ix American-National races on a blustery Saturday night at Balmoral Park.
With 2011 victory leader George Brennan at the reins, Betterthancheddar won the night's richest race, the $225,000 3-year-old colt and gelding pace, duplicating his success in the Cane Pace, first leg of the pacing Triple Crown, and in the Breeders Crown race for 3-year-old males.
The victory over runner-up Hugadragon enabled Betterthancheddar to avenge his third place finish behind Big Bad John in the Little Brown Jug, middle leg of the pacing Triple Crown series.
This time Big Bad John faded to fifth after dueling Betterthancheddar from the turn for home until midstretch.
Foiled Again, North America's fifth-ranked harness horse, won a stretch duel with defending champion Bettor Sweet to capture the $175,000 aged pace by 23/4 lengths in 1:512/5.
It was a reversal of their order of finish in the Breeders Crown aged pace on Oct. 29 at Woodbine in which Bettor Sweet prevailed by a head.
The 7-year-old gelding Foiled Again is the oldest pacer in harness racing history to earn more than $1 million in a year. Saturday's victory swelled his 2011 bankroll to $1,419,247 and his lifetime earnings to $3,422,055.
"If that horse doesn't win the older pacer of the year award it's a shame," said Yannick Gingras, driver of the 9-10 favorite. "He's as sharp now as he was early in his career. He's a little guy but he's all heart."
Gingras won two of the other American-National races. He was in the sulky when Looking Hanover nosed out Lucky Jim, the 2009 North American champion older male trotter, in the $143,000 aged trot and he guided 9.60-1 shot Princess Cruiser to a 2-length triumph in the $86,800 2-year-old filly pace.
In the $121,100 pace for 2-year-old males, Crime Of Passion, a gelding trained by co-owner Erv Miller and driven by his son, Marcus Miller, prevailed by half a length over Star Recruit.
Swinging Beauty was the winner in a four-horse fight to the finish-line in the $135,000 3-year-old filly pace, edging runnerup Ole Miss at the wire.
This time Big Bad John faded to fifth after dueling Betterthancheddar from the turn for home until midstretch.
Foiled Again, North America's fifth-ranked harness horse, won a stretch duel with defending champion Bettor Sweet to capture the $175,000 aged pace by 23/4 lengths in 1:512/5.
It was a reversal of their order of finish in the Breeders Crown aged pace on Oct. 29 at Woodbine in which Bettor Sweet prevailed by a head.
The 7-year-old gelding Foiled Again is the oldest pacer in harness racing history to earn more than $1 million in a year. Saturday's victory swelled his 2011 bankroll to $1,419,247 and his lifetime earnings to $3,422,055.
"If that horse doesn't win the older pacer of the year award it's a shame," said Yannick Gingras, driver of the 9-10 favorite. "He's as sharp now as he was early in his career. He's a little guy but he's all heart."
Gingras won two of the other American-National races. He was in the sulky when Looking Hanover nosed out Lucky Jim, the 2009 North American champion older male trotter, in the $143,000 aged trot and he guided 9.60-1 shot Princess Cruiser to a 2-length triumph in the $86,800 2-year-old filly pace.
In the $121,100 pace for 2-year-old males, Crime Of Passion, a gelding trained by co-owner Erv Miller and driven by his son, Marcus Miller, prevailed by half a length over Star Recruit.
Swinging Beauty was the winner in a four-horse fight to the finish-line in the $135,000 3-year-old filly pace, edging runnerup Ole Miss at the wire.