A look back at the Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships

by Bob Heyden

The Fall Final Four/FanDuel Championships are the eight races that mark the end of the major stakes season. Let’s take a look at the impact they may have on divisional honors and Horse of the Year consideration.

1. M-M’s Dream never looked back in the FanDuel Open Mares Trot, paying $14.80. She improved to 69 37-12-8 lifetime and $2,294,122 and has wrapped up her stellar career. How stellar you ask? In 2022 when Bulldog Hanover was the only unanimous HOY, only M-M’s Dream had a better winning percentage (12-for-13) than him (14-for-16) among the top 50 earners.

2. Miki And Minnie made the loudest statement of the night with the biggest win margin, 3½ lengths. The dominant sophomore pacing filly in the land finishes at 15 13-2-0 with $1,126,449 after beating the older mares in the FanDuel Open Mares Pace. She is the only horse in the top eight in $ in both 2024 and 2025.

3. All Time Trot S took the Goldsmith Maid with Yannick Gingras driving for Ake Svanstedt who was first, third, and fourth in here. She finishes at 7 3-3-0 on the season with all three runners-up in a photo.

4. Maximus Miki ($12.40) gave Always B Miki a siring double; he was also the only pacing stallion to double his fun in the Breeders Crown too. Maximus Miki’s now at over a million lifetime after capturing the FanDuel Open Pace, with 75 per cent of that coming at ages 5 and 6 for Team Cancelliere. Foiled Again the sequel?

5. She’s A Bulldog ($17.80) upended stablemate Loua Dipa in the Three Diamonds. From the first limited crop of 2022 HOY Bulldog Hanover, she was the only maiden in the field, 0-for-8. She’s A Bulldog’s Brad Grant joined the ownership team of Miki And Minnie as the only two winning owners on the evening who also bred their champion. Loua Dipa will still be the unanimous division champ on the strength of her 1:48 Red Mile world record and a slate of 13 9-2-1 with $831,491.

6. Gentleman’s Club ($28.60) got Aaron Lambert on the board taking the Governor’s Cup with this freshman son of Downbytheseaside. Way over bet odds-on fave Fragment was off the board. Gentleman’s Club finishes at 10 5-1-1 for 2025.

7. Lexus Kody in the feel-good race of the night won the FanDuel Open Trot and in so doing, vaulted to $1,326,401 to lead all of North America. It’s been 50 years since a 7-year-old trotter has led both gaits. In 1975, Savoir had $352,385 and was named HOY. Lexus Kody was never in the top 50 earners in any previous racing season. In his last six starts he has banked $947,300, more than any other older trotter all year! Lexus Kody finishes 2025 at 21 11-3-4.

8. Diabolic Hill took the Valley Victory in a great stretch duel with Spencer Hanover and improved to 10 5-2-1 with $525,056. Likely not enough for either in a division with Apex over $875G.

From this corner it looks like the HOY is going to come down to three. Beau Jangles, Lexus Kody, and Miki And Minnie. This will be dissected in an upcoming column that will consider that the likely tally will weigh heavily on precedent, since 78 years can do that to you, most especially in a year this contentious.