On To The $6-Million Crown Finals


October 26, 2020

Eight horses bred by Brittany Farms, or Brittany & Partners, competed in last weekend’s Breeders Crown eliminations or prep races at Hoosier Park, and five of them are successfully heading on to the $6-million finals on Oct. 30 and 31.
 
Leading the way—and hoping to add to the 25 Breeders Crown championships already won by Brittany-breds—was the undefeated 2-year-old colt pacer Perfect Sting p,2,1:49.2 ($316,800). He captured the freshman pacing colt elim in 1:50.4 to make him 9 for 9 in his already remarkable career. (Watch race)
 
From the first crop of the co-fastest pacer ever, Always B Miki (1:46), and from the fastest 3-year-old filly pacer ever, Shebestingin (1:47), Perfect Sting was retained to race by Brittany and is trained by Joe Holloway.
 
Also finishing on top in a $25,000 Invitational—a prep race for the Open Pace—was Brittany bred, raised and sold Bettor’s Wish, who raised his career earnings to $2,300,533 with the win. (Watch race)
 
Bettor’s Wish, last year’s Dan Patch Champion 3YO Male Pacer, both stood at stud and raced this year. He has placed himself squarely on top of the older pacing division with 2020 scores in the Sam McKee Memorial, Dayton Pacing Derby, Graduate Series and Allerage.
 
The son of Bettor’s Delight-Lifetime Star is owned by trainer Chris Ryder, Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm and Bettor’s Wish Partners. Next year, he will be off to Diamond Creek Farm to resume his work of hopefully siring the champions of the future.
 
Also “making the grade” and competing in next weekend’s rich finals are three other Brittany-breds:
 
Manchego 4,1:49 ($2,413,181) - the multiple World Champion was second off the layoff in a star-studded Invitational Trot to Gimpanzee (trotting her last panel in :25.1—yes—:25.1)
 
Blue Diamond Eyes p,2,1:51f ($385,417) - the 2020 KYSS Champion was fourth in the 2YO Filly Pace Elim
 
Gangster Hanover 2,1:52.3 ($242,223) - the 2 and 3-year-old Grand Circuit stakes winner was third in the 3YO Colt Trot Elim
 
Will Brittany add to its 25 Breeders Crown Champions next weekend? Stay tuned!

Perfect Sting (Dean Gillette Photo)

Bettor's Wish (Dean Gillette Photo)