Two horses, Bee A Magician and Captaintreacherous, went into last night $5.6 Breeders Crown hoping to get the edge and make their case for Harness Horse of the Year. And when the night was over at Pocono Downs (near Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) both horses were in the discussion.
Bee A Magician remained undefeated, easily winning the $500,000 3-Year-Old Filly Trot, while Captaintreacherous hung on gamely in the $500,000 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace.
The Breeders Crown is 12 races for 2-year-old, 3-year-old and older horses of both gaits and gender.
Driver Brian Sears wanted the 1-9 favorite, Bee A Magician, on the front end, so just past the quarter in :27, she took command from Frau Blucher (10-1).
Trained by Nifty Norman, Bee A Magician led the field past a half in :55 2/5 and three-quarters in 1:24.
In the stretch, Sears never appeared to urge Bee A Magician and didn’t have to as she easily opened up on the field for a 4 ¹/₂-length win over Frau Blucher in 1:52 4/5. Southwind Cocoa was third.
“She goes over the ground so easy, you don’t know how fast she’s going,” Sears said.
Now a perfect 15-for-15 this season, Bee A Magician paid $2.10 to win.
Trained by Tony Alagna and driven by Tim Tetrick, Captaintreacherous, the 2-5 favorite, took the lead, yielded to Sunfire Blue Chip (12-1) right past the quarter and then took the lead back again before the half.
In the stretch, Captaintreacherous had a length advantage on the closing Sunshine Beach (15-1) and even though that lead dwindled to a neck, a dead-game Captaintreacherous refused to lose, taking the victory in 1:49 2/5. Lucan Hanover was third.
“Every time I race the horse I think it’s his finest moment and then he gives me another one. I think the horse just continues to impress,” said Alagna.
Captaintreacherous paid $2.80 to win.
Trainer Jimmy Takter was dominant early in the night, capturing the first three Crown races, giving him a record 18 Crown trophies.
The most dominant Takter trainee of the night was Father Patrick, who, as the 1-9 favorite, showed his division dominance, easily scoring a 1 ¹/₄-length victory over Nuncio in 1:54 in the $500,000 2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot. Credit Fashion finished third.
Driver Yannick Gingras put Father Patrick on the lead though a fast opening quarter of :26 4/5 before slowing things down passing the half in :57 and the three-quarter-mile marker in 1:26.
Despite a good closing effort in the stretch, Nuncio (3-1) and John Campbell couldn’t come close to catching a wrapped-up Father Patrick.
“He’s one in a million. I think he’s just better than everybody, more complete,” Takter said.
Father Patrick paid $2.10 to win.
Uffizi Hanover (4-1) gave Takter his second victory of the night in the $500,000 2-Year-Old Filly Pace.
Driver David Miller gave Uffizi Hanover a perfect second-over trip to score a three-quarter length victory over Beach Body in 1:52 1/5. Southwind Silence was third.
Uffizi Hanover paid $10.20 to win.
Shake It Cerry completed Takter’s natural hat trick by winning the $500,000 2-Year-Old Filly Trot in a Crown-record time of 1:53 4/5.
Driver Ron Pierce and Shake It Cerry had an early uncontested lead after even-money favorite Cooler Schooner went offstride.
As the 11-10 second choice, Shake It Cerry was never seriously challenged, scoring a 1 ³/₄-length victory over Struck By Lindy. Market Rally was third.
Shake It Cerry paid $4.20 to win.
The $600,000 Open Trot delivered one of the closest finishes of the night as barely a nose separated the victorious Market Share from Mister Herbie.
Market Share (2-1) challenged Mister Herbie (6-1) in the stretch to barely gain the win in 1:51 flat. Arch Madness was third.
Market Share, trained by Linda Toscano and driven by Tim Tetrick, paid $6.00 to win, and gave Tetrick three winners on the night.
Tetrick also won the $500,000 3-Year-Old Filly Pace with the Chris Ryder-trainee I Luv The Nitelife.
As the even-money second choice, I Luv The Nitelife, who’s spent most of her time on the front end this season, was content to sit the pocket and let 4-5 favorite Shebestingin do all the work.
Tetrick pulled I Luv The Nitelife out of the pocket in the stretch and drew off for a 3 ¹/₄-length victory over Authorize. Aunt Caroline was third.
“She’s a great horse and great horses do great things,” said Ryder of his filly, who now has 13 wins in 14 starts this season.
I Luv The Nitelife paid $4 to win.
Luck was certainly with Pierce as he garnered his second win of the night in the $500,000 2-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace with Luck Be Withyou.
Pierce was content to have Luck Be Withyou (the 9-5 second choice) sit in the pocket behind 3-2 favorite Somestarsomewhere.
In the stretch, Luck Be Withyou took the lead and held off Sometimes Said for a neck victory in 1:52. Somestarsomewhere was third.
Luck Be Withyou, trained by Chris Oakes, paid $5.80 to win.
In the $250,000 Open Mare Trot, Gingras got his second Crown of the night with 1-5 favorite Maven.
Maven put in a gutsy performance, spending most of mile parked until the stretch, where she collared pace-setting Cedar Dove (24-1).
Trained by Jonas Czernyson, Maven drew off to win by 2 ¹/₄-lengths over Cedar Dove in 1:52 3/5. Dorsay was third.
Maven returned $2.60 to win.
David Miller guided his second winner of the night when Shelliscape won the $300,000 Open Mare Pace in 1:50 by a head over Rocklamation. Anndrovette was third.
Shelliscape (4-1) followed a parked out Rocklamation (7-2) and eventually wore that one down in the stretch for the victory.
Trained by PJ Fraley, Shelliscape paid $10.20.
Spider Blue Chip won the $500,000 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot, giving Pierce his third victory of the night.
Trained by Chuck Sylvester, 6-5 favorite Spider Blue Chip, held on to score a neck victory Creatine in 1:53 3/5. Smilin Eli was third.
Spider Blue Chip paid $4.60 to win.
Foiled Again the richest pacer in harness racing history won the $500,000 Open Pace by the smallest of noses over Pet Rock (9-2) in 1:49 2/5. Modern Legend was third.
Trained by Ron Burke and driven by Yannick Gingras, Foiled Again (the 4-5 favorite), took the lead parked at the half and at 9-years-old was tough as nails hanging on at the wire, giving Gingras his third win of the night.
Foiled Again paid $3.80 to win.