The state of Indiana will be well represented in the 35th edition of the prestigious Breeders Crown eliminations Saturday, Oct. 20 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. The entire 14-race card is dedicated to eliminations with the top 10 from each division coming back for the Oct. 27 final.
Hannelore Hanover trots right on past her male counterparts to win the Breeders Crown Open Trot in 2017 at Hoosier Park. (Photo by Dean Gillette)
Included in the lineup of Indiana sired horses is Carol’s Z Tam and Seventimesavirgin (older pacing mares), Fiftydallarbill (three-year-old pacing colts and geldings), Shnitzledosomethin (three-year-old colt and gelding pace) and Homicide Hunter and Hannelore Hanover (open trotters).
Carol’s Z Tam goes into the second race of the night seeking to make the final in the older pacing mares division. Owned by Z Tam Stables LLC and trained by Jamie Macomber, the Always A Virgin four-year-old comes into her division with six wins this year and a career best time of 1:49.0 taken earlier this summer. Brian Sears has been named to drive Carol’s Z Tam from post four in her eight-horse elimination.
Seventimesavirgin, also a daughter of Always A Virgin, will begin from post seven in the second division of the older pacing mares in race five. Owned by Jesse Delong and trained by Jimmy Nickerson, the former Indiana champion has five wins this season with her best clocked in 1:51.2. Corey Callahan was the early choice for driver for Seventimesavirgin.
Fiftydallarbill, winner of the two-year-old trotting colts and geldings title in 2017, will step up to the starting gate in the eighth race of the night from post five, the second division for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. With eight wins in 15 starts this season and a career best time of 1:52.1, the Swan For All colt, trained by Bill Crone, has earned in excess of $360,000 and is closing in on $1 million in career earnings for owner John Barnard. Brett Miller will drive Fiftydallarbill in his elimination.
Shnitzledosomethin and David Miller will seek to make the final from post one in race 12 of the evening, the third division of the three-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Trained by Dylan Davis, the Fred and Ginger colt has two wins this season with his best time recorded at Hoosier Park recently in 1:50.4.
The final elimination of the night will pit two superstars together as Hannelore Hanover (defending champ) and Homicide Hunter (fastest trotter ever) will battle in the second division for the open trotters. Hannelore Hanover will begin from post two while Homicide Hunter has drawn post four. The queen of trotters, Hannelore Hanover has won six of 11 starts in 2018 with a best time of 1:50.2 while Homicide Hunter, a product of Mr Cantab, has won eight of his 14 outings for 2018 and a career best time of 1:48.4 taken recently at The Red Mile, which registered as the fastest trotting mile ever in the history of harness racing. Yannick Gingras drives Hannelore Hanover while Brian Sears gets the call behind Homicide Hunter in race 14.