by Jay Wolf

Breeders Crown — 3YOCP

In the three-year-old colt wars we have seen a number of horses take their turn at the top of the division, but Saturday, Dorsoduro Hanover had his breakout win in the $530,000 Breeders Crown Final, a win that will elevate him in the divisional honors race.

When the field of nine was sent on their way, This Is The Plan (Tim Tetrick) received the first call and led the field past the opening quarter in :26.1.

Dorsoduro Hanover moved from his early fifth place position at the quarter pole and brushed to the lead before the half in :53.4.

The eventual winner turned back the challenges of American History (Andrew McCarthy) and Thinkbig Dreambig (Yannick Gingras) at the three-quarters in 1:21.3.

At the top of the lane, Kakaley asked for more from Dorsoduro Hanover ($6.00), the betting favorite responded with a :28.1 final panel and a 3 ½ length win. The final time of 1:49.4 equaled the gelding’s lifetime mark.

Lather Up (Montrell Teague) rallied to be a game second. This Is The Plan and Shnitzledosomethin (David Miller) completed the superfecta ticket.

Dorsoduro Hanover is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Silva, Purnel and Libby, Weaver Bruscemi and Wingfield Five. He is trained by Ron Burke, who with the win, his third on the evening, moved into a second place tie on the all-time Breeders Crown training list with Bob McIntosh (16 trophies).

“Dorsoduro’s had a tough season and he’s raced very, very hard. He earned $900,000 before this race and another $265,000 (tonight),” said co-owner Jerry Silva. “I expected Lather Up to leave and we’d be in the two-hole and have to trace him, but it didn’t work out that way. Lather Up came up, but Matt said ‘goodbye.’”

“He was unbelievable today, he was very, very good,” said Kakaley.

“He’s been there every week, every start. All year long he’s been there, putting in good performances every time, too. He races his eyeballs out. Ronnie’s got him sharp and kept him sharp for a long time. He’s done an unbelievable job.”

Kakaley has done an unbelievable job as well. The 30 year-old reinsman was sidelined for two months this spring after having three surgeries to repair injuries suffered in a racing accident at Yonkers Raceway. He returned to the races in May.

He won his first BC trophy earlier in the night when he teamed up with another Burke trainee, the upsetting Percy Blue Chip in the three-year-old filly pace.

“Dream come true,” noted Kakaley.

The second choice and second place finisher, Lather Up was parked for the entire mile after leaving from post #8, abandoning his normal front running style for an “off the pace” trip.

“I’m pleased with second. Coming from the eight hole you have to look at it in perspective, so from the eight hole it’s like a win being second,” said driver Teague. “But everybody wants to win the Breeders Crown. I haven’t won that one yet. I keep coming in second. It’s better than nothing.”

Dorsoduro Hanover is the 13th foal out of the Artsplace mare Deer Valley Miss and a son of the 2008 Crown champion, Somebeachsomewhere.

He was a $100,000 purchase from the Hanover Shoe Farms consignment at the 2016 Standardbred Horse Sale.

With the victory, the gelding has now had 12 wins in 32 lifetime starts and has amassed $1,256,856.

Earlier this year, Dorsoduro Hanover won the $400,000 Adios final, the $253,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship. He was second in the $436,550 Little Brown final, the $701,830 Meadowlands Pace final and in a $225,000 division of the Tattersalls Pace.

So with the win, does Dorsoduro Hanover deserve some consideration for year-end honors?

“Obviously, in my mind, he does,” said Kakaley. “This was the win that he needed to get to have an opportunity to get the votes and he came through and did a good job, too.”