Dateline: 08/30/03

Saturday night, August 30, Woodbine played host to the Breeders Crown older horse events, the Open Pace, Open Mare Pace, and Open Trot, plus the rich Metro Pace for the 2-year-olds. Chalk players were all smiles as short-priced horses failed to disappoint in all four events.

In the $800,000 (US) Open Trot, 3-2 favorite and 2002 champion Fools Goal was back to defend his title against eight others. H P Paque outgunned the field at the start, getting the lead right away going 1/4 in 26 seconds, after which driver Jack Moiseyev decided to put the field away early. Taking Fools Goal wide around the first turn, he got the lead after a half in 56 and didn't look back, extending his lead the rest of the way to win by four over the late running longest shot on the board Victory Sam in a time of 1:52 4/5. It was another 4 1/2 lengths back to Abbey Road C in third.

Fools Goal and Jack Moiseyev winning the Breeders Crown Open Trot. Moiseyev said, "My horse is best on front and once I got there, I just made my mind up to stay there. I kept him rolling (at the top of the stretch), asked him a little bit, he opened up five (lengths) and kept trotting right to the wire. I was very happy with him."

Chris Christoforou, driver of second place finisher Victory Sam, said, "I didn't have to use him much in the elimination which saved a lot for me this week. Tonight he was a bit fresher and raced super. I was hoping for a check, I mean the horse was 99 to one."

Keith Jones, driver and trainer of third place finisher Abbey Road C, said, "I wanted to be up close but I ended up getting shuffled back and had to come four wide off the rail because there was no room. But the end result was good, this was a great thrill."

In the $540,000 Open Pace, 1-2 favorite Art Major was in tough against old rivals McArdle, Four Starzzz Shark and Mini Me. But like Fools Goal, he lived up to his backers' expectations. 9-1 shot Mini Me was quickest away and got the early lead through a quarter in 25 1/5 but after that it was all Art Major. John Campbell sent the favorite to the front on the clubhouse turn, and Art Major held the lead the rest of the way around the track, holding off the late run of McArdle by half a length in a time of 1:49 4/5. It was another 3/4 length back to Four Starzzz Shark in third. The win gave John Campbell his 40th in the Breeders Crown.

Art Major holds off the late runs of Mcardle and Four Starzzz Shark in the Breeders Crown Open Pace. Winning driver John Campbell said, "He's a great horse, he's been a phenomenal drive for me for 2 years and he's just dead game, he digs in and fights horses off."

Ed Galinski, assistant to winning trainer Bill Robinson, said, "When I saw him on the front end I was hoping he'd just hang on. You always worry when you see a horse like McArdle coming at you but I didn't stop worrying until the mile was over. I've been with [Robinson] for 6 years and I've seen lots of good ones like Presidential Ball and Precious Bunny, and I have to say [Art Major] ranks right up there. Now we hope he goes on to make a great sire."

Mike Lachance, driver of McArdle, said, "This is the best he's ever raced for me in the 2 years I've driven him. he just fought all the way through the lane. If I draw inside I think I can beat him."

Ed Hart, trainer of Four Starzzz Shark , said "If he'd been able to get on a roll I think he would have won. But it's tough to win from off the pace here. I was proud of his race."

In the $300,000 Open Mare Pace, longtime rivals Bunny Lake, Eternal Camnation, and Worldly Beauty, the three richest pacing mares in history, were back at it again in a compact field of six. In a battle for the ages, 4-5 favorite Bunny lake and 2-1 second choice Eternal Camnation battled for the entire distance of the event, with Bunny Lake and John Campbell getting the lead early, running the 1/4 in 26 2/5, after which Eric Ledford hustled Eternal Camnation to the front down the backstretch to force the issue. Leading by 2 lengths after a half in 54 1/5 and by 1 3/4 after 3/4 in 1:23 4/5, it looked like she was home free. However, Bunny Lake poked her head out in front in mid stretch. In the final strides, Eternal Camnation battled back and outfinished Bunny Lake to win by a hard fought length in 1:51 1/5. It was another length back to 14-1 shot Cam Swifty in third, while Worldly Beauty finished fourth. By winning the event, Eternal Camnation became the only pacing mare to win three Breeders Crown races and only the second pacer to do so. She also extended her reign as harness racing's richest pacing mare.

Eternal Camnation holds off her arch rival Bunny Lake (blue blinkers) in the Breeders Crown Open Mare Pace. Winning driver Eric Ledford said, "She's a dream come true for me. Bunny Lake actually got by me for a couple steps. But [Eternal Camnation] looks them in the eye and fights back to show the true champion that she is. This mare just refuses to lose, seems to do her best in the toughest races."

John Campbell, driver of second place finisher Bunny Lake, said, "My mare just couldn't sustain her drive to the wire. Se didn't disgrace herself. She got beat by one of the greatest mares of all time."

Steve Condren, driver of third place finisher Cam Swifty, said, " Realistically we were chasing the top three fillies in North America and we actually beat one of them [Worldly Beauty] so everyone's pleasantly surprised."

On the undercard of the Breeders Crown was the $1,122,700 (Can) Metro Pace for two-year-old pacing colts. Camelot Hall broke his maiden when it counted most, capturing the event by 2 1/2 lengths as the 3-1 third choice in the field of ten. After 79-1 longshot Our Lucky Killean led the field through an initial quarter in 26 4/5 seconds, driver George Brennan got Camelot Hall to the lead. At the half, 67-1 shot Putasmileon briefly got the lead by Camelot Hall fought that one off and regained the lead which he would not relinquish. Down the lane he held of the late rush of 6-5 favorite I Am A Fool to win by 2 1/2 lengths in a time of 1:51 4/5. It was another 4 1/2 lengths back to Droppinthehammer in third.

Camelot Hall and driver George Brennan in front by 2 1/2 lengths in the Metro Pace for the 2-year-olds. Brennan said, "I wanted to have him on the top or near the lead. He has never raced bad yet. Every performance has been good. He can do it either way. He can come off the gate, which I did two times with him. Tonight was the first time I really asked him to leave. I'm real happy with him."

More Breeders Crown info:

• Breeders Crown site - articles for each race here
• Metro Pace recap from Woodbine
• Breeders Crown recap from Woodbine
• Race recaps - from USTA
• Results charts - from Woodbine
• Video replays of each race - from USTA

Photos ©2003 Cindy Pierson Dulay, licensed to About.