Trotters Peaceful Way and Mr Muscleman are joined by pacers Boulder Creek and Burning Point as morning-line favorites for Saturday night's Breeders Crown races at Mohawk.
Peaceful Way, currently the top-ranked standardbred in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, drew post two and was made the 3-5 favorite in the $302,500 Breeders Crown Mare Trot. Trained by Dave Tingley and driven by Trevor Ritchie, Peaceful Way has won all six of her starts this year, including the Armbro Flight and Classic Oaks, and has a 9 race win streak dating back to last October's Breeders Crown. Peaceful Way, who equaled the world record of 1:51 4/5 for female trotters in July, went off stride in last year's Breeders Crown for three-year-old filly trotters, which was won by Housethatruthbuilt. Lifetime, Peaceful Way has won 25 of 31 starts and $2.1 million. "We're going into this race fresh and confident," trainer Dave Tingley said. "She hasn't raced since the Classic final, but she qualified in 1:54 with a last quarter in 27 (seconds), just as effortless as could be. Hopefully, it all works out for us this time."
Housethatruthbuilt, starting from post seven, was made the 5-2 second choice while Windylane Hanover, who drew the rail, was third at 8-1. Peaceful Way has won two O'Brien Awards as Canada's top filly trotter, while Housethatruthbuilt earned the Dan Patch Award for divisional honors in the U.S. last year. Windylane Hanover was the top trotting mare in 2003.
Mr Muscleman, the No. 2-rated standardbred this season, drew post six in the $968,000 Breeders Crown Trot and was made the 2-5 favorite in a field of seven. Muscles Marinara, from post two, and Hellava Hush, from post five, were both 5-1. Mr Muscleman, trained by Mike Vanderkemp and driven by Ron Pierce, will be hoping to win his second Breeders Crown title – he won the Crown for three-year-olds in 2003. He has won 10 of 12 starts and $585,650 this season. Lifetime, he has won 30 of 54 and $2.7 million.
Boulder Creek, looking to win a second consecutive Breeders Crown championship, was made the 2-1 favorite in the $713,900 Breeders Crown Pace. The Open Pace was the only race that needed eliminations, with Boulder Creek and Town Champion posting victories. The winners got to select post positions, and the connections of Boulder Creek, chosen by lot to pick first, took post four while the connections of Town Champion selected post five. "Brian (Sears) wanted to be able to get away," Boulder Creek's trainer Mark Silva said of the post choice. "Posts one and two here tend to get batted back – even post three a little bit. If they had picked first and taken post four, we would have taken post five. We wanted somewhere in the middle. We want to be able to go from the gate." Haughton Memorial winner Dr No, who was fourth in his elim, was made the 4-1 second choice in the Open Pace final and will start from post seven for driver Cat Manzi and trainer Bill Elliott. Town Champion, trained by Seldon Ledford and driven by his son, Eric, was 9-2.
Burning Point, the winner of the Breeders Crown for three-year-old fillies in 2003, was made 5-2 for the $401,115 Breeders Crown Mare Pace, which drew a field of 11. She will start from post three for driver Kevin Wallis and trainer Steve Elliott. Wallis was Burning Point's regular driver in 2003, when his wife, Linda, became just the second female trainer to claim a Crown title. Burning Point has won the Lady Liberty, Classic Distaff and Golden Girls this year. "It sure is a pleasure to be back driving her," Wallis said. "She is real good, just like her old self. She's one of those warhorses that just thrives on racing and work. She's as good now as she's ever been in her career." Carolina Sunshine, who will start from post five, was the 4-1 second choice. Glowing Report and Invitro were 9-2 while Loyal Opposition was 5-1. Loyal Opposition is the defending Dan Patch Award winner for best pacing mare.
