Woodbine Mohawk Park: Norman hopes for good behavior from his Crown finalists

After watching last weekend’s Breeders Crown trials at Woodbine Mohawk Park it seemed as if trainer Richard “Nifty” Norman couldn’t get a break.

Actually Norman got some breaks he recovered from and one that he didn’t on his way to this weekend’s extravaganza. The breaks that didn’t cost Norman’s stable were made by the 2-year-old trotters Amigo Volo and Chestnut Hill. Both colts will return for Friday’s $600,000 final and despite losing their strides collectively in the single-elimination race this past Friday, recovered and were rewarded with solid post-positions for the final. Then there was Saturday night’s break in stride with favorite Evident Beauty looking to not just qualify but perhaps earn an inside draw. David Miller had Evident Beauty poised to make a move in the stretch to collar the leader and eventual winner The Ice Attraction but the filly broke stride and will miss Saturday’s final for sophomore trotting fillies.

“That one hurt,” said Norman on Monday. “She was coming into the race in great shape and to be honest, she’s the one in my barn that I thought I had the best chance of winning a Crown.”

Norman said that Evident Beauty would remain in training and return for the Matron at Dover Downs.

Amigo Volo entered last week’s single elimination as the obvious favorite in the field of 10. The gelding from the second crop of Father Patrick had been ultra-impressive in consecutive Grand Circuit scores at The Red Mile, with the last one a victory after recovering from a break in the backstretch. Neither Norman nor Dunn were concerned with that error when Amigo Volo shipped north. Amigo Volo had previously cut the mile and finished second behind the undefeated Real Cool Sam in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final and was only getting better.

“He kind of got sideways again on Dexter,” said Norman about the Crown miscue. “He was between horses and had no place to go.”

The miscue put Amigo Volo far back and seemingly out of contention. “He made a huge recovery but when he got back, Dexter didn’t think he qualified. “For the moment I think Dexter thought he had to be in the top five to make the final,” said Norman. “He only had to be in the top seven.”

Needless to say Norman will do things differently heading into Friday’s final. “We’re going to change some equipment on him,” Norman said.

While Amigo Volo had broken in a race before, the same couldn’t be said for Chestnut Hill. The fourth foal and first Muscle Hill colt from Norman’s 2009 Breeders Crown winning Poof Shes Gone, Chestnut Hill had been rock-solid finishing on the board in five of his seven starts this year, including a solid third-place finish in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final. “I think he might have been a little too fresh and when David (Miller) took a hold of him he got mad and broke,” said Norman.

While Amigo Volo appears to have more high speed at this juncture than Chestnut Hill, Norman is reserving judgment on which one will have the better future. “Chestnut Hill was a bit immature and has taken more time to get here,” said Norman, “I think he’ll be a better 3-year-old.”

While Norman’s 2-year-old trotters recovered from bad breaks to reach the Crown final, luckily they managed to get the best of it in the post-position draw for the final. Amigo Volo landed post four with the red-hot Dexter Dunn in the bike and Chestnut Hill landed post five with Brian Sears picking up the catch-drive. David Miller will of course stay with Real Cool Sam, but that freshman gelding’s unbeaten streak could be in jeopardy after he landed post nine in the field.

Norman has been ecstatic with the progress of Wine Rack Hanover, who finished a quality second behind Ms Savannah Belle in one of two Crown eliminations.

“She was just very hot. I had a lot of trouble getting her to settle,” said Norman of the Kadabra-sired filly that enters the Crown with two wins and two seconds in her last four starts, all stakes events. Norman is happy with the progression of the $45,000 yearling purchase from the Hanover consignment a year ago, but tends to be realistic about her chances in the final. “There are some really talented fillies in that group,” Norman said. “I’d be happy if we got a check.” Sylvain Filion will drive Wine Rack Hanover from post six in the $600,000 Breeders Crown juvenile filly trot on Friday night.

Breaks were not an issue with Marloe Hanover, as the daughter of Captaintreacherous made a few moves to the front before settling behind division leader Lyons Sentinel in one of three Crown eliminations last Friday. While no match in the stretch, Marloe Hanover maintained her position nicely, finishing less than two lengths behind the imposing Lyons Sentinel.

Marloe Hanover is another talented filly that has been a pleasant surprise for Norman. “When she came up from Florida we weren’t expecting much from her,” said Norman. “She was a little tough to be around and it took some time for her.”

That time spent has paid off quite nicely. Though Marloe Hanover didn’t qualify for the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final, she did capture the consolation and then went to Lexington and was a Grand Circuit winner for young Carter Pinske in her first week at The Red Mile. The filly returned to Norman’s care where she was second in a Kindergarten division at The Meadowlands prior to her Crown appearance.

Norman likes the fact that Marloe Hanover has the kind of speed it takes to get into position in major races but he’s a bit more reserved about Friday’s event. “Those three fillies that won eliminations are pretty serious,” said Norman.

Marloe Hanover drew post six outside her main rivals for the final. She is co-owned by Hanover Shoe Farms’ Executive Vice President Bridgette Jablonsky, who in her own right is having an unbelievable year. Jablonsky also co-owns Crown finalist Wine Rack Hanover. “She owns just three horses,” Norman said, “And you know who the other one is?”

The correct answer is Elver Hanover, the 1:48 3/5 world champion undefeated son of Yankee Cruiser that dominated in Ohio this year.

A Breeders Crown veteran, Norman will be seeking his fourth Breeders Crown trophy at Woodbine Mohawk Park. His previous wins have come with Bee A Magician (2013 & 2014) and Poof Shes Gone (2009).