Ten best Breeders Crown takeaways
by Bob Heyden
With the 42nd Breeders Crown in the books, here are 10 takeaways from an incredible event.
BARTLETT’S BREAKTHROUGH
Two wins for Jason Bartlett, the ninth winningest money driver of all time. Serious Driver of the Year consideration. He woke up Sunday morning at $14,182,423 to $13,544,732 for runner-up Dexter Dunn. With a .446 UDRS, he’s now odds-on to lead the North America in both $ and UDRS, not done in 69 years since Stanley Dancer in 1966.
LIKE FATHER LIKE DAUGHTER
Dad, Jimmy Takter, has 34 Crowns and daughter, Nancy, now with 12 after French Wine. She’s now won at least one Crown in eight different seasons and is leading the way for all female conditioners who now have 35 combined Crown trophies, all since 2002. Oh yeah, with a dozen Breeders Crowns, care to guess how many Jimmy had the night he was inducted into the Hall in July 2012, 12!
SIRES
Always B Miki is now the fastest stallion to nine Crowns. Chapter Seven and son Walner each led the way with 11 starters, combined to win three Crowns, the same number of Crowns they won during their stellar careers without losing. Muscle Hill just missed with Diabolical Hill with his 13th crop of freshmen. Bettors Delight set a record with a Crown starter for 21-straight years, from Darlins Delight (2005) to Nijinsky.
PERFECTION
Beau Jangles is a perfect 12-for-12 after his record-setting Crown performance. Niatross was 13-for-13 in 1979 and Horse of the Year. Jate Lobell was 16-for-16 in 1986 and HOY runner-up. Beau Jangles’ $1,227,326 bankroll is tops of all horses in 2025, so far, and #7 all-time among all 2YOs and fourth among freshman pacers: #1 Redskin (1986) $1,407,263, #2 Nihilator (1984) $1,361,367, and #3 Fortune Teller $1,313,175.
ABOVE AVERAGE
Scott Zeron, after lighting up the board with Meshuggah at 62-1, now has an average Crown win price of $67.20. The only Crown driver with a triple-digit winner on both gaits.
ROLLING A SEVEN
Dexter Dunn has seven-straight double-digit Crown seasons to start his career, easily an all-time best. In 78 Crown drives, $156. If you bet $2 on every single one, your return was $155.20.
IMPRESSIVE JUMP
Marcus Melander jumped from #20 to #11 all-time eclipsing the $3 million and $4 million plateau along the way. He’s also at least a decade younger (33) than any other member.
MICHELLE, MA BELLE
Ake Svanstedt and Warrawee Michelle winning the Breeders Crown at 2 and now 4. Manchego (2017 and 2019) was the last female to do this. Svanstedt and Dunn are the only two drivers to win a Crown in each of the last five seasons. Dunn, all in his 30s and Svanstedt all in his 60s.
MONEY MONEY MONEY
Lexus Kody, third in the Crown, moved to $1,149,662 for 2025 which is fifth all-time among older trotting males: #1 Mr Muscleman ($1,364,220), #2 San Pail ($1,289,040), #3 Fools Goal ($1,277,640), and #4 Magician ($1,200,190).
INDIANA ROCKS
Not only are the Indianapolis Colts 7-1 with the best record in the NFL, but four Indiana-breds won a Breeders Crown race:
• Storybook Love bred by Alan R. Troyer and Larry W. Troyer of Lagrange, IN.
• Always B Naughty for Conquest Acres of Grabill, IN, and Oakwood Farms of Montgomery, IN.
• Yo Tillie bred by Black Creek Farms of Grabill, IN.
• Sippinonsearoc by Trent Stohler Stables of Indiana. Trent and family won the 1997 Breeders Crown with Extreme Velocity.
In addition, Kobes Gigi was second in the Mares Pace for the second straight year. She’s brought to us by Harvey Fry of Shipshewana, IN.
