by Brett Sturman

Continuing on from my thoughts on Friday’s 2-year-old races, here is my take on the eight 3-year-old and open Breeders Crown races for tonight (Oct. 26) at The Meadowlands.

RACE 4: OPEN MARES TROT

While still acclimating to North American racing, Nelsonbriteagle NO came up a little short against a few of these over the summer, but it looks like a different ballgame right now. As one of two opportunistic late supplements in this division following the injury to Jiggy Jog S, she had won two in a row prior to the Allerage in Lexington, and her recovery in that race was nothing short of spectacular. After being down probably over 20 lengths following an early break, she only lost by a neck to barn mate, rival, and co-supplement, Call Me Goo. Any semblance of her last couple seems like it would be plenty good enough to beat these. M-M’s Dream hasn’t had quite as strong a year this time around as she did last year but is still to be respected and comes off a confidence building win at Hoosier. Refined has a knack for stepping up in spots like this, invades from Ohio for Morgan. Tactical Mounds won in 1:49.4 over this track earlier in the year but has been dusted the last two times by the top choice.

Picks: Nelsonbriteagle NO, Tactical Mounds, Call Me Goo

RACE 5: 3-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT

In one of the more wide-open contests, Willys Home Run is a live price play from the rail. After showing early trot last week as a 22-1 longshot, she was quickly shuffled out of it but came on really well with a late charge to out close everyone. She was second to Drawn Impression from a bad spot in the Simcoe and seems overdue for some better racing luck. Drawn Impression will be the deserving favorite after besting Date Night Hanover last week. Both fillies took some time to clear to the lead in that elimination, but Blais’ filly was even better en route to taking a 1:51.1 lifetime mark. You could say that maybe R Melina “bounced” a little last week in losing at odds of 2-5 following that unbelievable front-end win in the Kentucky Filly Futurity but still only lost by a neck, will be interesting to see how she responds. Allegiant went the mile of her career in her elimination win over R Melina coming on the barn change from Beachy to Toscano. Warrawee Michelle seems almost forgotten from post 10 but always takes action.

Picks: Allegiant, Willy’s Home Run, Drawn Impression

RACE 6: 3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE

Is it just me or did the elimination race times for this division go comparatively slow to all the other races that night? My Girl EJ was coming off a lifetime best 1:48.1 win two back but really had to fight hard for that win last week to prevail by a neck over a game Collusion Hanover in 1:51. No slip-ups allowed in this competitive group if she wants to repeat as a Breeders Crown champion. Its A Love Thing was blocked for her life last week before finally getting through too late, will be my tepid pick. Direction was second to My Girl EJ two back in the Glen Garnsey and may have been beaten to the punch for an opening last week by longshot Asweetbeachhere. Caviart Belle was also knifing her way through late in that same race and looked better than she did throughout September. Rocket Deo is another that couldn’t replicate her Red Mile feats from the start prior and at least will offer a higher price this time around for those that want to try her back. Disney will track from off the pace and look for similar late heroics.

Picks: Its A Love Thing, Direction, My Girl EJ

RACE 7: 3-YEAR-OLD COLT TROT

Highland Kismet is lucky to draw well — let alone draw at all — into the race following the retirement announcement of Karl, and he will be a major player going second-time Tetrick. He was already passed by those couple of big longshots last week even prior to the break but he had a tough trip in his defense; better positioned now. T C I encountered no issues whatsoever in his elimination and looked like himself of old while coasting on the front-end off soft fractions; would have to think he’ll be forwardly placed once again by Miller. Security Protected gapped along the inside last week but gathered some late momentum; Secret Agent Man chased T C I around from the 2-hole in that same elimination. As has been a theme, Sig Sauer was another that raced tremendously last out at The Red Mile but the Futurity winner couldn’t reproduce the same try last out. Amazing Catch took a ton of action last week but couldn’t get close to T C I. Tony Adams S is a wild card from post 10. He’s another that had a ton of road trouble last week and if you toss aside the ridiculous :52.4 half-mile race from two back he’s been very good.

Picks: Tony Adams S, Highland Kismet, T C I

RACE 8: OPEN PACE

Bythemissal has gotten sharper every start since he returned last month and made fairly easy work of it in his elimination after having to wait for clearance earlier to make it to the front. He has the post edge on his main rival in post 8 and could be set up to pounce should Ruthless Hanover be allowed to set the pace. Ruthless Hanover was able to hang on last week in a race where Miller did a good job to get separation from the field around three-quarters and Abuckabett Hanover did well to close but just had too much ground to make up in the lane. Indiana-bred Coach Stefanos came from a wide third-over to emerge out of the pack and close nicely when being second in his elimination to Bythemissal. It’s My Show made a brief bid in his elimination against Bythemissal but was quickly repelled; Seven Colors goes second start off the month layoff and will get a new driver.

Picks: Bythemissal, Coach Stefanos, Abuckabett Hanover

RACE 9: OPEN TROT

Logan Park really has impressed in his last few; first winning the Dayton Derby three back and then kicking home twice in a row to pass Periculum, who had become one of the best open trotters since his return to the U.S. Logan Park swept everyone to win his Allerage coming from last, and last week as a tune-up, he trotted a final quarter of :25.4. For what it’s worth he has the age advantage on some of the 4-year-olds in here and will leave it to McNair who picks up the livest of drives to overcome the outside post. The resume of Winner’s Bet this year speaks for itself and his mark of 1:49.3 came over this track earlier in the year in a Graduate split, Dunn’s pick over Logan Park. Periculum continues to fire honest efforts every race for Melander and is entirely playable too; could come down to the trip. Oh Well won that prep race last week but things look trickier here from the second tier. Ari Ferrari J has earned a try here off recent Yonkers form; It’s Academic was better last year but will offer a price for Burke.

Picks: Logan Park, Periculum, Winner’s Bet

ACE 10: 3-YEAR-OLD COLT PACE

That was some show put on last week between Mirage Hanover and Nijinsky. Those two locked up at about three-quarters and had it to themselves, nearly inseparable the rest of the way with Mirage Hanover ultimately getting the better of the Meadowlands Pace runner-up by a head. Those two will line up from the two inside post draws and it’ll be interesting to see if they push each other early. Captain Albano won his elimination last week in the faster time of 1:48.1 and a lot of credit should be given to him for versatility. Probably known more as a five-eighths mile horse due to his success in PA, he since won the Jug on a half-mile track and then put up a career best 1:48.1 at The Meadowlands. Captain Luke actually took a pretty good shot at Captain Albano in his elimination and wasn’t disgraced whatsoever in finishing second; larger problem now is the outside post. Gem Quality upset in this race last year and would benefit from a lively pace.

Picks: Mirage Hanover, Captain Albano, Nijinsky

RACE 11: OPEN MARES PACE

A win here by Twin B Joe Fresh would likely clinch Horse of the Year honors. She was beaten in her elimination by a former familiar rival in Grace Hill which snapped a nine-race win streak. You could say that maybe post 10 and a :26 and change quarter contributed to the loss, but maybe it was just her time to lose. I’d be surprised if she doesn’t return back to winning ways. Grace Hill stepped up huge last week and gathered steam late to go past Twin B Joe Fresh from the pocket; seems like she’ll be well-positioned enough once again to take her chance. Silver Label was only a length down to Twin B Joe Fresh a few back in the Milton and invades off a confidence building win at Woodbine Mohawk Park; had some successful moments here last year. Sylvia Hanover has her work cut out for her.

Picks: Twin B Joe Fresh, Silver Label, Grace Hill