Breeders Crown: Brandon Blvd turns away all challengers in 3YO Colt Pace final
:quality(75))
Brandon Blvd and driver Dexter Dunn captured Saturday's $664,500 Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt and gelding pace final with authority at Eldorado Scioto Downs with a track record-setting 1:48 mile for his 10th win of the season. Trained by Andrew Harris, Brandon Blvd, a son of Downbytheseaside, easily held off Al Papi with Odds On Mr Mamba third.
Dunn had Brandon Blvd on the bit leaving, and the first quarter was strategic as he left a little and saw Melillo, with driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr., grab instant command. Al Papi and Yannick Gingras refused to take a two-hole, and Dunn followed his cover past the 26 4/5 opening quarter.
Al Papi cruised past his stablemate three-eighths into the race and parked Brandon Blvd nearly to the half in 54 2/5. Melillo, now in third, elected to pull and challenge, with Gentleman's Club grabbing second-over cover, followed on the outside by Funky Buddha and Sweet Lovin Lou. The action picked up as Wrenn Jr. urged Melillo hard, putting serious heat on Brandon Blvd, though Dunn was sitting chilly in the bike, holding the inside track through a three quarters clocked in 1:21 1/5.
► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter
Gentleman's Club attempted to come wide, but wasn’t gaining, and it was clear why when Brandon Blvd kicked it into high gear. He gained separation, with Dunn urging him on. Al Papi had a clear shot but wasn't gaining either and had to settle for second, with a 26 4/5 final quarter too much to deal with. Odds On Mr Mamba benefited from a pylon-skimming journey and finished third ahead of Gentleman's Club, with Fragment earning the fifth-place check.
Punisher 11 Stables LLC. own Brandon Blvd, who it was announced earlier this week is heading for stallion duty with the famed Hanover Shoe Farms in 2027. Bred by Crawford Farms, Brandon Blvd paid $5.00 to win.
"He's just a phenomenal horse and has the best set of lungs on a horse I've ever seen," said Harris following the victory.
Harris suggested the Breeders Crown victory may have been the last race of Brandon Blvd's career, wanting to end things on a high note rather than face older horses in the FanDuel Open Pace Championship.