It's the time of year when it all comes down to the Breeders Crown. But for the most part, if you are a Wisconsin or Minnesota harness horseman, the Breeders Crown might as well be a unicorn race or the Kentucky Derby. Unless your name is Pinske, then you have the same chance of racing in any of them. The Pinske family of Plato, Minnesota - although several branches of the family tree now make Florida their home - have had successes in the Breeders Crown and other major stakes for many, many years. The family includes matriarch Marlys Pinske, her son Karl and her grandson Carter, who now does much of the family's training. Like most Minnesotans, the family (starting with Karl's grandfather Robert, followed by his son Tim) began racing on the fair circuit in the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Cannon Falls, Blue Earth and Owatonna were all on the agenda. Arguably their best year was 2020 when they won Breeders Crowns with Amigo Volo (his second Crown title) and Fire Start Hanover, and Venerate was one of the favorites in his Breeders Crown division. But that's it. The Doyenne of the Hambletonian/Breeders Crown Hambletonian Society said she and her staff could recall no other Minnesota- or Wisconsin-owned Breeders Crown winners, let alone a Wisconsin- or Minnesota-bred winner. ► Friday full-card analysis for Woodbine Mohawk Park When the Crown eliminations came up this year, there were the Pinskes again, winning a 3-year-old trotting elim with Double Deceiver, trained by Carter Pinske and driven by David Miller. He was impressive, coming from last to first in the stretch to win in 1:52 4/5. But further back another Minnesota story was starting, although few knew it at the time. World At War Deo, who was sent off at 72-1 and led the race at the quarter, held on for the fifth and last qualifying spot in the Breeders Crown Final. Officially titled to Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. (presumably leasees), World of War Deo was purchased via OnGait.com on August 6 for $205,000 by a consortium of Minnesota breeders led by Harlan Nolt and is raced by the Burkes, but he will be heading to stud duty in Minnesota after his 3-year-old campaign. ► Read the Breeders Crown Preview issue of Harness Digest Newsletter Nolt, whose Wisco Farms is actually in Wisconsin (shocking, I know), currently stands one of the top trotting stallions in Minnesota, Southwind Flash (stud fee $2,000), as well as top pacing stud Easy Again (Full disclosure: I own a piece of a 2-year-old trotting filly who was foaled and raised at Wisco Farms). The stallions (as are most commercial Minnesota studs) are housed at Bluff Country Equine in Minnesota and Nolt brings them home in the off-season. "We all want to improve the quality of breeding stock in the state," explained Nolt. "We wanted that Chapter Seven blood that has been so successful elsewhere, and when we saw this one for sale, we went and got him. We paid a bit more for him than we wanted, but he is a good-looking individual." ► Saturday full-card analysis for Woodbine Mohawk Park Nolt is a farrier who fell into racing, first shoeing quarter horses for friends and then moving to the Standardbred side. With the lower costs to race in Minnesota, he felt there was opportunity, despite the relatively short racing season. Running Aces races for 4 1/2 months and if you add the fairs, you add another six weeks or so. But the state program is well-funded, and purses continue to rise, with Breeders' legs contested for $13-19,000 and the finals typically going for $60,000. This compares pretty easily to Ohio's second level Buckeye Stallion Series, with $17,500 legs and a $75,000 final and $25,000 consolation. But, prior to this year, no Minnesota-bred yearling had ever sold for more than $30,000 (this year the sales topper went over $50,000, doubling the previous record). So for $15-20,000 you will have a top-price colt or filly chasing the prize. In Ohio, your $20,000 yearling may be competing against a $50,000 Fear The Dragon or $100,000 Downbytheseaside colt. Trotter? Look at what the Volsteads sold for in his first year in Ohio. As Nolt reminded me, the average yearling in Minnesota goes for about $10,000. ► FREE Harness Eye PPs for Woodbine Mohawk Park Friday & Saturday cards "There is a value in our program," said Nolt. "World At War Deo will stand for a fee of $3,000. While that may sound cheap, it is one of the highest stud fees ever charged in Minnesota. We hope to get a lot of mares. There are very few commercial breeders here. Most folks are breeding to race for themselves, not to sell. We think we will hit a sweet spot with World At War Deo." As we mentioned, World At War Deo is a son of Chapter Seven, and from the Andover Hall mare Yalta Hanover. He has earned over $210,000 in his career, and if he were to pull a major Breeders Crown upset, he would more than double that total. Nolt has worked hard to improve the quality of his broodmare band, something that Minnesota desperately needs to keep moving forward, and is willing to invest in quality mares. "You used to be able to buy a lot of mares for $2,500 or $3,000. We are now spending $10-15,000 to try to improve the quality of our product. I am upgrading my broodmares and so is everyone else I know," he remarked. We are a long way from seeing if this Breeders Crown starter sires a Breeders Crown winner - or even a starter. But it's always good to see grassroots programs improving, which improves the overall quality of our sport. ► Bet the Breeders Crown at Woodbine Mohawk Park now That's it for this month. Now go cash. Hopefully on World At War Deo in the Breeders Crown at big numbers. See you next month.