Breeders Crown: Odds-on favorites defeated in 3YO Colt Pace eliminations

Sent off at 26-1, Gentleman's Club sustained a first-over grind for a half-mile to overpower 2025 Breeders Crown champion Beau Jangles in a divisional track record 1:48 3/5 in the first of two $25,000 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace eliminations on Saturday (Oct. 17) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

In line to Andy McCarthy, Gentleman's Club eased off an early skirmish that saw Al Papi (driven by Yannick Gingras) push clear of Little Brown Jug winner Redland Rocket Man (Jody Jamieson) on the first turn as Beau Jangles (James MacDonald) stalked from third after pressing at the pegs. Redland Rocket Man angled off the pegs to take charge from Al Papi at the end of a 26 1/5 first quarter before yielding to Beau Jangles, who brushed from third, with just under a circuit to go. As Beau Jangles hit the half-mile pole in 54 2/5, McCarthy tugged the right line on Gentleman's Club, who began his first-over ascent up the backstretch.

With three-eighths remaining, Gentleman's Club had worked from mid-field to within a length of Beau Jangles, and he turned up the pressure in earnest to the 1:21 4/5 three-quarters while Redland Rocket Man began to gap the pocket and Funky Buddha (Tim Tetrick) overtook him for third. Gentleman's Club surged clear of a tired Beau Jangles with a sixteenth to go, and the Downbytheseaside-See You At Peelers colt sped home to cap his 10th career win with a 26 3/5 closing quarter.

Sweet Lovin Lou (Scott Zeron) fanned four-wide off the home turn and rallied to nab Funky Buddha for second, three-quarters of a length back; Al Papi split foes out of traffic to save fourth over the weakening Beau Jangles.

Redland Rocket Man, who was sent off the 3-10 favorite, faded to finish last in the seven-horse field.

"He's come back terrific, his attitude's amazing, and he loves to do what he's doing," said Aaron Lambert, who trains the Fred Hertrich III-bred Gentleman's Club for Anthony LiCastro. "When they mixed it up like that, I knew Andy was probably going to have to come first-up. He carried his speed and kept going, and that was it."

Gentleman's Club paid $54.60 to win.

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Another odds-on favorite tasted defeat in the second elimination after 5-1 second choice Melillo seized early control and evaded 1-10 choice Brandon Blvd by 1 1/2 lengths for a 1:49 3/5 score.

Ronnie Wrenn Jr. pushed forward with Melillo to clear inside leaver Fragment (Jason Bartlett) before completing a 26 4/5 first quarter. The Sweet Lou-Rosemary Rose colt stole the race in a 29 3/5 stroll through the second sectional, which set up for a monstrous back-half.

With stablemate Be Sting (Gingras) offering a first-over challenge and Brandon Blvd (Dexter Dunn) stalking second-over, Melillo accelerated through a 26 2/5 third quarter, hitting that mark in 1:22 4/5. As Be Sting faded through the far turn, Brandon Blvd was forced to circle three-wide yet still posed the main threat to Melillo in the final furlong. Undeterred, Melillo held his ground and kept the Meadowlands Pace winner at bay for his eighth career win. Fragment finished third despite lacking late kick from the pocket; Cooperstown Boy (Doug McNair) was an even fourth over Odds On Mr Mamba (Peter Wrenn).

"I thought I might push forward a little bit and I thought Dex might follow me to the lead, but he decided to sit fourth," said Ronnie Wrenn Jr. "After the breather in the second quarter, my horse raced great. I was happy with him."

Ron Burke trains Melillo, who paid $13.40 to win and races as a homebred for Burke Racing Stable, Jason Melillo and Weaver Bruscemi.

The top four finishers from each elimination qualified for next week's final, as did Odds On Mr Mamba by virtue of being the fifth-place finisher with the higher seasonal earnings. By virtue of their elimination wins, Gentlemen's Club and Melillo are guaranteed to draw post positions between one and six inclusive.

The post position draw for the $664,500 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace final will take place Tuesday (Oct. 20) at Pinnacle Golf Club.