Catch all of the Breeders Crown action from Hoosier Park on Sky Racing this weekend
The Breeders Crown will be run this weekend on Indiana soil for the first time in the history of the iconic event. The two feature meetings will see 12 Breeders Crown finals contested with the mares taking centre stage at the Friday night meeting (Saturday morning Australian time) while the males will race for the big money on the Saturday night program (Sunday morning Australian time).
All of the action from Hoosier Park will be telecasted through Sky Racing in Australia.
Here is a preview of the Breeders Crown events to be run on Friday (Saturday morning Australia time)
RACE 7 - OPEN MARES TROT $250,000
Selections
1. Emoticon Hanover
4. Caprice Hill
3. Pink Pistol
2. Flowers N Songs
Just 4 mares line up to contest this event and Emoticon Hanover is the logical selection after recording a world record mile of 1:50.2 when she won the Joie De Vie at Tioga Downs back in August. She has raced well since and has drawn well in the first of the finals.
Hardest to beat is Caprice Hill. She actually competed in the world record mile and finished third behind Emoticon Hanover on that occasion. She finished off very strongly on that occasion despite the brutal speed and will be driven by Yannick Gingras.
RACE 8 - 2YO TROTTING FILLIES $600,000
Selections
4. Manchego
5. Phaetosive
8. Lily Stride
6. Top Expectations
The two elimination winners look a bit better than their rivals but with young trotters, nothing is ever guaranteed. Manchego isn't a huge filly but she covers the ground with such a long stride. She looked to be in a little bit of trouble in her elimination at the top of the straight but she found another gear halfway up the straight and powered home. Is unbeaten after 11 career runs.
Phaetosive sat off the speed in the early stages of her elimination byt when she did power to the lead she did it very stylishly. Recorded a faster time than Manchego but she has only had the six starts and has won four.
Lily Stride is owned by Australia's Emilio and Mary Rosati. She has drawn awkwardly but has never missed a place in her 10 start career and her run behind Manchego in the elimination suggested she was still enjoying her racing after being forced to make a long sustained run.
Top Expectations is a very fast filly and she proved that again in her elimination when she sat on the marker pegs but flew home late when she was able to get clear halfway up the straight.
RACE 9 - 3YO PACING FILLIES $500,000
Selections
2. Caviart Ally
1. Blazin Britches
5. Agent Q
4. Inverse Hanover
There will be plenty of interest in this race for Australian viewers with Andy McCarthy and Noel Daley combining with Caviart Ally. The filly has already tasted success in the Jugette, a race run for the fillies during the Little Brown Jug carnival.
There is a slight concern with Caviart Ally because she did overrace in her elimination and tired badly in the final 50 metres. She led in the early stages and McCarthy was forced to let a rival go before retaking the lead. If the run hasn't taken too much out of her and Daley make a few changes with her gear and get her to relax and race off the speed, I think she'll be hard to beat.
Blazin Britches finished second behind Caviart Ally in the Jugette and was the filly that ensured the speed was on in the elimination when she wrestled the lead away only to hand it back over to the Noel Daley trained filly. She did tire last in the elimination but she has drawn better for the final and can look to race on the speed throughout.
Agent Q finished 2nd in the Breeders Crown as a 2yo and was only beaten a nose in last year's final. She has had a big season and has already raced 14 times and I thought that effort showed in her elimination effort. She got a nice run in transit and looked the winner on the turn only for Ella Christina to come from behind her and win.
Inverse Hanover is the value in the race. Has been rated a 20/1 in the morning line but her run in the elimination was very good. She was climbing all over their backs in an attempt to find a run in the concluding stages and went to the line full of running.
RACE 10 - 3YO TROTTING FILLIES $500,000
Selections
8. Ariana G
4. Dream Together
7. Thats All Moni
5. Overdraft Volo
The one filly or mare I'm keen to see in the flesh tonight is this outstanding trotting filly Ariana G. She has won 20 of her 25 career starts and has already won in excess of $1.6 million. Connections decided to take a bye and move past the elimination but her record is simply outstanding. She was the Breeders Crown and Dan Patch Award winner last season. Surprisingly beaten last start, expect her to bounce back in a big way.
Dream Together did things wrong in the elimination but managed to chase the field after an early error. The filly made up a stack of ground late but her manners are obviously a huge concern.
Thas All Moni is a stablemate to Ariana G and she also received a bye meaning she did not have to compete in the elimination. For mine she was a better last season and there is a bigger gap between her and Ariana G now than there was a year aog.
Overdraft Volo won the elimination and in the process won her 5th race for the year. Is going to need a few things to go her way if she is going to be in the finish here.
RACE 11 - 2YO PACING FILLIES $600,000
Selections
3. Rainbow Room
1. Reign On Me
4. Youaremycandygirl
2. Come See The Show
Rainbow Room has now had 10 starts and has won seven while finishing second in her other three. She worked to the front in her elimination after being given some time to balance up and then raced away from her rivals to score very convincingly. She is beautifully bred being the daughter of two Breeders Crown winners - Somebeachsomewhere and Rainbow Blue.
Reign On Me competed in the elimination won by Youaremycnadygirl. Reign On Me was quick to begin on that occasion before taking a sit. When she got clear in the straight she powered to the line and her best work was her final 100 metres.
Youaremycandygirl is trained by Ron Burke and will be driven by Yannick Gingras. Wasn't bustled early in her elimination but she drove forward and won comfortably and was never in any danger of being beaten.
Come See The Show got shuffled back a long way in the elimination after drawing barrier one. Had to wait a while to get into the clear but got through late and should settle on the marker pegs again this time.
RACE 12 OPEN MARES PACE $250,000
Selections
4. Darlinonthebeach
3. Nike Franco
5. Lady Shadow
6. Bedroom Confessions
Again there is set to be plenty of interest in this event in Australia with former Aussie mare Nike Franco engaged. She is the early favourite in the event after her win in an elimination but she bumps into a few nice ones here.
Darlinonthebeach caused a bit of an upset in the elimination after she sat on the back of short priced favourite Lady Shadow and dashed past her halfway up the straight. She is a very fast mare and looked to have a bit up her sleeve with the plugs remaining in throughout. She has had a few issues throughout the year but looks to be over all of them now.
Nike Franco's elimination time was nearly two seconds slower than Darlinonthebeach and it was a race she was never going to lose after walking through the first half. Tim Tetrick was very kind to her up the straight and she won easily. Should get a very nice run in transit.
Lady Shadow won last year but has drawn poorly here and likes to roll forward in her races. She may have to use a lot of fuel to get to the front here and that could leave her vulnerable in the late stages,
Bedroom Confessions chased home Nike Franco in the eliminations and the race shouldn't have suited mares coming from the back so her effort was really good. She is set to be retired and will visit Captaintreacherous in the breeding barn.
Don't forget to tune into all of the Breeders Crown action on Sky Racing and I am looking forward to being a part of the coverage trackside.
