The 23rd edition of the Breeders Crown for older pacers and trotters will be contested Saturday night at the Meadowlands Racetrack with over $1.8M on the line.
Participants in the four events split by gait and sex are worried about a lot more than money since a defeat in the Crown has also meant an effective elimination from Horse of the Year honors.
Sand Vic, trained by Trond Smedshammer and driven by Brian Sears, was installed as the 9-5 morning-line favorite from post four in the $800,000 Open Trot.
“Sand Vic is just a good handy horse,” said Smedshammer. “He never throws in a bad race.”
“He’s very talented, very good gaited and gets over the ground real easy,” said Sears.
In the $500,000 Open Pace, Lis Mara was made the 5-2 favorite and chose to start from the rail by virtue of a victory in his Crown elimination last Saturday night.
Sears, the top ranked driver at The Meadowlands this season, chose to drive Lis Mara over two-time defending champ Boulder Creek (post six, 15-1).
“It was a tough decision, but the kind you have to make in this business. It should be a heck of a race, a real good horse race,” said Sears.
Holborn Hanover, winner of the other Open Pace elim, is the 9-2 third choice and chose to start from post two.
Easton Alliance N was supplemented for $37,500 into the $331,500 Mare Pace and is the 2-1 favorite from post three.
At odds of 2-5, the entry of Peaceful Way (post six) and Ticket To Glide (post seven) is favored in the $250,000 Mare Trot.
Post time for this 14-race card will be at 5 p.m.