Miki And Minnie captures showdown in Lynch

August 16, 2025

Dexter Dunn pulled Miki And Minnie out of the pocket in the stretch and overtook pacesetter Chantilly nearing the finish line to capture Saturday’s (June 16) $250,000 Grade 1 James M. Lynch Memorial, for 3-year-old female pacers, by three-quarters of a length in 1:49.1. Rodeo Drive Deo was third.


It was the long-awaiting first meeting between Miki And Minnie, the 2024 Dan Patch Award winner for best 2-year-old filly pacer, and Chantilly, Canada’s 2024 Horse of the Year. They were supposed to meet in the Fan Hanover Stakes at Ontario’s Woodbine Mohawk Park in June, but Chantilly was scratched due to sickness.


On Saturday, Chantilly and driver James MacDonald left quickly from post six and rolled to a :25.4 opening quarter on the lead. Miki And Minnie, who started from post two, took up the pocket position behind Chantilly, followed by Rodeo Drive Deo.


The order remained unchanged as Chantilly reached the half in :55 and three-quarters in 1:22.1. Dunn tipped Miki And Minnie to the outside momentarily on the last turn but then returned to the pocket until the head of the stretch.


Once Dunn asked Miki And Minnie to go from there, she worked her way to the front as part of a :26.4 last quarter to earn her eighth victory in nine races this season.


“Yes, I was a little nervous,” Miki And Minnie’s trainer, Chris Ryder, said about the matchup. “I figured she might beat us out of the gate, and what would happen after that was up to Dexter. But (Miki And Minnie) got out of the gate well enough to get a good spot, and she’s just got a lot of heart.


“I think I know my filly fairly well; she’s a grinder. She’s not the fastest filly, maybe, for actual quick speed, but she can hold whatever speed she’s got. She just keeps it going. She’s got a big heart and a great set of lungs, and she always finds the wire. She’s fantastic. It’s just a great result. It’s a real thrill.”


Miki And Minnie has hit the board in all 20 of her career races, with 14 wins and $1.35 million in earnings. The daughter of Always B Miki-That’s The Ticket is owned by breeders Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo, and Lawrence Minowitz.


Ranked No. 1 in the current Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, Miki And Minnie has won nine of her past 10 starts dating back to her Breeders Crown triumph in October. Her only defeat was by a head in June.


Chantilly, who was unbeaten in nine races last season, has won 13 of 15 lifetime.


“Chantilly went a great race,” Ryder said. “It was a matchup we were looking for, I believe. Let’s do it again.”


Miki And Minnie, the 1-2 favorite, paid $3 to win.

June 1, 2026
Hamburg, NY – The New York Sire Stakes and Excelsior Series make their first appearances of the 2026 season at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday afternoon (June 3) and the traveling series will start off with a big bang. The 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, the “Glamour Division,” will take the opening spot as eight sophomore gentlemen will battle for a $121,800 bounty in the sixth race on the 15-race program that gets underway at 2:30 p.m. (EDT). It’s the first of seven consecutive Wednesday afternoons that will feature NYSS and Excelsior Series action. The field is highlighted by Hunterton Bred, Born & Sold Fragment , who was the 2-year-old New York Sire Stakes champion. A winner of $627,906 lifetime, Fragment won the final in 2025 at Batavia Downs on Sept. 6 in a track-record time of 1:52.1 as he rode the pocket then blitzed past the front-running Knoxville and registered the 6-3/4-length score. Fragment ( Huntsville -The Show Returns), who is set to start from post 7 for driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Per Engblom, had an adventurous journey at Saratoga in his seasonal debut on May 24. Both headpoles came loose before the start of the $84,000 NYSS event but driver Colin Kelly was able to right the ship and Fragment was able to coast to a 3-1/4- length victory over Fearless Partners in a snappy 1:51.4 time. Ironically, Fragment won his NYSS event at Buffalo Raceway in 2025 from the 7-hole. Unmatched Wisdom (American Ideal-Above Average) drew post 2 and enters a perfect 6-for-6 on the season, including a half-length victory over Mighty Matt in the $82,500 NYSS at Saratoga. He went a lifetime best of 1:52.1 for trainer Chuck Connor Jr. Unmatched Wisdom will have the services of Leon Bailey in the bike. Another one to keep an eye on is Knoxville ( Huntsville -Let’s Fall In Love), who finished third in last year’s NYSS finals. He finished third, a length behind Unmatched Wisdom, at Saratoga in his last appearance. Knoxville got post 4 for driver Tyler Buter and trainer Ray Schnittker. Mighty Matt ( Huntsville -Valentina De Vie) has been in the money nine out of 10 lifetime starts but is saddled with the outside 8 post. Driver Braxten Boyd will try to overcome the draw for conditioner Cameron Capone. The rest of the field includes Hunthehuntr De Vie (Mark Herschberger), Rocket City Smitty (Ridge Warren), Twin B Manhunt (Kevin Cummings) and Fearless Partners (Drew Monti). There will be a trio of $20,000 Excelsior Series paces for the young men, which will go off as the first, seventh and eighth races. For more information including the latest news, upcoming promotions, entries, results and race replays, go to www.buffaloraceway.com .
May 31, 2026
Double Deceiver, bred by Steve Stewart and Oakwood Farms, won the top stakes race at Solvalla on the eve of today’s Elitloppet.
May 31, 2026
Daniel Redén-trained Hunterton Bred, Born & Sold Allegiant , with Örjan Kihlström in the bike, delivered a performance for the ages Sunday (May 31) at Solvalla, roaring to the lead from post 7 and never looking back in the Elitloppet final. The 5-year-old mare stopped the clock in a jaw-dropping 1:48F, setting a new all-time world record. Until Sunday afternoon, the fastest trotter in the world had been American gelding Homicide Hunter, who posted 1:48.4M at The Red Mile in 2018. That mark is history now. The record now belongs to Allegiant, who turned in one of the most dazzling miles the sport has ever seen on Solvalla’s 1,000-meter track. What made the effort even more remarkable was how she did it. From a brutal outside draw in post 7, Allegiant fired off the gate, and opened the first fraction in :26, the half mile in :53, and still had enough left to finish the job in world-record fashion. It was a pure catch-me-if-you-can performance — and nobody could. “It’s completely unreal,” an emotional Kihlström said after the race. “It’s incredible that it was even possible. She was amazing.” Allegiant only just made the final after finishing fourth in her elimination heat, where Kihlström gave her a patient, measured trip and saved plenty for later. But that placing also meant she would draw either post 7 or 8 for the final. She landed post 7 — and Kihlström turned it into a launch pad. It was also the first time in her career that Allegiant raced barefoot, and the change clearly made a major impact. If ever a horse lived up to her name, this was it. The result also snapped France’s recent grip on the race. After four straight French victories in the Elitloppet, Sweden swept the top two spots. Last year’s Swedish Derby winner Dream Mine, trained by Jörgen Westholm and driven by Mats E. Djuse, finished second while defending champion Go On Boy, with Romain Derieux, checked in third. French standout Idao de Tillard made a break at the start and was out of contention immediately, while the other French star, Inexess Bleu also went off stride during the race.
May 30, 2026
Milton, ON — The Graduate Series, for 4-year-olds, started Saturday night (May 30) at Woodbine Mohawk Park with Hunterton Bred, Born & Sold Monserrate drawing first blood. Both the Graduate Pace and Trot opened with a single full-field division for a purse of C$101,250 each. On the trot, Monserrate got room up the rail late to win the Graduate Series opening leg in 1:52, giving driver Jason Bartlett and trainer Andrew Harris a second stakes win on the Saturday program. Leaving from post six in an overflow field of 11, Monserrate was a parked-out third at the opening quarter, which saw Hey Porter leading the group in :27. Monserrate marched up to the lead in the second split before allowing Mr Mouton to clear around just after a :55.2 half. Mr Walner Fashion was left first-up and pressed Mr Mouton’s wheel to three-quarters in 1:23.3. In the stretch, Mr Mouton did his best to fight off the outside challengers but couldn’t keep the rail shut, tiring late and opening up enough room for Monserrate to shoot through for the victory. Hey Porter finished third, while Warrior was fourth. A son of Chapter Seven , Monserrate was entering off a bounce-back 1:51.4 score at the Meadowlands on May 15. The Harris trainee has now won two of four starts this season and is a seven-time winner lifetime. Owned by Punisher 11 Stable LLC, Monserrate has earned over C$750,000 lifetime. Monserrate paid $4.40 to win. The Graduate Series now shifts to the Meadowlands for the next leg, on June 12.
May 25, 2026
The lone $50,000 KYSS dash for 4-year-old pacing mares also went to Dexter Dunn as he plowed forward past a :26.4 quarter to take the lead with 1-5 favorite Hunterton Bred, Born & Sold Three Times Bettor and roll down the road for a 1:49.4 victory under wraps at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday (May 25). She accelerated off middle fractions of :55 and 1:22.2 to easily put away pocket-chaser Aintnothingucando (Yannick Gingras) in second, beaten 2-1/4 lengths, with Rose (Tim Tetrick) motoring wide late for third. Odds On Chesapeake (Todd McCarthy) was shuffled back and gave pursuit for fourth. Three Times Bettor remains unbeaten from four starts this season and collected her eighth victory in a row. Thaddeus Weir owns the daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Three Times A Lady with 13 wins on her card from 21 starts and $288,814 earned. The Brett Pelling trainee paid $2.48 to win.
May 25, 2026
Hunterton Sold Captain Arturovico won on a day of Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) action at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday (May 25). Burke and Wrenn teamed in the race for a solid rebound victory with Captain Arturovico in a 1:50 front-stepping performance. Captain Arturovico cleared control past a :26.3 first quarter and carried his speed to a :54.2 half before stablemate Banderas (Yannick Gingras) angled first up to give pursuit. Banderas only made mild gains against Captain Arturovico to three-quarters in 1:22.1 and finished second best as the 3-5 favorite by three-quarter lengths while Lafitte (Tim Tetrick) saved ground to take third from pocket-sitter Delray Beach (Dexter Dunn), who settled for fourth. Captain Arturovico, a gelding by Captaintreacherous -Tilikum, won his first race from eight starts this season and his 13th race from 38 starts in his career, earning $390,809. He competes for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Larry Karr and Phillip Collura and he paid $8.02 to win.
May 24, 2026
Anderson, IN — A pair of $22,000 Opens headlined the 14-race program on Saturday (May 23) at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, with Hunterton Bred & Born Drink Up Drink Up and Brandon Bates taking the Open Trot to stay hot, and Rollin Rosie scoring her first win of the season in the Mare Pace with Trace Tetrick. Out from the outside post six, Drink Up Drink Up jumped to an early challenge for the lead with Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong). Ponda Jet would win the early battle fending off Drink Up Drink Up to lead at the first quarter turn in :27.1. Drink Up Drink Up settled into the pocket spot while the field grew stagnant in a single file line with Ponda Jet leading the pack. Ponda Jet maintained his lead through the halfway point in :56.1. The post-time favorite Operator (Marcus Miller) was the first to break the ice up along the outside from fifth in the six-horse field. Operator moved into fourth on the outside before Drink Up Drink Up moved from the pocket on the leader Ponda Jet. At the three-quarters in 1:24.2, Ponda Jet remained the leader with Drink Up Drink Up alongside him and Niko Man (Atlee Bender) and Operator fighting for third. Motoring down the stretch, Ponda Jet and Drink Up Drink Up put on a slug fest scrapping for every inch. Meanwhile, the rest of the entire field closed in on the top two trotters, looking to get in on a piece of the action. Relentlessly trading blows down the stretch, Drink Up Drink Up delivered the knockout blow with a :28.1 last quarter hitting the wire in 1:52.4 a half-length up. Ponda Jet held on for second with Niko Man sneaking into third at 20-1. The entire field of six was separated by 1-3/4 lengths on the wire. The winning 6-year-old Trixton gelding is trained by Walter Haynes Jr. for owners Adam Friedland and Brian Carsey. Drink Up Drink Up added his sixth win of the season, boosting his lifetime earnings to $434,698. Drink Up Drink Up paid $8.60 to win.
May 23, 2026
Offspring of Perfect Sting proved the best in both New Jersey Sire Stakes Silver Division championships for 3-year-old pacers, with Hunterton Bred, Born & Sold Obliterate and Sting Girl capturing their respective divisions. Obliterate ($12.40), whom Patrick Ryder drove for trainer Chris Ryder, rode the pocket en route to a mild upset over 1-9 favorite Stingman (Dunn), lifting through the final eighth of a lifetime-best 1:51.3 mile to win the $40,000 male pace by a widening 2-length margin. In the $32,000 filly pace, Sting Girl ($12.80), whom Mark Herschberger drove for trainer Joe Holloway, mounted a long first-over climb out of fifth through the far turn before overpowering even-money choice Whoa Black Betty at the eighth pole en route to a 1-3/4-length, 1:54.1 score.
May 22, 2026
This Tactical Landing filly, the first foal out of the tremendous, $3 million-winning mare Jiggy Jog S, arrived on April 18 at Hunterton Farm in Kentucky. Jiggy Jog S, the Dan Patch Older Trotting Mare of the Year in both 2023 and 2024, won the $1 million Yonkers International in 2024 and Breeders Crown finals in 2022 and 2023, among other stakes wins. Jiggy Jog S posted a lifetime record of 24-10-2 in 41 starts and had a mark of 1:49.2. She will be bred next to Captain Corey.
May 22, 2026
Hunterton Bred, Born and Sold Illicit Behavior (Bettors Delight-Pettycoat Business) was a popular late-closing winner, accelerating from fifth around the final turn and pacing home in :26.3 for a half-length score in a career-best 1:52 mile. Bob McClure drove the colt, who is trained by Shawn Steacy and owned by Landmark 18 Racing Stable of Lansdowne, Ont., Hudson Standardbred Stable of Hudson, Que., and David Reid of Sydenham, Ont.
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