Breeders Crown Open Pace Profiles By Greg Reinhart All Bets Off Completing the trio of Ron Burke entries in the final is this 4-year-old bay son of 2000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace champion Bettor s Delight. He was driven by Matt Kakaley, who is shooting for his first Breeders Crown trophy, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC. (Ron and Sylvia Burke), Weaver Bruscemi LLC. (Michael Bruscemi and Mark Weaver), The Panhellenic Stb Corp. (Spiridon Apostolatos), and Frank Baldachino. The latter two owners haven t won a Breeders Crown as of yet while Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi each have four. Bred by Robert and Greg Tucker, All Bets Off is out of the Dexter Nukes mare Armbro Penelope. The family includes five other six-figure earners. This season All Bets Off took the C$226,575 Confederation Cup at Flamboro Downs and the C$200,000 Prix D Ete at Hippodrome 3R, and he was the runner-up in the Dan Patch at Hoosier Park and the Ewart at Scioto Downs. In his sophomore campaign he was the winner of the $500,000 Messenger, $300,000 Art Rooney, and $225,000 New York Sire Stakes Championship all at Yonkers Raceway, and the $400,000 Carl Milstein at Northfield Park. He also won the $154,575 Matron at Dover Downs when he was a 2-yearold. He has a mark of 1:48.3 earned in 2014 at Pocono in his Max C. Hempt Memorial elimination, and he has earned $1,523,644. have been at least second off that trip. Shannon Murphy, 2 nd trainer for Ron Burke on All Bets Off: He was a little bit disappointing. We re going to scope him and see how he comes out of it. He should
Always B Miki - 14-time Breeders Crown winner Dave Miller was in the bike behind this 4-year-old bay horse, who turned a first-over trip into a 1:49.4 victory in the second elimination. Always B Miki is a son of Always A Virgin, who won his Breeders Crown elimination for 3-year-old male pacers in 2007 and was the slight favorite in the final but got locked in early speed duel with second choice Tell All, and both horses finished off the board. Jimmy Takter, the Breeders Crown s most successful trainer with 21 trophies, handles the conditioning for owners Bluewood Stable (Mitch Skolnick, William Jones, Jillian Luff, Bluestone Farms LLC., and Kitty Hawk Stable), Roll The Dice Stable (Joseph Hurley) and Christina Takter. Christina Takter has five Breeders Crowns to her credit while the other owners are looking for their first. He s a fantastic horse, Jimmy Takter said. We had a long journey here; we had a big bump in May when he got reinjured in the other leg, so I m really, really pleased to see this horse [win], because he s really a special animal, and he s a very popular horse in the sport, with so many people asking about this horse. Seeing him come back, I thought he looked pretty darn good. I m so pleased to be a part of his life. Roll The Dice Stable also bred Always B Miki, who is out of the Artsplace mare Artstopper. This means Always B Miki is a half-brother to Yagonnakissmeornot, who will race in this year s Breeders Crown Mare Pace. Always B Miki won his Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Pace elimination last year but was scratched out of the final with an injury and didn t resurface until September of this year. His only pari-mutuel start before his Breeders Crown elimination was a 1:49 decision in an Indiana Sire Stakes elimination at Hoosier Park. As a 3-year-old he won numerous Indiana Sire Stakes Finals, the $220,000 Super Final, and the $275,000 Monument Circle at Hoosier Park, a $218,300 division of the Tattersalls and a $92,600 Grand Circuit Stake (in his life s mark of 1:47.4) at The Red Mile, and a C$75,000 Somebeachsomewhere Stakes split at Mohawk Racetrack. He was second in the Meadowlands Pace Final, charging home in :25.3 despite being parked three-wide the entire route. He has career earnings of $954,364. You ve got to be patient with them, Takter also said regarding Always B Miki s return to racing. An injury takes time [to heal], and you have to listen to him [the horse]. He did very well; he was standing in his stall for a long time, and a lot of horses get frustrated doing that. He was able to keep his weight, so it s a heck of a story really. He s the king. He s unbelievable. I was very worried about the one post here tonight. I didn t like that. He got post three for the final, which I m very happy. The kick he has, it s unbelievable. Around the last turn he looked so lazy, but he has a great kick. This is what it s all about for me, with this horse. It was 10 months to get here. After I sat behind him at Lexington (in a qualifier) I knew he was very, very special. They supplemented him to the Breeders Crown last year and he won his elimination and never got to race in the final. Now, hopefully he can continue the story.
Arthur Blue Chip - This 4-year-old bay horse is a son two-time Breeders Crown runner-up Shadow Play (2008 3-Year-Old Colt Pace and 2009 Open Pace). He was steered to a third-place finish in Foiled Again s elimination by Chris Christoforou, a three-time Breeders Crown victor, for trainer Dr. Ian Moore and his Shadow One Stable. Moore has yet to claim a Breeders Crown trophy but sent out the sire to both of his runner-up efforts. Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. (three Breeders Crown titles) bred Arthur Blue Chip, who is out of the Artsplace mare Advantest. That makes Arthur Blue Chip a half-brother to Kenneth J, who was second in the 2006 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace and third in the 2007 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Pace. He s also half-brother to Sombrero Blue Chip, who competed in a 2008 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace elimination. Arthur Blue Chip missed his entire 3- year-old season with an injury after a 2- year-old campaign that saw him win a C$81,811 Nassagaweya Stakes division at Mohawk Racetrack, three Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series races, his C$40,000 Metro Pace elimination at Mohawk, and his C$12,500 Battle of Waterloo elimination at Grand River Raceway. He was second in the Governor s Cup, third in the Battle of Waterloo Final, and raced in a Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace elimination, finishing fourth. He returned to the races this year and has a pair of wins at Mohawk Racetrack, an overnight race, which he won in his career-best time of 1:50.2, and an edition of the preferred pace. He has a bankroll of $423,107. Ian Moore on Arthur Blue Chip: He raced very well. I was a little hesitant about putting him in, but Ron and Serge wanted to put him. He s had so many problems over the last couple years, and I respect what he s done for us now. We re very pleased. He did very well. He had the rail and had a nice trip.
Bettor s Edge Another Burke finalist, Bettor s Edge finished second to Always B Miki for driver Brian Sears, who sits fourth in Breeders Crown history with 26 winners. Bettor s Edge, a 6-year-old bay gelding by 2000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace champion Bettor s Delight, is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC. (Ron and Sylvia Burke), Weaver Bruscemi LLC. (Michael Bruscemi and Mark Weaver), and M1 Stable LLC. (Bruscemi and Weaver plus Robert Cook Jr. and Rupert MacKenzie). Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi have both owned four Breeders Crown champions while M1 Stable hasn t yet found the winner s circle in the competition. Bettor s Edge was bred by Brittany Farms (21 trophies, second-most in Breeders Crown history) and Val D Or Farms (two Breeders Crown wins as an owner) and is out of the Life Sign mare Spring Wind. The dam is a half-sister to Landscapist, who raced in an elimination for the 2005 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Pace. So far in 2015 Bettor s Edge has won one stakes engagement, a $50,000 leg of the Levy Series at Yonkers Raceway. Last year he won the $211,500 Hoosier Park Pacing Derby and as a 3-year-old he won the $250,000 Monument Circle at Indiana Downs. He has also been second in the Ben Franklin and the W.R. Haughton Memorial. His lifetime mark stands at 1:48.1, earned last year in an overnight race at Mohawk Racetrack, and he has earned $1,563,099. In his Breeders Crown career Bettor s Edge raced in the 2011 2-Year-Old Colt Pace (second in his elimination and seventh in the final), the 2012 3-Year-Old Colt Pace (a winner in his elimination and third in the final), and the 2014 Open Pace (no eliminations, seventh in the final). He also attempted to qualify for the 2013 Open Pace but was eighth in his elimination and did not advance. 2 nd Trainer Shannon Murphy on Bettor s Edge: He raced very good. He got lucky to get up the rail, but when he did, he exploded. We re expecting big things from him next week too.
Foiled Again bay, gelding, 11, by Dragon Again In A Safe Place-Artsplace The richest Standardbred in the history of harness racing with earnings of $7,181,411, this 11-year-old bay gelded son of Dragon Again took the first elimination in 1:50 flat off a first-over trip. Foiled Again was driven to the victory, the 85 th of his storied career, by 11-time Breeders Crown champion Yannick Gingras for trainer Ron Burke, who has eight Breeders Crowns to his credit. Foiled Again is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC. (Ron and Sylvia Burke), Weaver Bruscemi LLC. (Michael Bruscemi and Mark Weaver), and JJK Stables LLC. (Joseph Koury, Joseph Koury Jr., and Kevin Koury). Burke Racing and Weaver Bruscemi both have four Breeders Crowns, and JJK Stables has one. Weaver once said he hoped to someday find another horse like Foiled Again, but knows the odds are against it. It s like saying you want to find the next Michael Jordan, Weaver said. It s sort of unreasonable. Foiled Again, who was bred by Barbara Matthews, is out of the Artsplace mare In A Safe Place. He was named by Matthews, who recalled her daughter watching Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons and hearing villain Snidely Whiplash often exclaim, Curses, foiled again! This will be Foiled Again s sixth consecutive appearance in the Breeders Crown Open Pace. He won the 2013 edition of the event, was fifth in 2014, third in 2012, second in 2011, and second in 2010. A win at age 11 would tie him with trotter Commander Crowe as the oldest horses to be crowned. The Breeders Crown elimination victory was Foiled Again s second of the season, joining his tally in the $175,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park. He was second in the Quillen at Harrington and third in the W.R. Haughton Memorial and U.S. Pacing Championship at The Meadowlands and the Roll With Joe at Tioga Downs. In prior years he has won many major races for free-for-allers, including the TVG, the Ben Franklin, the Canadian Pacing Derby, two editions of the Levy Series final, two Quillens, and two Molson Paces. He has a speed badge of 1:48, earned when he was nine. "Every win is special with him," said Gingras. "He's the greatest horse I've every driven. "When he draws outside you have to use him too much early and he just can't finish after that. Usually I know how good he's going to be when we come through the final turn," said Gingras. "Tonight he latched on to me and I knew they weren't going to beat him." Foiled Again joined another elite group this year, as the international model company Breyer issued a special edition Foiled Again Standardbred model. Breyer has joined countless fans amazed by Foiled Again s ability to compete successfully at the sport s highest level year after year and honored the ageless wonder with a portrait model created in his likeness.
JK Endofanera Another Takter pupil, this 4-year-old bay horse by 2002 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Pace and 2003 Breeders Crown Open Pace hero Art Major, paced a :26.3 final quarter to rally from seventh to second in the elimination won by Foiled Again. He was driven by Brett Miller, who has yet to taste a Breeders Crown Final success, for owner 3 Brothers Stables (Alan, Ronald, and Steven Katz). 3 Brothers Stables has a pair of Breeders Crown successes in their history. 3 Brothers Stables also bred JK Endofanera, who is out of the Presidential Ball mare Presidential Lady. JK Endofanera is a full brother to JK She salady, last year s winner of the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace and the Horse of the Year in Canada and the United States and JK Matchmaker, who made the final of the 2003 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace. This year JK Endofanera won the $307,500 Dan Patch Invitational at Hoosier Park, the $148,000 Allerage at The Red Mile, and his C$40,000 Canadian Pacing Derby elimination at Mohawk Racetrack. At three he was the winner of the C$1,000,000 Pepsi North America Cup at Mohawk, the $227,000 American-National at Balmoral Park, a $218,300 Tattersalls division at The Red Mile, and his $50,000 Meadowlands Pace elimination at The Meadowlands in 1:48.2, which stands as his life s mark. He was second in his elimination and third in the final of the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Pace. Going back to his 2-year-old campaign, he was the winner of the $534,500 Governor s Cup at The Meadowlands. JK Endofanera is a millionaire in his career, having put away $1,861,899. Jimmy Takter on JK Endofanera: He raced tremendous. He was really, really good. He just was too far back. How about Foiled Again? He s tough. Hats off to him. Until this spring JK Endofanera was trained by the Burke Stable.
Mach It So A 5-year-old bay gelding by Mach Three, who raced in the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace in 2001, finishing second, and the 3-Year-Old Colt Pace in 2002, taking fourth, Mach It So came in fourth in Always B Miki s elimination for 14- time Breeders Crown winning driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Jeff Bamond Jr., and owner Bamond Racing LLC. (Jeff Bamond and Jeff Bamond Jr.). Bamond has won four Breeders Crowns as an owner courtesy of Anndrovette and Shelliscape. The younger Bamond took over training duties for the stable this year. Bred by Enviro Stables Ltd. (one Breeders Crown trophy as an owner), Mach It So s dam is the Beach Towel mare Beach Dancer. The family includes 2009 Woodrow Wilson Pace champion Windfall Blue Chip. Mach It So bagged the $430,600 W.R. Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands, the $150,000 Quillen at Harrington, and a $50,000 preliminary round of the Levy Series at Yonkers Raceway so far this season. He also won three preliminary rounds of the Levy Series last year, and going back to his 3- year-old campaign, he won four Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series events and the C$115,850 Canadian Breeders Championship at Mohawk Racetrack. Mach It So has a lifetime mark of 1:48, earned last year s in an open at Pocono, and has earned $1,095,731. McWicked - The 2014 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Pace champion, McWicked finished fifth in Foiled Again s elimination. He is a 4-year-old bay son of McArdle, who was second to Art Major in the 2002 Breeders Crown 3- Year-Old Colt Pace and the 2003 Open Pace. McWicked was driven in his elimination by Corey Callahan, who is after his first Breeders Crown trophy, for trainer Casie Coleman and owner S S G Stables (Ed James). Coleman has trained four Breeders Crown champions and S S G Stables won their Breeders Crown debut last year with McWicked. McWicked was bred by Andray Farm and is out of the Western Ideal mare Western Sahara. The family includes multiple stakes winner Isle Of Patmos. A win has remained elusive for McWicked as a 4-yearold, but last year he won not just the Breeders Crown, but also the $500,000 Max C. Hempt Memorial at Pocono (in his career-best time of 1:47.3), the $400,000 Adios at The Meadows, the $301,560 Progress Pace at Dover Downs, and the $260,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship at Harrah s Philadelphia. McWicked has made $1,738,837 in earnings during his career.
Melmerby Beach The third of Dr. Ian Moore s finalists, Melmerby Beach is a 4-year-old bay son of 2008 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Colt Pace winner Somebeachsomewhere, whose trainer Brent MacGrath owns Melmerby Beach through his Schooner II Stable. Paul MacDonell, an eight-time Breeders Crown winner, drove Melmerby Beach to a fourth-place finish behind Foiled Again. Schooner II Stable also bred Melmerby Beach, who is out of the Art Major mare DB Blue Chip. This summer Melmerby Beach won four of five starts at The Meadowlands, including two editions of the open handicap pace and an overnight race in 1:47.3, which made him the second fastest offspring of his sire. The Breeders Crown was his first stakes engagement this year, but at three he won a C$107,538 Simcoe Stakes division and the C$50,800 Summertime Series Final at Mohawk Racetrack. He was also second in a $92,600 Grand Circuit Stake at The Meadowlands. In total he has put away $255,671 in earnings. This will be Melmerby Beach s second Breeders Crown appearance; he was second in his elimination and ninth in the final of the 2013 2-Year-Old Colt Pace at Pocono. Ian Moore on Melmerby Beach: He was all right, but got a little weak finishing. That s sort of the way he s been racing lately. I ve only had him for three starts. He s a very nice horse. He doesn t appear to have anything wrong with him, I m not sure why he does that. Paul (MacDonell) says he feels real good to the half. I might try a couple different things for next week to see if we can make him better for the final. I might try an open bridle on him. But we re pleased. State Treasurer Another finalist for trainer Dr. Ian Moore, State Treasurer is a 6-year-old brown stallion by two-time Breeders Crown champion Real Desire (2001 3-Year-Old Colt Pace and 2002 Open Pace). Chris Christoforou also drove State Treasurer for owners Sally and Paul MacDonald, who will be seeking their first Breeders Crown trophy. Like fellow finalist Bettor s Edge, State Treasurer was bred by Brittany Farms, who has 21 Breeders Crowns to their credit. He is out of the Western Ideal mare Ideal Treasure, who is a full sister to 2015 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace finalist Frost Damage Blues and a half-sister to Star Of The Show, the dam of 2015 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace finalist American Passport. This year State Treasurer won his C$40,000 elimination and the C$685,000 Canadian Pacing Derby at Mohawk Racetrack, the $215,400 U.S. Pacing Championship at The Meadowlands (in his career-best clocking of 1:47), the $150,000 Roll With Joe at Tioga Downs, the C$150,000 Molson Pace at Western Fair Raceway (his third straight win in that event), the $138,500 Dayton Pacing Derby at Hollywood Dayton, and the $100,000 Mohawk Gold Cup at Mohawk. He was also second in the W.R. Haughton Memorial at The Meadowlands. He was third in last year s Breeders Crown Open Pace and also raced in an elimination of the 2011 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Pace. He shows earnings of $1,800,414.