Harness: Breeders Crown showdown in store for sophomore colt pacers

Perhaps the slogan It All Comes Down to The Breeders Crown has never been more accurate than when considering this year’s sophomore pacing male crop. The two-weekend test starting on October 19 and ending with 12 finals on October 27 at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono will certainly have its share of storylines. What it has in the sophomore colt and gelding championship is a definitive race that will put an answer to the ultimate question.

The race took on a new perspective last Tuesday (Oct. 9) when Montrell Teague qualified Lather Up at Harrah’s Philadelphia. “We were really happy with him,” said George Teague Jr. of Lather Up’s 1:50 2/5 qualifying mile. “It was a great training mile for him.”

The victory was the green light the Teagues were looking for with $62,500 required to make Lather Up eligible by supplemental payment to the Breeders Crown. “Gary (Iles, owner) has never won a Breeders Crown,” said Teague. “That’s a big number for sure.”

Despite winning the richest sophomore event of 2018, the North America Cup, Lather Up, an Ohio-bred, has missed the mark on a few occasions that perhaps would have put him firmly above a class that has at least five legitimate contenders for the title on the final Saturday of the month.

“I was very happy with his efforts in the Jug,” said Teague. “Going in I wasn’t sure if he was over all of his issues. To go two miles under 1:50 on that afternoon is something that I don’t think has ever been done.”

While most of the division headed to Kentucky following the Jug, Lather Up rebounded from the Jug efforts and Teague believes he’s in the best shape he’s been in all season long.

That said, Lather Up returns to Pocono looking to make amends for one of a couple of missteps on the way to a near-perfect season. “He wasn’t at his best for the final before making the break,” said Teague of the Hempt final on June 30. Lather Up also made a break in the Milstein at Northfield and Teague along with his son (driver) and trainer Clyde Francis made some equipment changes that they believe will keep Lather Up in line for the coming weeks. “We’ve always had to fiddle with his bit,” said Teague “And we’ve made some hobble changes that seem to have worked out well.”

While not minimizing the talent of some of the divisional leaders, Teague is mindful that Lather Up enters the Crown with the highest winning percentage of the contenders while also respecting his rivals.

“Courtly Choice went two incredible trips in the Jug,” said Teague, “But then in Kentucky he really didn’t fire.”

Stay Hungry had been as sharp as any sophomore in the last two months but his defection from the Jug final and a second-place finish in the Tattersalls put a damper on a potential divisional title. The son of Somebeachsomewhere had previously captured the Cane Pace at The Meadowlands and Messenger at Yonkers. Earlier in the year when he faced Lather Up in the North America Cup he failed to hit the board.

Courtly Choice as a Meadowlands Pace and Little Brown Jug champion clearly could lock up a divisional title with a Breeders Crown victory. While Teague may have been right that the son of Art Major could have been better in Kentucky, the Blake MacIntosh-trained colt was only three-quarters of a length back in fifth after racing without cover in his Tattersalls division. Courtly Choice was brilliant in the Meadowlands Pace elimination and final but came up noticeably short in the Cane Pace on Hambletonian Day. Still, with 10 wins in 15 starts this year, Courtly Choice has the credentials. To be fair, in his two confrontations with Lather Up before the Jug final Courtly Choice drew post eight in the Hempt elimination and a North America Cup trial.

While Courtly Choice and Stay Hungry have the resume to capture the division, perhaps horses like Dorsoduro Hanover and American History could be longshots in the Crown that could elevate their chances with a win.

Dorsoduro Hanover would have the vote for anyone that asks for horses to dance every dance. A rugged campaign that included tough races within the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes program while managing to capture the Adios and put in a brilliant performance in defeat in the Meadowlands Pace have earned him respect. There are countless races where he was right there but didn’t get invited to the winner’s circle. A split-second decision that didn’t take place could have vaulted Dorsoduro Hanover to victory in the Jug final as driver Matt Kakaley found himself in tight when Lather Up began to falter late.

American History finally got that major victory he’s been looking for all year in last Sunday’s Tattersalls division at The Red Mile. Rated off the pace nicely, he finished faster than stablemate Stay Hungry in the crucial stages and surged to victory. The Kentucky Sire Stakes champion had been a regular bridesmaid to Courtly Choice before overtaking him in Kentucky.

Perhaps what makes this division so unpredictable is that there are fringe players who have enough speed to influence the outcome of any race. With Milstein champion Thinkbig Dreambig and Tattersalls division winner Grand Teton also likely to make the Crown, the elimination races will be hot and the final will be definitive.

Clearly what has separated some of those in this rich sophomore class is the advent of rich Sire Stakes programs. Lather Up took advantage of his Ohio eligibility. Dorsoduro Hanover had to work but got the job done in Pennsylvania. American History had dual eligibility and was often seen in New York Sires competition and later in the year won the Kentucky final.

With the separation, the Breeders Crown will give all an opportunity to come together and decide a division that is clearly in the balance.

This has to be the kind of race Hambletonian Society members envisioned when they derived the Breeders Crown concept more than 35 years ago.