Harrah's Hoosier Park: Tattoo Artist, Bythemissal roll in Breeders Crown Open Pace elims

On a rough night for favorites, 1-9 choice Tattoo Artist, piloted by Louis Roy, did not let his backers down, coasting to an easy 1:50 victory over 55-1 Abuckabett Hanover in the first $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination for open pacers.

Roy put the Dr. Ian Moore trainee on the front, although he was parked out nearly to the quarter, reached in 26 seconds. The 6-year-old son of He's Watching got a soft middle-half of 58 1/5 as Charlie May mounted a futile first-over move at the five-eighths pole, but Tattoo Artist was never seriously challenged as he posted his seventh straight victory. It took a photo to determine the third spot, but when the ink dried, Linedrive Hanover had bested Charlie May and Lou's Pearlman, who rallied late from the outside. All three will join the first two in next week's Breeders Crown Final.

"He's so nice to drive," Roy said. "So easy, you can change your mind with him. It's such a long stretch here; I didn't want to let him pace too early, but when I let him, he was like a little rocket."

Tattoo Artist, owned by Let It Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing, along with Frank Cannon, yielded a paltry return of $2.10 across the board. He was bred by Tara Hills Stud of Canada. Abuckabett Hanover returned $15.40 and $3.80, while Linedrive Hanover paid $3.80 to show.

When six horses are competing for five spots in a final, there's often not much action in an elimination. That was certainly not the case in the second Crown elimination. Longshot Chase H Hanover took the field past the quarter in a fast 25 1/5 as 3-5 favorite Bythemissal found a seat third. As the field approached the three-eighths pole, pocket- sitting Ponda Warrior, the hometown hero, pulled and went by the early leader, only to be met and passed by the favorite, who clicked the half-mile timer in 54 1/5. Yannick Gingras continued to lead, as Bythemissal, a Ron Burke trainee, hit the three-quarters in 1:23 and then flew home in 26 seconds to post an impressive 1:49 win over closing Allywag Hanover by a length and three-quarters. It was the first sub-1:50 mile of the evening.

"I didn't want a slow middle-half," Gingras explained. "I know I can go with him, but it's a deep group."

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Ponda Warrior closed inside to finish third, while Taurasi and Chase H Hanover also advanced to the final, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively.

Bythemissal is a 4-year-old son of Downbytheseaside, owned by Burke Racing, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. He was bred in New Jersey by Dr. Stephen Dey. He paid $3.20 to win, while posting his ninth victory in 12 seasonal starts. The win pushed his career earnings over $1.7 million.

The draw for the Open Pace, Open Trot, and sophomore colt trot and pace events will be conducted on Monday, Oct. 23 at Harrah's Hoosier Park and streamed live on their Facebook page.