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Standardbred Horse Sale 2020 PREVIEW issue MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2020

MANCHEGO (right) won her third trophy on Oct. 31

Can full brother Stilton Hanover (HIP 20 - above) follow in her footsteps?

© 2020 Daily Racing Form, LLC - 10 Grand Central, 3rd Floor, NY, NY 10017 (HIP 20 photo by Gunjan Patel) Horse Sale moves to Timonium as Inside this issue Hanover Shoe Farms dominates consignor list Hannelore Hanover brother a future Horse of the Year?, Page 5 Checking out six stallions with EDITOR’S EYE just one yearling on opening day, Page 7 By Derick Giwner Stallions statistics for @DRFHarness 2- & 3-year-olds, Page 9

With the doom and gloom expectations for Jay Bergman: Revisiting the yearling sales in 2020 now in the rearview Breeders Crown performances, mirror after seeing a year-over-year drop of Page 10 less than 17% at the Lexington Selected Sale in early October, the scene switches to Timonium, Breeders Crown recaps: 12 Maryland for the Standardbred Horse Sale. Normally conducted in Harrisburg, the sale races, 12 champions, Page 12 was forced to move this year due to COVID-19 policies in , meaning President/ Email the Editor [email protected] CEO Pete Spears had to reimagine what has HARNESS DIGEST SCHEDULE been the norm for decades. Publishing Nov. 3 & Nov. 5 this week “Standardbred contacted well over 20 sales during the year for Thoroughbreds, alternative venues this summer in anticipa- though nothing in the scope of the Standard- tion of the possible decision by the State of bred Sale commencing November 3. Pennsylvania to deny Standardbred hold- “Their permanent facilities were unable to ing our Annual Sale at the PA Farm Show accommodate a sale of our size. Timonium To ensure proper delivery Complex, despite the Company’s submission has just over 500 shed row-type stalls, neces- of the newsletter via of an extensive COVID-19 safety protocol that sitating the use of a large number of tents to email, add [email protected]. met all published PA Department of Agricul- house the horses,” said Spears, who added com to your contact list ture guidelines,” said Spears. “We knew that that other more technological additions were we could hold the sale at the Maryland State needed as well. “We are also expanding their Fairgrounds at Timonium before we heard a electronic capabilities to increase the number final decision from PA, so the Company was of TV monitors, WiFi access, etc. throughout able to finalize our arrangements to move the the facility. We have also arranged for online Discover auction there very quickly.” bidding through ProxiBid, and are expanding our telephone bidding capabilities.” Those looking to take extra caution against COVID-19 while in attendance at the three- “If we come close to tracking day yearling sale, which is followed by a two-day mixed auction, can take solace in Lexington, I will be very happy the open-air situation at Timonium. Spears Find your favorite tracks, PPs, reports that bidders can conduct almost all wagering, and everything of their business outdoors and that those . . . my expectations are more who venture inside can feel secure knowing you need to win, faster than that the sales company is complying with all ever before. modest,” Maryland Department of Health guidelines. -Pete Spears, CEO Standardbred Horse Sales Co. With the uncertainty brought on by the pandemic as well as other variables, this DRF.COM/HARNESS year’s Standardbred Sale is down in sheer numbers in both the yearling and mixed sale While the location may be unfamiliar for categories. That said, Spears is still hoping for Follow many in the Standardbred industry, the loca- good returns. tion is no stranger to holding Thoroughbred sales. Timonium hosts multiple Fasig Tipton CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 HIP 65 Boudoir Hanover

“Standardbred is down about 50 yearlings from last year’s cata- This daughter of Captaintreacherous is one of 41 first foals being loged numbers, largely due to a loss of 30 yearlings, including 16 offered on opening day and she is by an EARNER in Bedroomconfes- assigned to the first day of sale, which normally is our highest aver- sions ($1,001,441). Video footage reveals she moves well and has good age day,” said Spears. “If we came close to tracking Lexington I would size. It is also worth noting that third dam Keystone Havoc produced be very happy. With the loss of 10% of our first-day yearlings, many a millionaire in Keystone Horatio. Boudoir Hanover offers dual eligi- of which would have sold at the very high-end, my expectations are bility in Kentucky and Pennsylvania. more modest.” Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky: “She’s big without being heavy and is a Almost 30% of the 800-plus yearlings sold in Timonium will be beautiful filly. She has the best attributes of Captaintreacherous in consigned by Hanover Shoe Farms and it comes as no surprise that a mare and she moves nice and light. She’s been like that since day the powerhouse breeding operation has some of the best horses avail- one. When she goes out in the field, everyone wants to know who she able to bidders during the 155-horse opening session. Below are nine is. She has a little bit of sass to her, which is probably good in a pacing yearlings that stood out for me, either visually from the provided filly.” video footage or via pedigree and past performance. As the majority are from the Hanover Shoe Farms consignment, commentary from HIP 76 Sevencarrotgold Executive Vice President Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky follows each of those horses. This New York-eligible colt seems to have a different way of travel- ing (at least to my eye) and I’m not sure if that will be a turn-off to HIP 7 Pauline Hanover some. Perhaps that equates to a better price. Chapter Seven colt is the first foal from Choice Hall, whose dam Canland Hall produced five I really liked the way she moved in her video and as a Father Patrick which earned over $200,000 including 2003 Trotter of the Year Cantab half-sister to the freaky-fast Don’t Let’em there is intrigue there. Hall. Another half-brother Zack’s Zoomer did well on the New York Sire Stakes scene and internationally. Pauline Hanover is Pennsylvania HIP 86 Delilah Hanover and Kentucky eligible. Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky: “She’s very nice; athletic. She’s not overly big, but she’s correct and moves nicely.” HIP 23 Stowe Hanover

Gunjan Patel Delilah Hanover is a half-sister to Jim Doherty winner Darlene Hanover.

Second foal from Danielle Hanover is a Muscle Hill half-sister to 2020 Jim Doherty winner Darlene Hanover. Second dam is famous for

Gunjan Patel producing multiple Dan Patch winner Donato Hanover. Stowe Hanover is the second foal from a mare that produced eligible should get plenty of action. Snowstorm Hanover. Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky: “She just has it all. When you pull her out of the stall, she’s just one of those WOW fillies. She has a beautiful coat, powerful rear-end and is very correct. She is awesome in the Snow Angel Hanover hit a home run with Snowstorm Hanover paddock. She can trot as fast as any yearling I’ve ever seen. If there is ($658,761) a few years back and now we finally get her second foal in a hole in her, I don’t know what it is.” this PA-bred filly trotter. Video looked good and I have to admit to a bias here as Another Blizzard from her fourth dam is one of my favor- HIP 100 Frannie Hanover ite trotters ever. Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky: “I love this filly. She is one of my favorites This is the first foal from $356K earner Fad Finance, a Credit in the sale and probably third right behind the two Muscle Hill trot- Winner filly who did some good work in New York. She is paired here ting fillies. She’s better-looking than Snowstorm Hanover was and is with Muscle Hill to produce this New Jersey and Kentucky eligible a big, strong filly that trots nicely. I think she is the real deal.” who moves very nicely in her video. Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky: “She has more Credit Winner in her than HIP 30 Neopolitan Muscle Hill. She’s nice and does everything right but is not a head- liner like the two Muscle Hills.” I was drawn in by his video, which displayed a colt with poise and fluid motion. On the breeding end, he’s a full brother to a pair of $100,000 earners and from a family that produced 2-year-old Dan Patch winner Pizza Dolce (2002). The Concord Stud Farm product is CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 New Jersey eligible.

DRF Harness Weekend | 4 | November 2, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky: “He’s a handsome, beautiful horse. He is not one of the big, rugged ‘Miki’ colts. He’s refined and has a nice HIP 103 Forkner Hanover head; very sleek with long lines to him. I really like this horse and he has a nice family.” HIP 148 Marlys Hanover

Pennsylvania eligible filly from Captaintreacherous is a full sister to Marsala Hanover, a solid performer in PA Sire Stakes this year and on the board in stakes action at The Red Mile. Mom Marinade Hanover has produced three $100K-plus winners in three tries. This one is seems to be a bit on the stout side but carries it well. Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky: “She’s probably our second-best pacing filly right behind the Bedroomconfessions one. She’s not as big as that one, but she is very pretty with a nice head. She’s stout but powerful and never gets tried. She’s high energy and has a great attitude. I like her better than ‘Marsala’ last year. She was more a plain filly.”

More opening-day picks Before asking Dr. Jablonsky for her thoughts on my picks, I asked her for hers. Below is her Top 5: HIP 20 Stilton Hanover: “He’s a full brother to Manchego and a nice medium size. He trots nicely and has a good attitude. He is another colt Gunjan Patel that is blossoming and getting better. He’s obviously our best trotting colt” Forkner Hanover is a half-brother to 2020 Breeders Crown HIP 65 & HIP 86: See comments above. winner Fire Start Hanover. HIP 93 Energetic Hanover: “He’s gorgeous. Every time we paddock him he looks better and better. He’s just blossoming. He started as a very nice colt but has risen his way to be my favorite pacing colt this This colt has a more athletic “lean and mean” type year. He’s the perfect size and has a great look to him.” build. He’s a half-brother to Fire Start Hanover (9-6-1-0), a two-time HIP 101 Frozen Hanover: “He’s a full brother to Filibuster Hanover stakes winner at The Red Mile, her latest in 1:50 3/5. The Pennsylva- and reminds me exactly of him. He’s a tank; solid, mostly body, nia eligible has a strong family tree that includes multi-millionaires athletic and like a bulldog. This is the last chance to get a good year- Glowing Report and Well Said. ling by ‘Beach’ and he is a really nice one.”

Hannelore Hanover brother a future Horse of the Year?

By Derick Giwner

H O Y Hanover, an acronym for ‘Horse of Year’ followed by the name of the biggest breeding operation in the Standardbred game, sells as HIP 119 during the opening session of the Standardbred Horse Sale at Timonium. A bay colt foaled in May, H O Y Hanover is from the first crop of Walner out of High Sobriety. If that names rings a bell, it is because she produced the 2017 Horse of the Year Hannelore Hanover. When Hannelore Hanover hit the track in 2014, no one knew she would turn into an Indiana and eventually world champion. She was the fourth foal from High Sobriety and none of her siblings displayed even a glimmer of her talent. Unknowing of what was to come, Hanover Shoe Farms parted ways with High Sobriety after she produced Hannelore Hanover with her first pairing to Swan For All.

“We gave her away and when ‘Hannelore’ became ‘Hannelore’ we Gunjan Patel had to get her back,” said Hanover Shoe Farms Executive Vice Presi- H O Y Hanover is the first foal from High Sobriety to sell since dent Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky. “We donated her to be a recipient mare Hannelore Hanover in 2013. and she actually raised a quarter-horse reining foal in the meantime. “We cull mares every year if it looks they aren’t going to do and “He’s medium-sized. He’s a very handsome horse,” said Jablon- she had some hard luck. It didn’t look like she was going to hit; sky about H O Y Hanover. “We have four Walner colts and he’s the maybe we gave up on her prematurely.” outlier. The other three are big, strong-looking and powerful colts, Once back on Hanover farmland, High Sobriety was given a but he is more refined. I like him quite a bit. He doesn’t look a lot like major stallion upgrade to Muscle Hill to take advantage of her new ‘Hannelore,’ he looks more like a Dream Vacation-type.” standing as a producer of potential champions. She was bred to top Hannelore Hanover earned more than $3 million on the track sire Muscle Hill and the result was a colt named Hash Tag Hanover. and owns one of the fastest trotting marks (1:49 2/5) in history. “Last year’s foal was basically untrained,” said Jablonsky about Will H O Y Hanover live up to his name? Will her 2020 foal, a filly Hash Tag Hanover. “He had some issues behind and we couldn’t named Hanna Too Hanover, a full sister to Hannelore Hanover, really train him. He’s back at the farm now to be a teaser stallion.” be the next champion? Or maybe the future for High Sobriety is in With H O Y Hanover, Jablonsky is hoping lightning will strike her belly via a mating with Greenshoe this year. twice for High Sobriety through the Walner bloodlines. Stay Tuned!

DRF Harness Weekend | 5 | November 2, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness THE GREATEST NAME IN CONGRATULATES BREEDERS CROWN CHAMPION

PHOTO: DEAN GILETTE Hanover-Bred & Sired FIRE START HANOVER p,2, 1:50.3-’20 ($517,586) - Fit To Frame $600,000 Breeders Crown Final winner for two-year-old pacing fillies, last night at Hoosier Park in 1:50.4. OWNED BY: Pinske Stables, David Hoese, Lawrence Means TRAINED BY: Nifty Norman DRIVEN BY: Dexter Dunn HER BROTHER, HIP# 103 FORKNER HANOVER BY ALWAYS B MIKI, SELLS AT THE STANDARDBRED HORSE SALE IN TIMONIUM, MARYLAND TUESDAY

(717) 637-8931 fax: (717) 637-6766 www.hanoverpa.com [email protected]

ANDOVER HALL · BAR HOPPING · BETTING LINE · CANTAB HALL · CAPTAINTREACHEROUS GREENSHOE · INTERNATIONAL MONI · PAPI ROB HANOVER · STAY HUNGRY · TALL DARK STRANGER Six stallions hoping they have the ‘one’ on Tuesday in Timonium

By Greg Reinhart Rob and daughters Jenna and Maddi. “He’s smart, he’s athletic, and he’s a good-looker. Everything you’d want in a horse, he’s got it all. In Tuesday’s opening session at the upcoming Standardbred Horse We’re really kind of excited about him. It’s an exciting family that is Sale, there are a handful of sires, some established in the industry still going strong. and others new for the 2020 sales, who have a single offering during “We’ve been going to Harrisburg for almost 25 years now, and we the day to try and take advantage of all the eyes of the harness racing buy a lot of the stallion shares. We bought a Fear The Dragon share, world being on them. we bought Huntsville, and we bought Downbytheseaside. We just Credit Winner has had another solid season in 2020, with his Hobbs really liked those horses. It’s hard to get into them sometimes, so winning the New York Sire Stakes title for 3-year-old colts and geld- we thought we would just buy shares and we could at least breed one, ings and Dee’s Red Delicous doing well both in the sire stakes and maybe two mares to them. Those three horses - Fear The Dragon, against open company in the Kindergarten Classic. Credit Winner’s Downbytheseaside, and Huntsville - they were such a good crop of single entrant on Tuesday is HIP 15 Talie Blue Chip, consigned by horses. It was hard to say who was the top horse that year because Blue Chip Farms LLC. as agent. This filly is out of a Swedish-bred they were all so good, so we gambled and bought shares in all of them.” mare named Richesse Oblige, making Talie Blue Chip a half- Trixton is having sister to the Chapter Seven filly Munster (1:53, $116,448). what might be his Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. has their usual powerhouse consignment best year as a sire so at the Standardbred Horse Sale, and on Tuesday they have one by far with the likes of Andover Hall in HIP 31 Swanlastry Hanover. Out of the Lindy Lane Ab’sattitudexpress, mare Swan Lake, Swanlastry Hanover is a full brother to Swan In A Play Trix On Me, Million (1:52 4/5, $350,404) and Swan For All (1:54 1/5, $309,986) and a Jula Trix Trea- half-brother to three other six-figure earners. sure, and Cuatro “He’s a very nice colt. He’s going to be the last foal out of the mare. De Julio leading his Andover Hall has been a great sire, and he’s done it without the charge, and he has a benefit of a syndicate, which is very hard for a stallion to do,” said very well-bred indi- Dr. Bridgette Jablonsky, Executive Vice President at Hanover Shoe vidual named No Farms. “He’s already 21 years old, and as stallions get older, they More Trix selling don’t get the same caliber of mares as they get when they’re younger. as HIP 54 on Tues- Swan Lake is definitely one of the better mares to be bred to him day. This colt, who in the last few years. These older stallions, when bred to the right was bred by White mare, they can certainly produce as well as they did when they were Birch Farm, raised younger. It’s not like their genetics change as they get older, it’s just at Lindy Farms, that the younger horses get the better mares, and that’s why they kind and is consigned by of take over. Preferred Equine Best Damn Horse Videos screen shot HIP 54 No More Trix is the only Trixton “Swan Lake has been an excellent mare, and they’ve already clicked Marketing, Inc. as yearling selling in the opening session at to produce a very good horse, and I think he has as good a chance as agent, is out of the Timonium. any trotting colt, really. There’s no reason why he can’t be as good as award-winning Swan For All or a very good colt. He’s a great-looking colt.” Windsong’s Legacy mare Windsong Soprano (1:52 4/5, $1,231,325), and that makes him a half-brother to this year’s Peaceful Way winner and Mohawk Million runner-up Donna Soprano (1:53 3/5, $433,570). Southwind Frank didn’t have a large group in his first crop with just 50 horses born and 48 eligible to race, but his 2-year-olds that have taken to the track have shown talent, led by Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Flawless Country and Grand Circuit stakes winner Delayed Hanover. HIP 116 Tiltheloverunsout, consigned by Hunter- ton Sales Agency as agent, is his one yearling that will go through the ring on Tuesday, and she is out of the Lindy Lane mare Harbour Belle (1:58 2/5, $136,154). That means Tiltheloverunsout is a sister to four six-figure earners, headed by the Andover Hall mare Handover Belle (1:51 1/5, $564,868). “She’s a very nice filly. Her sister last year chipped a bone in train- ing, so we had to stop with her, and she’s in the sale, selling as a brood- mare,” said Hunterton’s Steve Stewart. “This filly has good size and is obviously out of a good family. “We own shares in Southwind Frank, and we’re pleasantly surprised at how well he’s done. He’ll have an uphill battle because of the fact that he doesn’t have a lot of numbers to help him, but I think he’s done very well considering the numbers he’s had to work with.” Gunjan Patel HIP 31 Swanlastry Hanover is a full brother to two $300,000-plus Like the earlier-mentioned Fear The Dragon, What The Hill is earners in Swan In A Million and Swan For All. also a first-crop sire who hails from Ohio, and he also has a chance to have one of his yearlings sell on Tuesday in HIP 137 Raising Hill. Consigned by Spring Haven Farm as agent, Raising Hill is out the Twinbrook Farms, based in Embro, Ontario, has the one year- Donato Hanover mare Lindys Head Nurse, making him a half-brother ling available by first-crop sire Fear The Dragon on Tuesday in HIP to last year’s Goldsmith Maid and Kindergarten Classic champion 44 Twin B Slayer. Twin B Slayer is the initial foal out of a lightly- Senorita Rita (1:53, $414,858). raced Shadow Play mare named Twin B Epic, a sister to a number This group of a half-dozen will join the other well-bred, top shelf of fast and hard-knocking individuals like Twin B Warrior (1:50 3/5, yearlings available on Tuesday as this year’s Standardbred Horse $699,119) and Twin B Elite (1:51 2/5, $408,523). Sale shifts from its usual location in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to the “He’s an absolutely stunning colt. He just is a package,” said Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium. The first session begins Tammy McNiven, who operates Twinbrook Farms with her husband at noon and HIPs 1-158 will be sold.

DRF Harness Weekend | 7 | November 2, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness

leading money-winning sires - 2020 2-year-old pacers 2-year-old trotters

Sire Name Foals Starters Earnings Avg Earnings Sire Name Foals Starters Earnings Avg Earnings SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE 116 93 3,307,362 28,512 LOVE YOU 6 4 791,114 131,852 CAPTAINTREACHEROUS 110 79 2,456,078 22,328 CANTAB HALL 88 60 2,283,012 25,943 ALWAYS B MIKI 111 61 1,950,445 17,572 CHAPTER SEVEN 85 66 2,184,149 25,696 ART MAJOR 69 49 1,205,414 17,470 MY MVP 24 13 542,266 22,594 MCARDLE 48 30 718,444 14,968 MUSCLE HILL 110 79 2,446,220 22,238 BRING ON THE BEACH 15 8 209,492 13,966 BAR HOPPING 61 45 1,354,503 22,205 WELL SAID 71 54 955,383 13,456 SOUTHWIND FRANK 49 29 883,834 18,037 MR APPLES 19 13 236,550 12,450 LOU’S LEGACY 25 20 428,758 17,150 SWEET LOU 84 55 996,552 11,864 MUSCLE MASS 101 67 1,709,761 16,928 JK ENDOFANERA 88 58 1,017,383 11,561 SOUTHWIND SPIRIT 18 8 303,116 16,840 AMERICAN IDEAL 113 69 1,292,129 11,435 DONATO HANOVER 75 41 1,132,036 15,094 SHADOW PLAY 91 57 1,033,014 11,352 FATHER PATRICK 91 72 1,324,246 14,552 BETTOR’S DELIGHT 121 63 1,342,231 11,093 SWAN FOR ALL 89 54 1,199,910 13,482 BETTING LINE 119 92 1,291,611 10,854 TRIUMPHANT CAVIAR 42 27 514,302 12,245 ROLL WITH JOE 71 52 762,401 10,738 ARCHANGEL 42 17 477,353 11,366 ALWAYS A VIRGIN 102 63 998,346 9,788 UNCLE PETER 88 56 965,239 10,969 WESTERN MAVERICK 22 16 214,215 9,737 DONTYOUFORGETIT 37 27 383,780 10,372 ALLAMERICAN NATIVE 17 8 150,707 8,865 CREDIT WINNER 55 36 560,671 10,194 ROCKIN AMADEUS 37 23 317,634 8,585 RC ROYALTY 17 10 162,417 9,554 WESTERN VINTAGE 17 12 135,695 7,982 TRIXTON 74 42 687,822 9,295 RACING HILL 93 62 728,062 7,829 E L TITAN 30 21 275,640 9,188 ROCKIN IMAGE 96 67 576,769 6,008 ROYALTY FOR LIFE 54 28 456,977 8,462 PET ROCK 83 59 466,000 5,614 KADABRA 70 35 558,032 7,972 SUNSHINE BEACH 144 67 768,128 5,334 SPORTSWRITER 137 88 656,545 4,792 3-year-old trotters BETTERTHANCHEDDAR 103 61 485,940 4,718 Sire Name Foals Starters Earnings Avg Earnings 3-year-old pacers READY CASH 7 4 973,990 139,141 MUSCLE HILL 103 57 4,289,805 41,649 Sire Name Foals Starters Earnings Avg Earnings FATHER PATRICK 81 56 2,833,737 34,984 CAPTAINTREACHEROUS 120 85 5,309,036 44,242 CHAPTER SEVEN 76 57 2,308,212 30,371 BETTOR’S DELIGHT 118 99 3,507,900 29,728 TRIXTON 90 44 1,903,753 21,153 SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE 126 105 3,304,430 26,226 RC ROYALTY 27 18 559,195 20,711 WESTERN IDEAL 46 33 1,033,168 22,460 WHEELING N DEALIN 34 24 671,537 19,751 SWEET LOU 94 72 2,045,881 21,765 TRIUMPHANT CAVIAR 37 22 700,693 18,938 SO SURREAL 45 35 934,341 20,763 CASH HALL 30 19 552,656 18,422 PET ROCK 64 45 1,228,177 19,190 UNCLE PETER 96 58 1,613,099 16,803 YANKEE CRUISER 34 24 637,193 18,741 ROYALTY FOR LIFE 69 47 1,117,229 16,192 ROCK N ROLL HEAVEN 40 30 694,761 17,369 SWAN FOR ALL 83 57 1,325,489 15,970 ROCKIN AMADEUS 41 18 696,339 16,984 CREDIT WINNER 49 34 741,153 15,126 TELLITLIKEITIS 56 37 930,424 16,615 CASSIS 25 17 373,333 14,933 NOB HILL HIGH 15 8 247,735 16,516 MUSCLES YANKEE 24 19 353,698 14,737 ROLL WITH JOE 85 60 1,336,023 15,718 PIZZAZZED 15 7 219,948 14,663 BOLT THE DUER 28 21 430,141 15,362 NOBLE VENTURE 15 10 215,554 14,370 SPORTSMASTER 18 12 269,277 14,960 MUSCLE MASS 99 69 1,311,613 13,249 HE’S WATCHING 77 57 1,143,829 14,855 WISHING STONE 30 17 396,247 13,208 ART MAJOR 92 75 1,366,370 14,852 KADABRA 84 57 1,107,801 13,188 RUSTY’S ALL IN 16 12 233,793 14,612 SEBASTIAN K S 68 31 888,321 13,064 WESTERN VINTAGE 17 12 229,397 13,494 ARCHANGEL 48 30 598,103 12,460 AMERICAN IDEAL 109 87 1,456,934 13,366 EXPLOSIVE MATTER 94 63 834,523 8,878 ROCKIN IMAGE 105 75 1,234,579 11,758 DONATO HANOVER 96 59 838,537 8,735 SPORTSWRITER 120 95 1,388,629 11,562 GUCCIO 83 30 687,897 8,288 BIG BAD JOHN 75 51 828,690 11,049 ALWAYS A VIRGIN 104 74 1,051,677 10,112 Statistics courtesy United States Trotting Association (accurate as of 11/1/20) WELL SAID 86 64 854,183 9,932 SUNSHINE BEACH 110 82 964,825 8,771

Horses listed ranked by average earnings and expanded to include the top 20 in total earning for each category. 15 starts required for average earnings unless in top 20 in total earnings.

DRF Harness Weekend | 9 | November 2, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness Revisiting the players and performances in the Breeders Crown

of trips, as he was lucky to jaywalking fall into a two- hole before the By Jay Bergman BergmanJay opening turn and somehow stay there until It’s a stretch that goes on forever, but in the end horses race the an eighth-of-a- exact same distance. mile remained. That’s my first takeaway from the dozen Breeders Crown races That Some- held this past weekend at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. It begs the ques- beachsome- tion: Do horses know the end of the mile? where’s name Friday night brought truly one of the greatest finishes in Crown came up on history as the camera couldn’t separate the undefeated Perfect Sting Saturday night from Summa Cum Laude, a first Crown dead-heat. While some have shouldn’t have already pointed to the fact that though Perfect Sting is undefeated been surpris- in 2020 he is not untied. There are now two occasions where Perfect ing. The late- Sting shared the winner’s circle. great racehorse Hopefully there will be no asterisks attached to Perfect Sting in and stallion has the future because he embodies precisely what all breeders are in left an indel- search of. He’s a racehorse with the genetic make-up of champions ible mark on on both sides of the ledger that has done something we rarely see. He the breed and that continued with his sons’ and daughters’ superior has been educated and developed weekly while still winning races efforts. Kissin In The Sand, Summa Cum Laude, Fire Start Hanover in all manners. Trainer Joe Holloway rightfully credited his owners and Sandbetweenmytoes gave his progeny two-thirds of the possible and breeders George Segal (Brittany Farms) and Martin Granoff Crown trophies this past weekend. Of course, the first three names (Val D’or Farms) for mapping out a strict schedule. Still, Holloway had a clear chance in their finals while Sandbetweenmytoes, the deserves enormous credit for keeping everything on schedule and longest shot by far to capture a Breeders Crown at 203-1, distin- most definitely having his horse prepared for the big one. guished his sire in an entirely different manner. Driver David Miller executed his Breeders Crown drive nicely It was the 3-year-old colt and gelding Breeders Crown final that behind Perfect Sting, placing the Always B Miki-sired colt in front saw the gelded Sandbetweenmytoes come from the clouds on the far where he remained right to the wire. Summa Cum Laude had a big outside to pass seven rivals that all appeared to be in some form of lead against Perfect Sting in Kentucky only to see that one track him suspended animation during the last eighth of a mile. The pictures down on the wire on perhaps Perfect Sting’s best effort of the year. don’t lie and again as we saw earlier this year in the North Amer- That he came back to earn the dead-heat on Friday was a product ica Cup elimination, simply surrounding Tall Dark Stranger on all of driver ’ patience and something we all need but can’t sides with an eighth-of-a-mile to go is no recipe for his defeat. As he always count on, and that is luck. For had Abuckabett Hanover, who did in September at Woodbine Mohawk Park when attacked on all had attacked coverless for Andy McCarthy on the final turn and was flanks, Tall Dark Stranger transmitted a will that has been emblem- nearing the leader, not made a nasty break in stride at head-stretch, atic of his brilliant career. It was a sign that suggests not only does Sears may have had a longer wait to find racing room for Summa Tall Dark Stranger know what he’s made of but that those coming Cum Laude. along his side are left powerless to go by. While Perfect Sting came into and left Indiana undefeated for a The lopsided nature of the fractions in the Breeders Crown sopho- winter retirement at Brittany Farms, Party Girl Hill would see her more pace (52 3/5 first half and 56 final half) impacted the front end unblemished record come to an end in her 15th career start. For the and the back end in this field, and at least on this night, allowed the brilliant daughter of Captaintreacherous the Hoosier Park stretch one-run specialist Sandbetweenmytoes the opportunity to acceler- was an obstacle, but at the same time so were two exceptional fillies ate while others were in neutral. When he did it in the first heat of on both of her flanks. In order to achieve greatness in this sport you the Little Brown Jug he appeared to be the best horse that day. A have to go up against the best and be your best. Party Girl Hill on different trip in the final proved his undoing. Saturday night couldn’t shake race-winner Peaky Sneaky as driver Sandbetweenmytoes gave trainer Jim Campbell his second Crown made the favorite work in order to get his pocket victory on Saturday night following the upset of Next Level Stuff placement and then got the most from his Bettor’s Delight-sired filly against the sophomore trotting fillies. Campbell’s Crystal Fashion when it mattered most. Lyons Sentinel, who looked much better nearly gave him a third win on the card and a second major upset scoring down before this race than I’ve seen her all season long, when he overcame post nine and gave Gimpanzee a race in the once again got denied a Breeders Crown victory despite another $500,000 . Crystal Fashion would be a unbelievable trip. clear second as Gimpanzee won his third Breeders Crown in succes- Bettor’s Wish joined Lyons Sentinel in the category of horses sion. While the race was handicapped to be a two-horse contest that have been favored and done all of the work in a mile only to between Gimpanzee and Atlanta, the duel never unfolded. Gimpan- be defeated twice by horses that just had easier trips. The 4-year- zee was able to get an easy regain and a very moderate half. By the old Bettor’s Wish was looking to rebound from the upset victory of time Yannick Gingras pulled Atlanta to go up without cover, Brian Dancin Lou in last year’s 3-year-old championship and despite land- Sears had Gimpanzee shift gears on the final turn and assure the ing post nine driver Dexter Dunn appeared to have a solid game plan two would never see eye-to-eye. mapped out as the $500,000 Open Pace unfolded. Dunn put Bettor’s Overall The Breeders Crown in 2020 was very much like others in Wish in a four-hole early and then marched up without cover on its rich past. When you get to the end of the stakes season horses and favorite Backstreet Shadow, a horse it appeared he knew he could horsemen go harder at each other than at any other time of the year. pass when he wanted to. That many horses don’t have to come back for another race or races Dunn got what he wanted and was able to edge Bettor’s Wish to gives drivers the willingness to push them just a bit harder. Visually the lead in mid-stretch, but when the passing lane opened Century it may not look that much different to some, but it’s the subtle strat- Farroh took advantage of the room and won the sprint to the wire. egy of parking a rival a few extra yards that ultimately changes the It was the second time this season Century Farroh had gotten by dynamics of these championship races. Bettor’s Wish deep in the stretch at Hoosier, with the first being his Essentially the Breeders Crown is harness racing at its ultimate upset in the Dan Patch in August. Century Farroh had the easiest sort best.

DRF Harness Weekend | 10 | November 2, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness

Dozen champions crowned over two nights at Hoosier

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 - 2-YEAR-OLDS Driven by Dexter Dunn, Fire Start Lady Chaos takes filly trot Hanover was able to find a hole in third from post Even-money favorite Lady seven while Scar- Chaos kicked off the Breed- lett Hanover (Matt ers Crown for 2020 at Harrah’s Kakaley) went to Hoosier Park with a 1:54 4/5 the top and put the victory in the $600,000 final 26 4/5 opening quar- for rookie trotting fillies on ter on the board. Friday night. Elimination winner Mazzarati (), JK Alwaysbalady coming off a victory in her (Yannick Gingras) elimination a week ago, left popped pocket past ‘Nifty’ Norman (left) and Dexter Dunn fastest from post four and that point and paced were the winning team behind Fire Start clicked off the opening quar- around Scarlett Hanover. ter in 27 1/5, but Lady Chaos Hanover, but Fire (David Miller), the other elim- Start Hanover was ination winner last Friday, Derick Giwner Photos out and moving too, and she would forge her way around JK Alway- was two-wide and pressing on Linda Toscano raises her sbalady after the 55 3/5 half. at that point, and she would Breeders Crown trophy after a READ MORE FROM GREG REINHART become the new leader before victory by Lady Chaos. the 57 1/5 half went on the board. Perfect Sting, Summa Cum Laude dead-heat in colt pace READ MORE FROM GREG REINHART History was made in the $600,000 Breeders On A Streak upsets Venerate in colt trot Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace on Friday night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park as the first dead-heat in a final in the event’s history occured when the camera could not separate Perfect Sting and Summa Cum Laude. Perfect Sting’s share of the victory improved his record Summa Cum Laude (6) and Perfect to ten wins from ten Sting make the turn back towards the starts. winner’s circle. The colts came out with all guns blazing right away as Perfect Sting (David Miller) and Southwind Gendry (Yannick Gingras), the two elimination winners, Diamond Creek Farm’s Adam Bowden presents the trophy to the smoked an opening quarter in 25 3/5, with Southwind Gendry landing connections of On A Streak. on the point. Miller decided he didn’t want to sit, though, and brought Perfect Sting to the outside. He paced up to and then around South- wind Gendry, clearing as they passed the half in 54 1/5. On A Streak and driver Bob McClure surged down the stretch to READ MORE FROM GREG REINHART overcome pace-setter Captain Corey and then held off In Range by three-quarters of a length to win Friday’s (Oct. 30) $600,000 Breed- ers Crown for 2-year-old male trotters in a stakes record 1:52 4/5 at SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 - 3-YEAR-OLDS & older Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Venerate finished third. McClure left quickly from post four with On A Streak and led head- Manchego picks ing to the first turn before yielding the top spot to Captain Corey and driver Ake Svanstedt through a 26 4/5 opening quarter. up third Breeders Venerate, the 4-5 favorite, and driver Andy Miller began a bid for the front with a first-over move from fifth up the backstretch, but Crown win were unable to pass Captain Corey as they hit the half in 55 3/5 and three-quarters in 1:24 1/5. In the stretch, McClure angled the pocket- Manchego became sitting On A Streak to the inside and took the lead en route a 9-1 upset. only the fourth trot- READ MORE FROM KEN WEINGARTNER ter in history to win three Breeders Crown trophies by capturing Dexter Dunn (left) and Nancy Takter Fire Start Hanover hangs on in filly pace Saturday’s (Oct. 31) (second from right in forefront) won $300,000 Mare Trot in multiple Breeders Crown races. Fire Start Hanover improved off a second-place finish in her elimi- 1:52 at Harrah’s Hoosier nation a week ago to a 1:50 4/5 winner of the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace final on Friday night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

DRF Harness Weekend | 12 | November 2, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 the latter event on Saturday night at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Driven by Dexter Dunn for trainer Nifty Norman in the $500,000 Park. Dispatched as the 4-5 favorite, Manchego won by 3 1/4 lengths race, Amigo Volo was third at the 27 1/5 opening quarter as Play Trix over Plunge Blue Chip. When Dovescry overcame a break at the start On Me (Joe Bongiorno) and Back Of The Neck (Ake Svanstedt) tussled to rally for third. for the lead. Back Of The Neck cleared past that marker, but Amigo Manchego joined Peace Corps, Grades Singing, and as Volo brushed in the backstretch and overtook him prior to the 56 the only trotters with at least three Crowns. Peace Corps holds the second half-mile marker. Breeders Crown record with four titles; Grades Singing and Mack READ MORE FROM GREG REINHART Lobell each had three. READ MORE FROM KEN WEINGARTNER Kissin In The Sand the clear Queen of the mare pacers

Next Level Stuff sets track record in Crown There’s a new queen in town, and her name is Next Level Stuff sat an Kissin In The Sand. Driver inside trip near the pace and Dexter Dunn made no then pounced in the passing mistakes, and the 5-year- lane to win the $500,000 Breed- old daughter of Some- ers Crown 3-Year-Old Filly beachsomewhere was Trot final on Saturday night powerful, scoring in 1:48 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in a 4/5 in the $300,000 Breed- track record 1:52. ers Crown for Open Mares, Starting from the pole decisively defeating the position, driver Tim Tetrick 2019 Horse of the Year showed some speed with Next Shartin in the process, at Level Stuff, a Jim Camp- Owner Scott Farber fought off Harrah’s Hoosier Park on bell trainee, and wound up tears as he extolled praise on Saturday night. Dexter Dunn gives Kissin In The in the three-hole after the trainer Jim Campbell. The lead was a valu- Sand a pat of approval after her 27 2/5 opening quarter as able commodity in this Breeders Crown win. Sorella (Yannick Gingras) and affair, as Rockin Nola and Hypnotic AM (Brian Sears) moved past her. Hypnotic AM continued Warrawee Ubeaut dueled early, with the latter taking control into the to put up the fractions after she cleared from post seven, hitting the opening bend. Tim Tetrick, behind Shartin, sent his mare three-deep half in 55 2/5 and the three-quarters in 1:23 4/5, with Love A Good into the turn to clear the favorite, and then needed the entire first Story (Andy Miller) moving up first-over from fourth. turn before securing command past the 26 4/5 opening fraction. READ MORE FROM GREG REINHART READ MORE FROM JAY BERGMAN Peaky Sneaky stops Party Girl Hill in filly pace Sandbetweenmytoes posts biggest Crown upset ever

Peaky Sneaky became the In one of the greatest first filly to defeat Party Girl stretch drives you’ll ever Hill, and she made the most see anywhere, Tall Dark of it, capturing the $500,000 Stranger fought off seem- Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old ingly every horse in the Filly Pace final on Saturday $500,000 Breeders Crown night (Oct. 31) at Harrah’s 3-Year-Old Colt Pace Hoosier Park with Yannick final, but he couldn’t see Gingras driving . Sandbetweenmytoes on Peaky Sneaky used a pocket trip Gingras and Peaky Sneaky the far outside, and the to win her Breeders Crown. left explosively to secure the 203-1 Sandbetweenmy- lead before yielding into the toes, who was next-to- opening bend to Rocknificent and driver Scott Zeron. Peaky Sneaky, a last at three-quarters Nancy Takter trainee, was quick to regain at the 26 2/5 opening quar- and the longest shot on ter, and she then stung the 1-5 favorite Party Girl Hill before allowing the board, got up before her to pass at the halfway point in 54 seconds. the wire to win in the READ MORE FROM JAY BERGMAN biggest upset in Breeders Crown history. The final time over the Harrah’s Amigo Volo dug in to take colt trot Hoosier Park oval was Driver Scott Zeron commented, “I 1:48 3/5. was just trying to get a check at that Cattlewash (David point but he kept coming.” Miller) was intent on the lead early, and Miller put him under urging past the start to establish control and force Warrawee Vital (Tim Tetrick) into the pocket. The opening quarter was registered in 25 3/5, and it was past that marker that Tall Dark Stranger (Yannick Gingras) went from third to first. The tempo remained fast after Tall Dark Stranger hit the top, though, as the half went on the board in a sizzling 52 3/5. READ MORE FROM GREG REINHART A large group showed up to support Amigo Volo.

Amigo Volo joined his sire Father Patrick, along with Gimpanzee, CONTINUED ON PAGE 14 Malabar Man, and Muscle Hill, as horses to win the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Trot and 3-Year-Old Colt Trot with a 1:53 decision in

DRF Harness Weekend | 13 | November 2, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13 Century Farroh uses pocket trip to score in Open Pace

Gimpanzee triples up with Open Trot Crown victory David Miller had Century Farroh in just Gimpanzee made it three the right spot, and the Breeders Crown titles in a row 4-year-old son of Mach by winning Saturday’s (Oct. Three charged by favor- 31) $500,000 Open Trot by a ite Bettor’s Wish in the length over Crystal Fashion late stages to capture the in 1:51 3/5 at Harrah’s Hoosier $500,000 Breeders Crown Park. Atlanta finished third. Open Pace at Harrah’s Gimpanzee, a 4-year-old Hoosier Park on Satur- stallion, became the fifth day night (Oct. 31). trotter in history to win at Century Farroh left least three Breeders Crown hard from the outside trophies, joining Peace Corps, and tucked in behind Grades Singing, Mack Lobell, early speedster Back- and Manchego - who accom- street Shadow heading plished the feat earlier in the into the first turn. Tim Century Farroh took the final Crown at Hoosier Park on October 31. night. Peace Corps, who leads Tetrick guided Back- Trainer Marcus Melander holds the group with a record four street Shadow to the up three fingers for the number Crowns, and Mack Lobell are quarter in 26 3/5 and was able to slow the half to 54 1/5 as favorite of Breeders Crown wins for the only others to win titles at Bettor’s Wish and driver Dexter Dunn tracked from fourth after leav- Gimpanzee. ages 2, 3, and 4. ing the gate. READ MORE FROM KEN WEINGARTER READ MORE FROM JAY BERGMAN

(top left) Trainer Nancy Takter and Marcus Johansson embrace after Kissin In The Sand’s win. (top right) Trainer Linda Toscano and driver David Miller share a moment to celebrate Lady Chaos’ In honor of Halloween, Diamond Creek Farm President Adam victory. (bottom left) Miller and Joe Holloway share a moment Bowden (right) and VP Shaun Laungani pose in front of fellow following a dead-heat win by Perfect Sting. (bottom right) Nancy breeding operation Hanover Shoe Farms’ poster. Takter and Yannick Gingras hug following Peaky Sneaky’s win.

DRF Harness Weekend | 14 | November 2, 2020 Visit us online at drf.com/harness