Betterthancheddar, with catch-driver Mark MacDonald pulling the strings in place of George Brennan, won a thrilling edition of the $501,950 Breeders Crown pace for three-year-old colts and geldings, with a late run along the cones.
MacDonald gunned the Cane Pace champ off the gate, but Roll With Joe would take over into the turn, notching the quarter in :26 with Big Bad John parked three-wide.
James Morrill Jr sent Big Bad John to the point down the backstretch, as Ron Pierce allowed Roll With Joe to settle into second position.
Westwardho Hanover would make his move down the back straightaway, with Alsace Hanover following suit and Up The Credit picking up cover third-over. Big Bad John maintained the lead as the field turned into the stretch, but with a cavalry charge of horses queing up, Westwardho Hanover made the lead but could not withstand the arriving pressure as MacDonald steered Betterthancheddar to the cones for a narrow victory. Roll With Joe would edge out the quick-closing Alsace Hanover for place, with Up The Credit sweeping up the superfecta. The final time was 1:49.2.
MacDonald was relieved with his daring trip behind the Casie Coleman trainee.
“I was trying to get Sylvain (Fillion, driver of Hugadragon) in the hole so I could follow him,” explained MacDonald. “I figured Roll With Joe and Big Bad John were going to keep coming. They were the two I thought I had to beat and then around the last turn it didn’t look like Big Bad John was the one to beat. He was getting a bit tired, and I’m pretty sure that Casie (Coleman) would be cursing me out if I didn’t find a way to get him out somewhere, so I got lucky and got up the rail. I just slipped out there late.”
Ross Warriner of West Wins Stable, who co-owns Betterthancheddar along with Steve Calhoun, was over the moon with the result.
“This is unbelievable,” exclaimed Warriner. “I’ve been in racing for 40 years and to win a Breeders Crown with the wonderful people I have around me is unbelievable. I’m flying high.”
The owners’ patience with the late-blooming Betterthancheddar paid off in spades on this evening.
“I wasn’t a believer (in Betterthancheddar) at first,” said Warriner. “Casie (Coleman) overcame many problems she encountered along the way. The horse started to come together in the last month. We’re seeing how good she thought he was. We saw it tonight.”
11, Wdb, PACE, $501,950.
D-BREEDERS CROWN - FINAL - 3 YEAR OLD COLTS & GELDINGS.
(US PURSE $500,000) 26, 53.4, 1:21.2, 1:49.2, FT
1- Betterthancheddar (b,c,3 - Bettors Delight-Lady
Ashlee Ann-Camtastic) O-Steve W Calhoun, West Wins
Stable B-Winbak Farm, MD T-Casie Coleman D-Mark Macdonald
Lifetime Record: 16-8-2-2, $585,141
2-Roll With Joe (b,c,3 - Cams Card Shark-Classic Wish-Armbro Emerson)
O-Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc,Stephen W Demeter,Not To Worry Stable,Winbak Farm
B-Winbak Farm,MD T-Edward Hart D-Ron Pierce
3-Alsace Hanover (b,g,3 - The Panderosa-Arts Masterpiece-
Artsplace) O-John D Fielding B-Hanover Shoe Farms Inc,PA T-Tony Osullivan D-Scott Zeron