It's My Show Steals The Spotlight In Little Brown Jug

Sep 22, 2023

Hunterton Born and Raised It's My Show stole the spotlight as the Linda Toscano trainee caught Seven Colors right at the wire to win the 78th edition of the Little Brown Jug, which featured a record $1 million purse for this Triple Crown event, on Thursday, Sept. 21 at Delaware County Fair.

Three-year-old pacing gelding It's My Show completed a Jug-Jugette sweep for Toscano and driver Scott Zeron after Ucandoit Blue Chip took the filly companion event on Wednesday for the duo.

"This has been a pretty good week," said an emotional Toscano in the winner's circle. "I don't know, this has been a race that's eluded me and a race that I've wanted for so long that I'm a little choked up, as you can see."

With the inside post advantage in $850,000 Little Brown Jug final featuring one trailer in a field of nine, Moment Is Here (Tim Tetrick) established the lead over Ken Hanover (David Miller) while their fellow elimination winner Cannibal (Yannick Gingras) pressed forward off the gate to their outside.

Cannibal went head-to-head with Moment Is Here through a sizzling :25.4 opening quarter, but was left parked out as the latter elim winner refused to give way on top.

Moment Is Here completed the first lap, leading to the half in :53.3 while 2-1 favourite Seven Colors (Dexter Dunn) moved up second-over behind Cannibal with eventual winner It's My Show spotted third-over after getting away sixth in the early going.

As Moment Is Here continued to lead the charge down the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:22 with Cannibal beginning to tire, Dunn sent half-mile track world champion Seven Colors three-wide to pick up the chase and took over command turning for home with It's My Show chasing off his cover and getting up on the line in 1:49 flat to steal the spotlight. Finishing 2-1/2 lengths behind, Ken Hanover, fresh off a 1:48.4 track record mile in his Jug elimination, took third over Moment Is Here.

It's My Show was sent postward at odds of 7-1 after finishing second to Cannibal in one of the three $50,000 elimination heats earlier in the afternoon and returned $16 to win.

"When you add in a trailer, it changes everything about a race," said Zeron when asked about his off-the-pace strategy. "Yannick timed the gate great going out of there and that made it easy for me to not try to leave. And honestly, I've been in the postion he was in, which is when you commit to the leave but there's no give and goes, you're two-hole goes by pretty quick. So when David closed up the hole, it was just tough for him.

"They were going at it [up front], but I was still way out of it. I needed a lot of things to go right and Seven Colors raced sensational, my guy just put his nose out."

It's My Show went over the million-dollar mark in career earnings for owners Richard Young of Boca Raton, Florida and Joanna Young of Coconut Creek, Florida.

The homebred Sweet Lou gelding out the champion Rocknroll Hanover mare, Put On A Show, is now nine-for-13 this year after going winless in eight starts as a freshman.

It's also been a year to remember for Zeron, who won his first Jug 11 years ago with the Casie Coleman-trained Micheals Power. It's My Show also gave the reinsman his second career victory in the $1 million North America Cup earlier this year at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

"There's been a lot of people that have been a big part of it," said Zeron. "This horse has made some amazing races for us."

The connections are hoping there's more to come with It's My Show, with plans to race next during the second week of The Red Mile's Grand Circuit stakes meet.

The Little Brown Jug is the third jewel in the Pacing Triple Crown. The first legs were won by Captain Batboy (Messenger Stakes) and Confederate (Cane Pace).

Recaps of the Jug elimination heats follow with coverage of the undercard available by clicking here.

Field Set For Little Brown Jug

Canadian-based three-year-old pacing gelding Moment Is Here kicked off the elimination heats for the 78th edition of the Little Brown Jug on Thursday afternoon (Sept. 21) at Delaware County Fair.

Picking up the catch drive, Tim Tetrick used the Bob McIntosh homebred's gate speed to establish the lead off the gate. Leaving from post five, Moment Is Here took command in the first turn and never looked back. The All Bets Off-Breathtacular gelding led through fractions of :26, :54 and 1:22.1 while shrugging off the first-over 4-5 favourite, Voukefalas (Jordan Stratton), and opening up in the stretch for the 1:50.1 victory. Hungry Angel Boy (Todd McCarthy) followed in the pocket and held on for second while Blue Hunt (Andrew McCarthy) got up for third along the pylons off a ground-saving trip, finishing just ahead of Loubet (David Miller), who rallied three-wide down the backside.

"I've never driven the horse. I went off what the connections said and watched his replays and they kept telling me he's as quick as a cat," said Tetrick. "He was pretty quick off the car; we jumped out of there good. It was a strong quarter of :26, but we got to control it from there and it was a good race for him.

"He did put in a long step [in the first turn], but we were smoking pretty hard. I wanted to try to get there and get control and that way I could get around Todd [McCarthy and Hungry Angel Boy] in the first turn.

"He was really good, paced all the way to the wire, would've gone more if I needed to but we're going for a lot of money and we've got to save what we can."

Making his stateside debut following a Grand Circuit stakes runner-up finish in the Simcoe on Sept. 9 at his home track of Woodbine Mohawk Park, Moment Is Here was sent postward at odds of 5-1 and returned $12.80 to his backers.

The win was his fourth of the season from 16 starts and his sixth career victory, bumping his bankroll to $472,589.

Moment Is Here is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. of Windsor, Ont., Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. of Leamington, Ont., Mardon Stables of Loretto, Ont., and Frank Baldachino of Harvey Cedars, New Jersey.

According to reports from Delaware County Fair, McIntosh was unable to attend today's races after sustaining a hip injury.

Ken Hanover hasn't been staked to some of the bigger events for three-year-old male pacers in 2023, but the sophomore pacer etched his name into the Delaware County Fair record books with the fastest mile ever paced in the Little Brown Jug by picking off half-mile track world champion Seven Colors in the second $50,000 Little Brown Jug elimination.

David Miller sat off the hot early pace, positioned in fifth as Thunder Hunter Joe (Tim Tetrick) set early fractions of :26.1 and :54 before favoured Seven Colors (Dexter Dunn) started his first-over forge. Miller followed Dunn's helmet with Ken Hanover, and kept as close as he could through a 1:21.3 third quarter and around the far turn. In the stretch, Miller asked his colt with Seven Colors appearing to have the win wrapped up. Ken Hanover obliged, closing with a late spurt to edge past Seven Colors in the final strides of a 1:48.4 track record mile. Thunder Hunter Joe stayed for third.

Roland 'Polie' Mallar trains and co-owns Ken Hanover (Captaintreacherous - KJs Justine) along with Patrick Leavitt of Buxton, Maine, William Jordan of Fryeberg, Maine, and 'Big Dee' Dennis Osterholt of Boyton Beach, Florida.

"He's always been a real good horse, and just like everybody else [Mallar] wanted to come to Delaware," said Miller in the winner's circle.

"I followed Dexter right up and I was thinking at the head of the stretch, 'I'm going to be second here.' I moved him off his back, and gave him a yell and he shot, like he just took off. I was really happy with him."

The win provided Ken Hanover with a new lifetime mark in his 11th lifetime victory, pushing his career earnings over the $410,000 mark. He paid $11.40 to win.

Cannibal delivered on his 4-5 pari-mutuel promise as a persistent leader in the third elimination heat with Yannick Gingras aboard for trainer Nancy Takter.

Leaving from the inside posts, Cannibal was quickest off the gate for Gingras with even-money It's My Show (Scott Zeron) following in second, but Bamboozler (Tony Hall) left hard from post five to make front over the favourites. His lead was short-lived though as Gingras retook command at the quarter pole in :26.2. The bettors' choice stole a second quarter breather to the half in :55.2 and continued to lead the field in single-file fashion to three-quarters in 1:22.2, where It's My Show took his shot but couldn't catch Cannibal through the stretch. Cannibal held clear of It's My Show down the lane for the 1:49.1 victory by 1-1/2 lengths while Redwood Hanover (James MacDonald) finished third.

"This is an interesting race to race in becase post positions are so important going into the eliminations, so obviously when we drew the rail, I was ecstatic about that because you're going to have more of an opportunity to control your own destiny," commented Takter after the race.

"The post position draw for the final is going to be important again, but hopefully we'll draw well. I think my colt should bounce back really well and have plenty left in the tank."

This year's Adios champion came into the eliminations off back-to-back Kentucky stakes victories and paid $3.80 to win. Cannibal improved to nine-for-11 on the season and now has a dozen wins lifetime with $469,978 earned.

The homebred Sweet Lou-No More Losses colt is owned by Diamond Creek Racing of Wellsville, Pennsylvania.

Stockade Seelster was scratched from the third elimination.

Post positions for the Little Brown Jug final are listed below. Elimination winners drew for posts one through three for the final. Second-place finishers drew for posts four through six and third-place finishers drew for spots seven through nine.

$850,000 Little Brown Jug
Post - Horse - Driver
1. Moment Is Here - Tim Tetrick
2. Ken Hanover - David Miller
3. Cannibal - Yannick Gingras
4. Seven Colors - Dexter Dunn
5. It's My Show - Scott Zeron
6. Hungry Angel Boy - Todd McCarthy
7. Blue Hunt - Andrew McCarthy
8. Redwood Hanover - James MacDonald
9. Thunder Hunter Joe - Jordan Stratton

Watch The Little Brown Jug

The 78th edition of the $1 million Little Brown Jug for three-year-old pacers headlines Thursday's 25-race card at the Delaware County Fair and live streaming of all the action will be available.

The $850,000 Little Brown Jug final will cap off the action-packed afternoon as Race 24 on the main wagering card, featuring the top three finishers from three elimination heats contested earlier in the day (Races 19, 20 & 21).

Voukefalas is the 2-1 morning line favourite with the inside draw in the first elimination with Jordan Stratton driving for trainer Michael Russo.

Thunder Hunter Joe is the early 5-2 favourite from the pylon post in the second elimination for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Nicholas Devita. The second elimination includes the Canadian-campaigned Huntinthelastdolar and Burnout, both supplemented for $45,000.

It's My Show is the 9-5 favourite in the third elimination for trainer Linda Toscano with Scott Zeron driving from post position two. The field includes Canadian-based contender Redwood Hanover. O'Brien Award winner Stockade Seelster has been scratched.

The Ohio Harness Horsemen’s Association will present a live stream of Thursday's action, which will begin at 11 a.m. Post time for the first non-betting race is 11 a.m., with the main wagering card starting at 11:30 a.m. The live stream will be available below.

A majority of the Jug Day card will be broadcast on Fox Sports 2 as a part of its “America’s Day at the Races,” produced by the New York Racing Association (NYRA). The broadcast window will be from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. and will feature Delaware’s Races 18-24.

For free program pages, click the following links: Non-Betting Program / Main Program

The complete fields for the elimination heats are listed below in post position order.

$50,000 Little Brown Jug Elimination #1 - Race 19
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Voukefalas - Jordan Stratton - Michael Russo - 2-1
2. Loubet - David Miller - Ron Burke - 5-1
3. Hungry Angel Boy - Todd McCarthy - Tony Alagna - 9-2
4. Blue Hunt - Andrew McCarthy - Deborah Daguet - 6-1
5. Moment Is Here - Tim Tetrick - Bob McIntosh - 4-1
6. Ants Matching - Dexter Dunn - Nancy Takter - 9-2

$50,000 Little Brown Jug Elimination #2 - Race 20
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Thunder Hunter Joe - Tim Tetrick - Nicholas Devita - 5-1
2. Huntinthelastdolar - Doug McNair - Gregg McNair - 3-1
3. Ervin Hanover - Ronnie Wrenn Jr. - Ron Burke - 6-1
4. Ken Hanover - David Miller - Roland Mallar - 5-1
5. Burnout - Sam Widger - Todd Luther - 9-2
6. Seven Colors - Dexter Dunn - Andrew Harris - 7-2

$50,000 Little Brown Jug Elimination #3 - Race 21
Post - Horse - Driver - Trainer - Morning Line Odds
1. Cannibal - Yannick Gingras - Nancy Takter - 2-1
2. It's My Show - Scott Zeron - Linda Toscano - 9-5
3. Redwood Hanover - James MacDonald - Anthony Beaton - 4-1
4. Stockade Seelster - David Miller - Dr. Ian Moore - 7-2 - Scratched
5. Bamboozler - Tony Hall - Virgil Morgan Jr. - 8-1
6. Bugaboo Lou - Chris Page - Ron Burke - 20-1

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Max Contract Retired to Hunterton Farm

By James Gillies • 30 Mar, 2024

2023 Breeders Crown winner Max Contract has new owners since that prestigious victory, and those new connections have officially transitioned the pacing star into a potential producer. A daughter of Huntsville - Big McDeal, Max Contract made 27 starts in three years of competition, amassing a summary of 15-1-5 with $658,405 in earnings. She took her mark of 1:48.3 in winning the 2022 Mistletoe Shalee at The Meadowlands in stakes record time, and paced back to that mark as a four-year-old in an Open win at The Red Mile last September. ..... read the complete story

Hollywood Heyden Comments on Hunterton Farm's Mission Brief

30 Mar, 2024

March 30 2024 In the March 29 issue of the Harness Racing Update's Hollywood's Hits column, Bob Heyden writes: "Mission Brief, born on Leap Year Day in 2012, is the greatest trotting filly these eyes have seen. Try and find another female trotter at 2 and 3 who was the fastest of the age group, regardless of sex." Hunterton Farm owned , M ission Brief 3,1:50.2f ($1,599,587) The fastest 2-year-old trotter in history, world champion Mission Brief has a lifetime race record of 27-19-3-0. She established her still-standing 1:50.3 world record in a 16-length International Stallion Stakes victory at The Red Mile. She was voted 2014 Dan Patch Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year and 2015 Dan Patch and O’Brien Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year.

Tactical weaving leads to Stewart's success

23 Feb, 2024

Steve and Cindy Stewart’s Hunterton Farm bred Trotting Sire of the Year Tactical Landing and his son, presumptive Trotter of the Year, Tactical Approach. by Debbie Little / courtesy of Harness Racing Update Last year was a mother of a good one for Steve Stewart, as his broodmares, Southwind Serena and Sarcy , each have a 2023 Dan Patch honoree. Stewart and his wife, Cindy, own Hunterton Farm that bred inaugural Trotting Sire of the Year Tactical Landing and his son, presumptive Trotter of the Year, Tactical Approach . From the time when both Tactical Landing and Tactical Approach were weanlings, Steve said he felt they were special. Both colts displayed incredible talent at 3 at The Meadowlands with Tactical Landing beating older foes in the TVG Championship Open Trot — the last start of his career — while Tactical Approach shone brightest on the world’s biggest stage, winning the Hambletonian from post 10. The Stewarts are part of both the Tactical Landing Syndicate and the Tactical Approach Syndicate, but were it not for a pivotal and life-changing dinner in Lexington with Myron Bell, this would not have been the case. In 2016, Tactical Landing sold for $800,000, the biggest price tag ever at the Lexington Selected Sale at that time. Steve and his partners, Black Creek Farm and Andrea Lea Racingstables, Inc., co-owned Tactical Landing’s dam. At the aforementioned dinner, directly following the sale of Tactical Landing, Steve remembers Bell asking him what he thought of Tactical Landing. “I said, ‘He’s a hell of a colt,’” Steve said. “I said, ‘He’s got everything going for him. He’s big, he’s handsome, he’s smart, he’s courageous. He walks like a stallion, he acts like a stallion, but he’s not mean. He just has a lot of confidence.’” According to Steve, Bell then asked if he was planning on keeping part of the colt. “I said, ‘Oh, no, no, no, that’s bad luck, I’m out,’” Steve said. “He said, ‘You know, the last person that told me that was Mike Parisi.’” Parisi owned White Birch Farm and was the breeder of Captaintreacherous. According to Steve, Bell said that Parisi was not planning to keep a piece of Captaintreacherous, with the same bad luck comment, but Bell convinced Parisi to change his mind, just as he did for Steve. “I gave a breeding [to Tactical Landing] to Myron a couple of years ago to say thank you, because if it wasn’t for him, we probably would not have owned 10 per cent,” Steve said. In Hunterton’s 40-plus years in the business, Steve said that many have given him and Cindy advice along the way, especially mentors Joe Taylor — who literally wrote the book on breeding and raising racehorses — and Hall of Famer Bill Shehan. “Both of them are dead now, but I think they’re looking down and smiling,” Steve said. In regard to the 2023 Dan Patch Awards, with both Tactical Landing and Tactical Approach being recognized, Steve said it’s humbling when you think about it. “It’s an honor and it gives you a lot of confidence that we’re doing it right and we’ve always felt like we were doing it right,” Steve said. “A lot of times over the years, people would say, you should do this or you should do that and we just stuck to our guns and did it the way we thought was the right way to do it. And we had a lot of foundation through [Taylor and Shehan]. “Probably the main thing you could say is, it’s a validation of hard work and 40 years of doing what we do, which is breed to raise great horses. You don’t want to say a culmination because we’re far from done. We stayed in our lane and it’s a validation of what we’ve tried to do and, hopefully, it’s far from finished.” People have also questioned the fact that Hunterton does not have any stallions on their farm, only broodmares. Steve said that not having a stallion leaves him open to many possibilities, a veritable smorgasbord if you will, to choose from for his mares. He also acknowledges that from beginning to end, breeding is a long process, but for him, the result is worth the wait. “I think a lot of people want instant gratification, but breeding is not instant gratification, it’s the opposite,” Steve said. “But I think it’s very rewarding when you realize you’re the one that created it. “We don’t make the shirt; we make the yarn, so somebody has to take that yarn and sew it and that’s what trainers do and they get a lot of credit for what they do, obviously, but sometimes people forget where the yarn came from.”

Jiggy Jog S sold; will continue racing in 2024

By photo credit USTA/Mark Hall/USTA • 19 Feb, 2024

Jiggy Jog S 3,1:50 ($2,166,279), the 2023 Dan Patch Older Mare Trotter award winner, has been sold to a group comprised largely of breeders, but will continue racing in 2024. Jorgen Sparredal Inc. sold Jiggy Jog S to an ownership group that includes Hunterton Farm, Black Creek Farm, Andrea Lea Stable, Silver Linden Farm, Hickory Hollow Stables, John Lengacher, Martin Schmucker, Lester Graber and Svanstedt Stables. Although purchased for her broodmare potential, plans call for Jiggy Jog S — now 5 years old — to race in 2024 and perhaps even in 2025. Ake Svanstedt has trained Jiggy Jog S, a daughter of Walner— Hot Mess Hanover (by Cantab Hall), during her entire 35-start racing career. Her victories include two Breeders Crown finals (at ages 3 and 4), the Kentucky Filly Futurity Stakes, and FanDuel Mare Trot. In addition, as a 3-year-old she competed in the Hambletonian against the colts and finished fourth after racing parked virtually the entire race and at age 4 she finished second in the prestigious International Trot. “Jiggy Jog S is a tremendously talented trotter,” said Svanstedt. “She has everything in a racehorse you can wish for; speed, power, a natural gait, and a heart of gold. “We are very excited to bring her back in 2024, and she will be staked in both the open and mare trot races. That will give us options on the way to manage her as the season progresses. She is in her winter training program now [at the Svanstedt Stable in New Jersey] and loves to do her work every day.” Once her racing career is completed, Jiggy Jog S will join the illustrious roster of broodmares at Steve and Cindy Stewart’s Hunterton Farm in Paris, KY. “This is a new thing for us to buy a mare who is going to continue racing,” said Steve Stewart. “But it’s very exciting when you have a mare with this kind of talent, to see what else she can do on the track.”

Graceful Touch, 24, dies

09 Feb, 2024

Paris. KY — Graceful Touch , a stakes-winning filly who made a mark in trotting bloodlines, has died at the age of 24 at Hunterton Farm in Paris, Ky. Graceful Touch was of royal trotting parentage, a daughter of world champion Pine Chip and Act Of Grace, a filly who took on the colts in the Hambletonian for Hall of Famer Stanley Dancer. The maternal family includes several stakes-winning fillies and Graceful Touch’s third dam, Peridot, produced the great Green Speed, the 1977 Horse of the Year. Trained by Chuck Sylvester and frequently driven by John Campbell, Graceful Touch took a record of 1:56.1 at age two and earned $161,893. Her 2-year-old season was her best as she won four of eight starts and won an elimination for the Breeders Crown. During her racing career, Graceful Touch was owned by Perretti Farms, which naturally added her to its broodmare band when she was retired from the track. She produced 13 foals, among them her first-born, Muscle Mass 2,1:53.4 ($229,000), and her third, Hambletonian champion Muscle Massive 3,1:51 ($1,239,138). In addition to their racing accomplishments, both also became successful sires. She also produced six daughters which include the Merrie Annabelle winner Thatsnotmyname 2,1:55 ($340,730). Today several major breeders, including Hunterton, have her daughters and/or granddaughters in their broodmare bands to carry on her maternal lineage. Hunterton Farm’s Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm and Maumee River Stables purchased Graceful Touch in 2014. She was buried at Hunterton Farm.

Mission Brief to 2024 Living Horse Hall of Fame

By James Gillies • 13 Jan, 2024

Jan. 12 2024 The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame announces the results of recent balloting to determine the 2024 inductees into harness racing’s Living Horse Hall of Fame. Museum members voted for the four horses they felt best exemplified greatness. Racehorses Gimpanzee, Mission Brief , Tall Dark Stranger and Wiggle It Jiggleit were elected and will be inducted on Hall of Fame Day (Sunday, July 7). Hunterton Farm owned , M ission Brief 3,1:50.2f ($1,599,587) The fastest 2-year-old trotter in history, world champion Mission Brief has a lifetime race record of 27-19-3-0. She established her still-standing 1:50.3 world record in a 16-length International Stallion Stakes victory at The Red Mile. She was voted 2014 Dan Patch Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year and 2015 Dan Patch and O’Brien Three-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year.

Tactical Approach Dan Patch Award

01 Jan, 2024

Dec. 30 2023 Bred by Hunterton Farm , Tactical Approach was the season’s richest trotter, with $1.50 million in purses. The colt hit the board in 17 of 19 races, winning 10, with his triumphs including the Hambletonian, Breeders Crown and Kentucky Futurity. The 12 division champions will be honored during the Dan Patch Awards banquet, presented by Caesars Entertainment, at Rosen Centre in Orlando, Fla., on Feb. 25. Pacer of the Year, Trotter of the Year and Horse of the Year will be announced at the banquet. THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE TROTTER TACTICAL APPROACH, colt Tactical Landing – Sarcy – Donato Hanover Breeders: Steve Stewart, Oakwood Farms. Owners: Robert LeBlanc, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing. Trainer: Nancy Takter. Driver: Scott Zeron. Races: 19-10-3-4. Purses: $1.50 million. Mark: 1:50.1 at Red Mile. Top wins: $1 million Hambletonian; $672,000 Breeders Crown; $450,000 Kentucky Futurity; $205,000 Carl Erskine.

Tactical Approach adds Crown win to accomplishments

28 Oct, 2023

Anderson, IN — Scott Zeron captured two of the three legs of the Trotting Triple Crown with Tactical Approach by finding room inside deep in the stretch. On Saturday (Oct. 28) night, Zeron guided the son of Tactical Landing to a live third-over cover trip and then responded in the homestretch to win the $672,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in a 1:51.2 mile. Tactical Approach, trained by Nancy Takter, started from the second tier in post 10, making Zeron’s handling key to the outcome. With local favorite Helpfirstedition (John De Long) making a few moves to gain control, Zeron managed to follow the cover of Ari Ferrari J (Dexter Dunn) and Celebrity Bambino (Yannick Gingras) before the half and that pair kept him in contention with an honest pace set by Helpfirstedition. In the homestretch Tactical Approach, bred by Steve Stewart and Oakwood Farms, kicked into high gear, with Zeron asking him and the colt responding as he has all season long. Only Up Your Deo and driver Ake Svanstedt threatened in the deep stretch after finding room in the passing lane. Up Your Deo settled for second, beaten by 1-1/4 lengths, with French Wine coming on late for third ahead of Air Power and Dire Straits. Now a winner in half of his 22 career starts, Tactical Approach, out of the mare Sarcy, increased his career bankroll to $1.35 million for owner Robert Leblanc, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco & JAF Racing. “On the opening turn, I was right where I wanted to be,” said Zeron of his driving strategy. “I was following two very nice horses.” Owner Leblanc returned to the Breeders Crown winner’s circle and was ecstatic. “What a horse, Scott put him in the perfect spot. He’s been in the top of his game since April,” Leblanc said. The win gave Takter her second Breeders Crown of the weekend and 10th of her career. It was Zeron’s seventh trophy. Tactical Approach, who earlier this year won the Hambletonian and Kentucky Futurity, paid $6 to win as the 2-1 favorite.

Zanatta foils star fillies in Breeders Crown elimination

20 Oct, 2023

Anderson, IN — All year long Sylvia Hanover and Twin B Joe Fresh have reigned atop the divisional standings, but both were upset as odds-on choices when Zanatta and Strong Poison struck gold in the pair of $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace on Friday night (Oct. 20) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. The long Hoosier stretch aided a persistent Zanatta (Joe Bongiorno) in the first elimination as she plugged off a pocket trip to a last-inch victory against 1-9 favorite Twin B Joe Fresh in a 1:52 mile to take the first elimination. Twin B Joe Fresh (Dexter Dunn) marched forward from post five for the lead with Zanatta, leaving from the pylon post, securing the pocket. After a :28.1 first quarter, no one bid to challenge Twin B Joe Fresh up the backstretch. She strolled uncontested by a :57.3 half and gradually gathered speed to the far turn while Zanatta followed with keen interest on her helmet. Twin B Joe Fresh clicked by three-quarters in 1:25.4 and spun for home well held until the pressure kept mounting from pocket-pulling Zanatta in mid-stretch. Twin B Joe Fresh extended for the finish but Zanatta came with a final lunge that landed a nose blow at the beam. Always B Naughty (Andrew McCarthy) grabbed third from McSeaside (David Miller) and Front Page Story (Tim Tetrick)rounded the top five. “I have absolute faith in this filly,” winning trainer Jenn Bongiorno said. “She is amazing. I was just really proud of how she could hunt her [Twin B Joe Fresh] down tonight. She has been my favorite the whole time training down as a baby. Last year she won the Three Diamonds and it was amazing. This is a huge feat for her. Winning a Breeders Crown elim with my brother means the world to me. I hope we are back here [in the winner’s circle] next week. That would top everything but right now I’m a really happy girl.” Jenn’s brother, Joe Bongiorno, piloted Zanatta to her sixth victory from 27 starts, which pushed her bankroll to $600,085 for owner One Legend Stable Inc. AM Bloodstock Inc. bred the daughter of Stay Hungry who returned $24.80 to win in the upset.

Strong Poison foil star fillies in Breeders Crown elimination

20 Oct, 2023

Anderson, IN — All year long Sylvia Hanover and Twin B Joe Fresh have reigned atop the divisional standings, but both were upset as odds-on choices when Zanatta and Strong Poison struck gold in the pair of $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace on Friday night (Oct. 20) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Strong Poison (Yannick Gingras) then went on a speed mission down the highway to victory lane over 1-5 favorite Sylvia Hanover with a 1:51.2 win in the second elimination. Leaving from post six, Gingras planted Strong Poison on the helm by a :27 first quarter while Sylvia Hanover (Bob McClure) settled into fourth. With no challengers oncoming, Strong Poison snagged a breather to a :57.3 half and pushed on the pedal as Sylvia Hanover mounted a first-over charge to the far turn. Strong Poison slipped to a wider lead coming to three-quarters in 1:25.3 and fired down the stretch with a :25.4 final quarter to seal a 2-3/4 length victory over Sylvia Hanover. Charleston (Tetrick) closed up the inside for third with Beach Cowgirl (Sears) finishing fourth and Sweet Amira (Louis Phillippe Roy) completing the finalists. “She’s been knocking on the door all season and the Lasix tonight may have made a difference,” Yannick Gingras said. “She was getting a little weak in the last 16th every week in Lexington but she was strong to the wire tonight. They were walking up there so I figured why not give [going to the front] a shot.” Winning her eighth race from 25 starts, Strong Poison has now banked $751,975 for owners Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva Stables, Knox Services and Beasty LLC. The Ron Burke-trained daughter of Always B Miki was bred by Steve Stewart and Charles and Julie Nash. She paid $10.20 to win.