A numerical analysis of the 2024 series held at The Meadowlands.

by Bob Heyden

With this year’s Breeders Crown finals in the books, here are a few numbers that deserve some attention.

ONE AND ONLY

My Girl EJ is the one and only Breeders Crown champion from last year to repeat.

TWO MUCH TO BELIEVE

Andrew Harris had two of his trainees hit the board in the Open Pace. Seven Colors (86-1) was second and El Rey (150-1) was third.

FOUR NOT

Post 4 was shut out. The last time the Crown was held at The Meadowlands in 2021, only post 9 was blanked.

FIVE CLOSE CROWNS AND INSIDE CHECKS

Five Crowns were decided by a neck or less. This is well off the eight-for-12 or 67 per cent from 2021, the record high… Five checks, all five, went to the inside five posts in the 3YOCP: Mirage Hanover, Nijinsky, Captain Albano, Calicojack Hanover, and McCrunch, respectively.

SIX FOR SIX

Six consecutive seasons to start his Breeders Crown career for Dexter Dunn with a minimum of two or more wins. How rare is that? Only Bill O’Donnell did it even twice in a row going two-for-six in 1985 following a two-for-seven debut year in 1984… Post 6 was also shut out this year.

TEN FROM TEN

Jason Bartlett is No. 10 on the all-time earnings list and had a banner weekend considering his post time odds. Tarrific (31-1) missed by a neck from post 10; Seven Colors (86-1) a half-length off Coach Stefanos in the Open Pace and Warrawee Xenia (93-1) fourth in the Mare Trot.

SEVENTEEN YEARS LATER

In 2007, Moving Pictures went from last to first in the Mare Pace in Mark MacDonald’s first Breeders Crown. Fast forward 17 years to 2024 and his brother James MacDonald went from last to first in the Open Pace with Coach Stefanos for his second Breeders Crown.

TWENTY STRAIGHT

It’s 20-straight years for Bettors Delight to have a Breeders Crown elim/final starter. His first was his richest female Darlin’s Delight in 2005 with $2.9 million for her career, and his latest is his fastest, Mirage Hanover, who owns a 1:46.3 mark and won decisively in the 3YOCP on Saturday night.

TWENTY-TWO YEARS LATER

It’s been 22 years since Linda Toscano won a Breeders Crown in 2002 to get the ladies rolling. Now, after Toscano and Nancy Takter each added one in 2024, the tally is 34 in 23 editions.

TWENTY-SIX YEARS OLD

Twenty-six is Bettors Delight’s age. He went 1-2 in the 3YOCP with Mirage Hanover and Nijinsky. Then, in the finale of the 2024 Breeders Crown, the Mare Pace, Bettors Delight’s full brother Roll With Joe sired the likely HOY and dominant winner Twin B Joe Fresh.

THIRTY OR LESS

The Bank ($30.50) was Dave Miller’s high win price in 2015 in Canada when he first won as many as five Breeders Crowns. Dunn paid over $13 this year with Miki And Minnie as his high-water mark with a new record six Crowns.

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS OLD

Dave Miller was 35 years and 268 days when he won his first Breeders Crown in 2000 with Magician, Ron Pierce was 35 years and 125 days of age when he broke through in the Breeders Crown with Giant Victory in 1991, and Brian Sears 35 years and 306 days when he broke through in the Breeders Crown series with his very first win Stroke Play Nov. 29, 2003. The relevance you ask? Dexter Dunn now has 21 Breeders Crowns at 35 years and 57 days.