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 Honorary Drawmaster defenceman Bryan Marchment, the newest member of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. |
Dateline: 08/27/03
On Tuesday, the entries were taken and post positions drawn for the Breeders Crown older horse events, to be run at Woodbine on Saturday night August 30th. Unlike the Thoroughbred equivalent, the Breeders' Cup, the Hambletonian Society splits its championship event into two, holding the older horse events in late August and saving the 2 and 3-year-old events for mid October. In past years the Meadowlands has hosted the older events and Woodbine hosted the 2 and 3 year olds, but this year the two tracks swapped events. On hand to assist at the draw was special guest drawmaster Bryan Marchment of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In the $300,000 Open Mare Pace, carded as Race 7, a field of six will line up behind the barrier, with three of the richest female pacers in history doing battle once again.
 Bunny Lake, the favorite for the Open Mare Pace. |
Here are the entries for the Open Mare Pace with post positions, drivers, and odds:
#1 – Eternal Camnation, Eric Ledford 5-2 #2 - Cam Swifty, Steve Condren 15-1 #3 – Molly Can Do It, Jack Moiseyev 10-1 #4 – Worldly Beauty, Luc Ouellette 3-1 #5 - Bunny Lake, John Campbell 1-1 #6 - Always Cam, David Miller 8-1
The $540,000 Open Pace, the eighth race of the night, drew nine horses, including favored Art Major, winner of the U.S. Pacing Championship at the Meadowlands and then the Canadian Pacing Derby at Woodbine last time out. Going into this race with a three race win streak, he goes off as the 3-5 morning line choice, drawing post 5. His arch-rival, McArdle, who finished behind him in last year's Crown, drew post 6 and is the 5-1 second choice.
John Campbell, driver of the two pacing favorites, said, "It's a good draw for both of them. It's important for Bunny Lake and Art Major to get crossed over and in good position on a speed-favoring track like Woodbine. I don't think about comparing which one has the better shot, but rather that both are going into the race at the top of their game and so very competitive. They will need a certain amount of racing luck to start with and not have anything be too hard on them. That start will help them."
Here are the entries for the Open Pace with post positions, drivers, and odds:
#1 – King Tutpankhamen, Daniel Dube 20-1 #2 – Four Starzz Shark, Luc Ouellette 9-2 #3 – Royal Mattjesty, Randall Waples 15-1 #4 – Mcdylan, Trevor Ritchie 20-1 #5 – Art Major, John Campbell 3-5 #6 – Mcardle, Mike Lachance 5-1 #7 – Corona Grande, Chris Christoforou 20-1 #8 – Mini Me, David Miller 8-1
In the $800,000 Open Trot, defending champion Fools Goal won his elimination race last weekend and as a result, his connections got to pick his post and they chose the rail for their 8-5 morning line favorite. Second choice is Rotation, who drew the seven hole. Looking to surpass $1 million in earnings with a victory on Saturday night, Rotation won
 Cameron Hall will take on the boys in the Open Trot. |
Cameron Hall is the only mare in the field, and drew post nine. Having earned over $2 million in her career, she attempts to become just the third distaffer to win the Trot, after CR Kay Suzie in 1996 and Moni Maker in 1998.
Here are the entries for the Open Pace with post positions, drivers, and odds:
#1 – Fools Goal, Jack Moiseyev 8-5 #2 – Saint Johns Boy, George Brennan 30-1 #3 – H P Paque, Jorma Erkki Kontio 5-1 #4 – Monte Hall, Mike Lachance 20-1 #5 – Victory Sam, Chris Christoforou 30-1 #6 – Abbey Road C, Keith Jones 10-1 #7 – Rotation, Trevor Ritchie 2-1 #8 – Victory Cruise, John Campbell 10-1 #9 – Cameron Hall, Ron Pierce 8-1 #10 – Oaklea Julian, Keith Oliver 30-1
On the undercard of the Crown will be the $1,112,700 (Canadian) Metro Pace for two-year-old colts. The posts for this event were drawn last Saturday after the eliminations had been run. I Am A Fool, winner of his elimination by 3 1/2 lengths, gets the rail and goes off as the 5-2 favorite in the field of ten. In his last stakes attempt he finished third in the Woodrow Wilson Stakes at the Meadowlands. Brandons Cowboy, a son of 1999 North America Cup winner The Panderosa, proved a handy 1 3/4 length winner in his elimination, and is the 7-2 second choice, and will race out of post 4. His driver, John Campbell, will attempt a record fifth Metro win, after victories with Artsplace (1990), Gothic Dream (1996), The Firepan (1999) and stakes record-holder Pro Bono Best (2000).
Here are the entries for the Metro Pace with post positions, drivers, and odds:
#1 – I Am A Fool, Ron Pierce 5-2 #2 – Dave Aint Here, Doug Brown 12-1 #3 – Western Affluence, Steve Condren 7-1 #4 – Brandons Cowboy, John Campbell 7-2 #5 – Osage Hanover, Trevor Ritchie 15-1 #6 – Droppinthehammer, Mike Lachance 10-1 #7 – Camelot Hall, George Brennan 9-2 #8 – Putasmileon, Randall Waples 10-1 #9 – Dual Personality, Mark Saftic 8-1 #10 – Our Lucky Killean, Luc Ouellette 12-1
Free past performances for the three Breeders Crown events are available online from the Hambletonian Society.
The Score sports channel in Canada will televise all four races in a special live telecast from 9 to 11 pm ET on Saturday night. The races will also be available at some simulcast locations across North America.
Photos ©2003 Cindy Pierson Dulay, licensed to About.
