quotes by James Platz / race details by Frank Cotolo for the Breeders Crown

Gem Quality pulled off a 23-1 upset in Friday’s (Oct. 27) $700,000 Breeders Crown final for freshman male pacers at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. But his trainer, Chris Ryder, was not among those stunned by Gem Quality’s arrival in the winner’s circle or the fact he set a 1:50 track record for his age, gender and gait.

“It’s a little bit of a surprise, but the horse has always been very, very quick,” Ryder said. “A couple of the other races I didn’t have him 100 per cent, but tonight I knew he was the best that he’s been. It just worked.”

Two strong moves helped Gem Quality and driver Dexter Dunn glide down the stretch to win. The homebred was full of pace throughout.

After a recall caused by Newsroom, Dunn took Gem Quality directly to the top when the starting gate guided the field of 10 into battle. Also leaving aggressively was Legendary Hanover (James MacDonald) shooting for the lead from post 9 and giving Gem Quality good cover while cutting the first quarter in :26.

Public-choice Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy) lifted from the inside to scoot by the top two and earn his public support with a firm lead through a :54.2 half. Gem Quality rolled comfortably in third as Newsroom (David Miller) muscled to the outside with his best stride, though he did not have much to offer by the 1:23 three-quarters.

The group chasing Captain Albano had no chance of gaining over the pacing speed put into gear by Gem Quality. Needing no urging, the Captain Crunch—Twinkle colt took Dunn for an easy ride, passing Captain Albano with Storm Shadow finding room to finish third as Nuclear (Any Miller) found a clear late path to take the fourth spot.

The margin of victory was 1-1/4 lengths.

It was Ryder’s sixth Breeders Crown and the first with a male student. He said Gem Quality “pulled up a bit [in his elim] at the wire, so we gave him an easy week and he came in fresh.”

The trip, according to Dunn, looked good from the start.

“We used him a little at the gate, but I was happy where we were at the quarter [with cover].” He said his colt “exploded” in the stretch.

Gem Quality paid $48.60 to win.

Let It Ride Stables, Bottom Line Racing, Brad Grant, and Enviro Stables own the track-record-breaker, who won his fourth race in eight starts and has earned $438,940 in his first racing season.

Let It Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing bred the colt.