher Captain Albano in that same event.

The sire Huntsville saw his 4-year-old daughter Max Contract prevail in the $400,000 Breeders Crown Open Mare Pace for the training-driving duo of Julie and Andy Miller, while sire Downbytheseaside’s son, Bythemissal, took the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-old Colt and Gelding Pace for team Burke in a swift 1:48.

by Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink