Breeders Crown: Fourth Dimension, Crystal Fashion take 2-Year-Old Colt Trot elims
Fourth Dimension and driver Brian Sears captured the second and fastest $20,000 elimination of the Breeders Crown for juvenile colt trotters at Hoosier Park on Saturday night. The New York-bred son of Chapter Seven trotted home in 1:54, setting a new track record for the division.
Sent off at 9-5, Fourth Dimension left the gate alertly for a brief tuck in third as co-9-5 choice Met's Hall assumed the early lead and had control through a 27 3/5 opening panel. Sears wasted little time putting Fourth Dimension in motion, and he was in control through the 57 second half-mile point.
After passing three-quarters in 1:25 4/5, it appeared as if pocket-sitter Met's Hall was ready to measure off the leader, but Fourth Dimension dug in and drew clear, trotting home in 28 1/5 for the victory. Met's Hall maintained second, with Missle Hill, Skyway Torpedo and You Know You Do rounding out the qualifiers.
Missing from next week's final will be Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion Fashionwoodchopper. The son of Donato Hanover entered this division with a five-race winning streak but lacked any trot in the stretch and finished sixth.
Fourth Dimension has now won six of eight starts this year for trainer Marcus Melander.
Crystal Fashion captured the first $20,000 elimination heat for David Miller. The Jim Campbell-trained gelding sat off the rated pace set by 4-5 choice Samo Different Day until the far turn. When Miller pulled out, the altered son of Cantab Hall immediately engaged the leader. The two locked up in a solid duel, with Crystal Fashion edging by late in a 1:54 3/5 mile.
Fiftydallarbill, an Indiana-bred, rallied boldly late for the place spot, with Samo Different Day settling for third. Dawson Springs and Moosonee qualified for the final with Hat Trick Habit making a break.
For Crystal Fashion it was his fourth win in 11 starts in a freshman season that has seen him hit the board in all but one start.
This is how the field will line up for next Saturday night's $600,000 final:
1-Crystal Fashion
2-You Know You Do
3-Fiftydallarbill
4-Fourth Dimension
5-Met's Hall
6-Dawson Springs
7-Moosonee
8-Missle Hill
9-Samo Different Day
10-Skyway Torpedo
AE1-Fashionwoodchopper
AE2-Hat Trick Habit