Four Breeders Crown races decided at Mohawk

Horseracing Betting Lines

08/30/2008 - Campbellville, ON (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The first four Breeders Crown races of the year took center-stage Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack. The remaining eight events will be held at The Meadowlands on Saturday, November 29.

In Saturday's initial Breeders Crown race, Corleone Kosmos, who nearly won last year's Breeders Crown Open Trot before going off stride, won the 2008 $638,580 edition by a length over Arch Madness. Driven by Hall of Famer John Campbell, the six-year-old gelding trotted the mile in 1:51 4/5.

"Much better than losing. Redemption is sweet," said Bryan Owen of the winning stable. "He got the total perfect trip for him, and when he got out at the top of the stretch I thought this is our race to lose."

Trained by Darren McCall, the gelding has won 17 of 43 career races and earned more than $1.6 million.

Corleone Kosmos paid $8.70, $4.00 and $3.20. Arch Madness returned $5.00 and $3.30, and Digital Image paid $4.60 to show.

In the $352,815 Breeders' Crown Mare Trot, 2-1 second choice Brigham Dream defeated Susies Magic by a half-length. Another half-length back was Exotic Destination in the 10-horse field.

Winner of last week's elimination race, Brigham Dream trotted the mile in 1:53 2/5. Luc Ouellette drove the four-year-old mare to her second victory of the year.

Brigham Dream has won 11 of 26 career starts for $665,000.

Brigham Dream returned $6.30, $4.30 and $3.30. Susies Magic paid $10.70 and $7.30, and Exotic Destination paid $12.20 to show. Falls For You, the 4-5 favorite, was last.

My Little Dragon became a three-time Breeders Crown champion Saturday night with a win in the $352,815 Mare Pace. Driven by Brian Sears, the five-year-old mare paced the mile in 1:50 1/5.

Darlins Delight was two-lengths back in second and Hana Hanover finished third.

My Little Dragon was a Breeders Crown champion at ages two and three. She has earned $2.2 million in 48 lifetime starts with 23 victories.

Sent off as the 3-2 favorite, My Little Dragon returned $5.30, $3.70 and $3.00. Darlins Delight paid $5.10 and $2.90, and Hana Hanover paid $7.50 to show.

Closing the night in the $532,150 Breeders Crown Open Pace, Mister Big avenged last year's loss by defeating Artistic Fella by three-lengths. A nose separated them at the wire in the 2007 Breeders Crown.

Driver Brian Sears recorded his second Crown win of the night as Mister Big paced the mile in 1:50. Kenneth J was third.

Mister Big, a five-year-old, beat Artistic Fella in the recent Canadian Pacing Derby and was last year's champion older male pacer. He has earnings of $3 million in 63 career starts and 25 wins.

Mister Big paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Artistic Fella returned $3.20 and $3.20, and Kenneth J paid $9.10 to show.

In other harness racing news, Hambletonian champ Deweycheatumnhowe held off Celebrity Secret down the stretch to capture the $565,000 World Trotting Derby Saturday at the DuQuoin, IL State Fair. It was his 17th straight win and the time for the mile, 1:50 4/5, is the fastest by any trotter in 2008.

"The only thing I was concerned about, he raced once in two weeks," said trainer Ray Schnittker. "He had two weeks off after the Hambo, never raced him, only trained him. I think that in the next couple weeks, when he hits Lexington, he should be getting really tight again. I'm going to try to keep him fresh, keep him going. It seems like that's working."

Schnittker, who is also the driver and co-owner, said that the colt's next start will be eliminations and final of the Canadian Trotting Classic on September 6 and 13 and then to Lexington's Red Mile for the Kentucky Futurity on October 4.

Perfect in all 17 lifetime starts, Deweycheatumnhowe picks up $282,500 with the win and now has career earnings of $2,250,746.