Breeders Crown: Rebuff rallies to take 2YO male trot final

Rebuff would not be denied, rallying from fifth coming out of the final turn to win Friday's (Oct. 29) $600,000 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male trotters in 1:55 on a blustery and rainy night at the Meadowlands. Fast As The Wind finished second and favorite Branded By Lindy was third.

Temporal Hanover left the gate quickly from post seven and led to the first quarter in 27 seconds, with Branded By Lindy second and Testing Testing third. Branded By Lindy moved to the front on the backstretch and faced outside pressure from Double Deceiver and Fast As The Wind as they reached the half in 56 1/5.

Rebuff, who was seventh in the early going, was third-over entering the final turn, with driver Tim Tetrick making a three-wide move as the field hit three-quarters in 1:25 2/5 in heavy rain and strong wind.

In the stretch, Rebuff overtook Branded By Lindy and then held off Fast As The Wind by a half-length.

The track was downgraded to sloppy following the race.

► Get Free Harness Eye PPs and a 10% Rebate on Exotic Wagers on both Breeders Crown cards

"I was third over, and I was happy with that," Tetrick said. "They went a very strong first quarter and with the conditions I was hoping they would come back to us, and they did. I was following live cover. We had to go three-wide a little early, but this colt has been racing really good and charging hard and he got it done today.

"I thought I had (Fast As The Wind) put away and the next thing, I look over and he's coming back at us again. My horse got a little lost halfway down the lane. He almost made a break, but then he finished it off. The paycheck won't say what he did."

As for the weather conditions, Tetrick said, "It's like a beautiful sunny day right now. You win a Breeders Crown, nothing else matters."

The win gave trainer Lucas Wallin his first Breeders Crown and Tetrick his 22nd.

Rebuff is owned by Kjell Andersen, Wallin, and Pieter Delis. By Muscle Hill out of Meucci Madness, the colt was bred by Steve Stewart and Michael Andrew.

The winner paid $7.80 as the 5-2 second choice.