Arch Madness Wins Breeders Trot
Artist's View Takes Pace Title in Crown Championships at Meadowlands
Arch Madness and Artist's View won the three-year-old trot and pace championships, respectively, in the Breeders' Crown season-ending harness competitions in New Jersey.
While Arch Madness and Artist's View captured the three-year-old and gelding trot and pace division titles, respectively, at this season's harness championships in New Jersey, champions were also realized in two other division races for two- and three-year-old male trotters and pacers.
A total purse of $4.7 million was available to November's Breeders' Crown competitors at Meadowlands Racetrack in harness racing's most prominent night in the United States.
In the $610,000 Three-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot, Arch Madness overcame favorite Donato Hanover. With Donato Hanover, this season's powerful champion in the famed Hambletonian trot, leading the field, Arch Madness trotted wide on both turns. But in the lane, Arch Madness came through strongly to overcome Flirtin Man by a neck, winning the mile in time of 1:52-4/5. Donato Hanover finished third.
Brian Sears drove the winner and said the colt was ready to get along side Donato Hanover and take on the Hambletonian champ. Razor sharp and game to the hilt, Arch Madness hit the lane with a competitive spirit that "stunned" his trainer. Trond Smedshammer said he never expected Arch Madness to come up that good.
Artist's View took on Tell All, this season's North America Cup and Little Brown Jug champion, and Always A Virgin, Cane Pace and Messenger Pace winner, in the $555,000 Three-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace. Always A Virgin led and Tell All paced a close second, but in the lane, Artist's View took advantage of the tiring pace, captured the lead in the stretch and prevailed by a neck over fast closing Watta Hotshot.
Forensic Z Tam finished third. Artist's View's time was 1:50-4/5, very quick off the early hot going that left Tell All eighth and Always A Virgin ninth.
George Brennan, Artist's View's driver, said a change in the colt's shoes seemed to suit the pacer. Trainer Buzz Sholty switched the colt's footwear after the previous week's elimination race.
A field of ten entered the $650,000 Two-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Trot. Deweycheatumnhowe, a 3-5 favorite, lived up to his hype. He trotted the mile in 1:57-2/5, capturing the lead in mid stretch and driving to the win by a length over Celebrity Secret. Lear Jetta finished third.
Ray Schnittker, Deweycheatumnhowe's driver and trainer, said the colt had prevailed in all kinds of weather and circumstances previous to the championships. He's had some luck, Schnittker said, but in the end, Deweycheatumnhowe just seems to "overcome everything".
Santana Blue Chip just missed the favorite bet in the $650,000 Two-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace, but came through in the end, chipping off the 1-1/4 length lead carried by Sand Shooter through the mid stretch. After leading the field around the clubhouse turn, Santana Blue Chip yielded to Sand Shooter. The Blue Chipper was a healthy nose better than Sand Shooter at the wire.
Santana Blue Chip did the mile in 1:53-3/5. Robert's Rage finished a tight third, 1/4 length back.
Ecstatic driver and co-owner Jody Jamieson said Santana Blue Chip took a fall earlier in the week in a training session. The colt recovered without further incident and lit up the track in his winning championship drive.
