Breeders’ Crown takes over Woodbine Mohawk Park this weekend

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The Breeders' Crown isn't on most people's radar this weekend. But maybe that's how it should be.

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The world's largest harness racing event returns to Woodbine-Mohawk Park for the first time since 2022. The four finals of the two-year-old races will take place on Friday. Then, on Saturday, the results of the year will finally be tallied in four divisions of three-year-old horses and four divisions of older horses.

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All the sports stars will be there. Ron Burke leads all trainers with 23 starters in 12 races. And Dexter Dunn will be considered the event's leading driver for the fifth year in a row.

It is the only North American Championship event held in southern Ontario where seating is free, there are giveaways on both nights and where fans can still follow the Blue Jays on monitors throughout the grandstand between races. And perhaps, with a little effort, you can earn money.

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There are two outstanding teenagers at the top of the tent on Friday. Ontario sire Beau Jungles will aim to complete a perfect 12-for-12 season on pace for the $959,000 two-year-old colt. Trainer Dr Ian Moore said the colt, who comfortably won the elimination in 1:49 1/5 last week, remained strong despite a busy campaign.

“Whatever happened to that colt, it was a hell of a ride for all of us,” he said. “We really enjoyed it.”

“That’s why we train these kids.”

Another elimination winner, Brandon Boulevard, is a top contender, as is Show Me Your Ace off the board.

Burke has a potential superstar in Lua Deep, who leads the $959,000 2-year-old filly. She comes here having won 8 of 11 starts, but a dominant victory in the She's a Great Lady race at Iroquois and a world record 1:48 at the Red Mile have the harness world buzzing.

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“Honestly, I'm surprised,” Burke said. “When we trained her in the beginning we thought she was a good filly and then with each start we thought maybe she would get better and better.”

“And then we found out she's special. She does things that other horses don't do.”

The $959,000 two-year-old filly is led by qualifier winners Nezuko Kamado and Storybook Love. Nezuko Kamado comes in here for trainer Markus Melander in 1:53 1/5, while Storybook Love was just a tick slower.

The Mohawk Million Apex winner will be challenged by Diabolic Hill in the $959,000 2-year-old colt competition. Melander also trains Apex, a son of Wallner who has already passed the $1 million mark but has not raced since Sept. 20.

The main contender for the title of horse of the year became the hero of Saturday's holidays. But Luprint is picking up the pace as the $822,000 three-year-old colt after his first defeat of the year, finishing just a nose behind Dandy Ideal in the elimination. However, Burke believes North American and Little Brown Jug champion can return to form.

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“It was hard to race from behind and he was behind,” he said of the qualifying run. “It’s not that we didn’t come, it’s just that (Dandy Ideal) held us back.”

In addition to Dandy Ideal, Prince Hal Hanover and Meadowlands champion Pace Madden Oaks could be upset.

Reigning Horse of the Year Twin B Joe Fresh is heavily favored in the $548,000 open mare race. The five-year-old bested Sylvia Hanover earlier in the year, but the Chris Ryder trainee has regained her form recently, clocking a personal best of 1:47 3/5 on the Red Mile in her last start.

The $548,000 open mare will battle it out with the likes of MM's Dream, Date Night Hanover, Warrawee Michelle, Elista Hanover and reigning champion Call Me Goo vying for top honors.

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Yo Tilly is the 7-5 favorite in the $910,365 3-year-old fillies after a 10-win season under trainer Andrew Harris. However, she will be under pressure from No. 2 Delaney Hanover at 9-5. Both fillies won the elimination in impressive fashion.

Mickey and Minnie is the standout among the $822,000 3-year-old fillies. The Ryder graduate already has more than $2 million in the bank thanks to 17 career wins. Unreasonable, who finished close behind in the elimination round, should get some support from trainer Erv Miller.

The $822,000 three-year-old colt is another contested battle with Canadian Trotting Classic winner Emoticon Legacy a slight favorite. Last year's Mohawk Million winner Maryland remains in excellent form, and his Melandrum-trained stablemate Super Chapter is also active in the hunt.

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Ontario-bred Lexus Kody has been in poor condition recently and leads the tournament with $822,000 in prize money. Another member of the Burke Brigade, a seven-year-old boy, has blossomed after victories in the Maple Leaf Trot Classic and the Yonkers International Trot.

“He’s a horse we can train anywhere,” Burke said. “We can sit him back. We can move him around. We can do anything.”

“It took him so long until he was seven years old to figure it out and do it in racing.”

Its main contenders will be “Periculum” and “French Wine”.

The promotion concludes with an $822,000 open tournament and another battle royal. Erwin Hannover is the 2-1 favorite but has the likes of Ken Hawover, captain Albano, Nijinsky and Maximus Miki breathing down his neck.

Post time for the first race at Campbellville both evenings is 6:35 p.m.

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