ARCH MADNESS (Balanced Image Armbro Archer SJ s Photo) A bay 7-year-old gelding, Arch Madness is owned by Marc Goldberg of Woodmere, NY, and Barry Goldstein s Willow Pond LLC of Hewlett, NY. Goldberg, Goldstein and Steven Shapiro bred the horse. Arch Madness missed last year s Breeders Crown because of a broken splint bone. He won the 2007 Breeders Crown for 3- year-old male trotters, defeating Horse of the Year Donato Hanover. He was second to Corleone Kosmos in the 2008 Open Trot and second to Lucky Jim in the 2009 Open Trot. This year, Arch Madness won the $480,647 Oslo Grand Prix in Norway and $220,750 Titan Cup at the Meadowlands. He won his elimination race in the prestigious Elitlopp in Sweden and finished sixth in the same-day final. Trainer Trond Smedshammer said the horse tied up in the Elitlopp final. It s a shame because he had a real chance to win, he said. You don t get those opportunities very often. Other top lifetime wins for Arch Madness include the 2008 Maple Leaf Trot ($684,884 purse), 2010 Cutler Memorial ($220,000) and 2009 Credit Winner ($187,000). Arch Madness has raced at Woodbine three times in his career, all as a 3-year-old in 2007. He had two wins, including the $321,000 Ontario Sire Stakes Super Final, and one second-place finish. Interestingly, fellow Breeders Crown contender San Pail finished third in the 2007 ONSS Super Final. Co-owner Barry Goldstein won a Breeders Crown with 3-yearold filly trotter Blur in 2005. The filly also was trained by Trond Smedshammer. Goldstein and Goldberg are close friends. Goldstein brought Goldberg into the horse business in 2001 and Armbro Archer (dam of Arch Madness) was one of their purchases. Trond Smedshammer ranks No. 6 among all trainers in Breeders Crown earnings, with $3.64 million. He also is sixth in champions, with eight. His most recent win came last October when Break The Bank K captured the Breeders Crown for 3- year-old male trotters at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. Smedshammer, a native of Norway, was the 2004 Trainer of the Year, as voted upon by the U.S. Harness Writers Association, after guiding Windsong s Legacy to the Trotting Triple Crown. Arch Madness is from the final crop of renowned Canadian sire Balanced Image. Balanced Image is third in the Crown trotting stallion rankings with eight champions and more than $4.7 million in earnings.
COMMANDER CROWE (Juliano Star Somack Mack Lobell) An 8-year-old chestnut gelding, Commander Crowe, as they call him in France -- Le Grand Blonde, is owned by Calle Wihlborg of Ysatd, Sweden. Commander Crowe has won 43 of 64 career races and earned more than $15.6 million Swedish kronor in his career. The earnings equate to $2.35 million in U.S. dollars. He won the first 23 races of his career. The last invited foreign horse to win this event occurred 10 years ago when Italian sensation Varenne stormed the Meadowlands oval in a then-world-record 1:51.1. We really look forward to match our horse against the best horses in North America and Rapide Lebel, Wihlborg said. You need some different ingredients for the best soup! He has drawn well for the race (post 3) - in Sweden he never draws well. Commander Crowe won the Prix d Ete in France on Sept. 11, with driver Christophe Martens at the lines for trainer Fabrice Souloy that earned him a foreign classic invite. Souloy is one of the trop trainers in France and has a training center called Le Haras de Ginai in Normandy. This year he trained 2010 Kentucky Futurity winner Wishing Stone on the European Circuit. Souloy brought trotting mare Premiere Steed to race in the Maple Leaf Trot (6 th ), and the Nat Ray (made a break and was 8 th ). His charge Improve AS did finish third in the 2008 Maple Leaf. Commander Crowe is the second-fastest Swedish-born trotter in history, behind Giant Diablo, thanks to a 1:50.4 win in August that was Europe s fastest-ever mile. Giant Diablo, a mare, is among four horses tied for the fastest mile in history, 1:50.1, on a mile track. She accomplished the feat at Lexington s Red Mile in 2007. Commander Crowe was named by breeder Petri Puro after Puro watched Russell Crowe in the movie Master and Commander. Puro gelded Commander Crowe when he was a 3-year-old. The horse did not make it to the races until December of his 3-year-old season. He has a healthy dose of Ameican blood though broodmare sire Mack Lobell, who won three Breeders Crown championships and is regarded as one of the greatest trotters of the past 20 years. As a 4-year-old, Commander Crowe won the $500,000 Swedish Trotting Derby. Commander Crowe s 23-race win streak in the beginning of his career is Sweden s record. He broke the mark of 19 set by Legolas. After breaking the record, Commander Crowe received the Swedish Trotting Association s Gold Medal. The victory streak ended when Commander Crowe lost by a nose to Triton Sund in the Swedish Championship on Oct. 11, 2008. Neither Trond Smedshammer nor John Bax saw Commander Crowe in person on their overseas journey, but both know he should be respected. Commander Crowe won the first 23 races of his career and is the second-fastest Swedish-born trotter in history, as well as the European record-holder with a 1:50.4 mark. He s a good horse or they wouldn t bring him over, Smedshammer said. I didn t race against him, so I can only go on what the guys tell me, Bax said. We maybe underestimate the European stock. You go over there to race them and you see how good they really are. I think he ll be heard from. But it s hard to say how they ll handle the shipping coming this way. We ve got a home-court advantage. Ontario native John Bax, whose Breeders Crown contender Define The World also raced in the Oslo Grand Prix and Elitlopp, agreed that Commander Crowe was On his best day he certainly is a very good horse. Define The World was fourth in the Oslo Grand Prix and finished sixth in his Elitlopp elimination. Commander Crowe and Rapide Lobell fly from Amsterdam Thursday night to Toronto. After passing quarantine, they will ship by truck to Mohawk Raceway and remain in separate quarters there, then truck back to Woodbine on race night. Commander Crowe will race on Lasix. Right now it s working for him to go to a track right before the race, said owner Calle Wihlborg. We have tried it both ways and what does not seem to work is going for a short time. Either you send them long enough to get used to everything or right before. Right before is what s working now, so that s what we will do.
DEFINE THE WORLD (Duke Of York Venice Holiday American Winner) A 6-year-old bay gelding, Define The World is owned by breeder Al Libfeld. Define The World is making his second appearance in the Breeders Crown. He finished fourth in the 2010 Open Trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. In May, Define The World spent time overseas, where he finished fourth in the Oslo Grand Prix (won by Arch Madness) and sixth in his elimination for the Elitlopp. Define The World also competed in those races in 2010, finishing third in the Oslo Grand Prix and fifth in his Elitlopp elim. Define The World s most lucrative lifetime win came in the $246,000 Ontario Sire Stakes Super Final in 2008 at Woodbine. That same year, he was second in the $274,190 Goodtimes Stakes at Mohawk. Only two horses have defeated San Pail this year and both are in the Breeders Crown Open Trot. Lucky Jim is one and Define The World, who beat San Pail in the open at Woodbine on May 2, is the other. Trainer John Bax has one Breeders Crown title to his credit, which came with Duke Of York the sire of Define The World in the 2001 2-year-old colt trot. Bax was recognized with the 2001 O Brien Award as Canada s top trainer. Libfeld has won three Breeders Crown trophies as an owner, with Duke Of York, Forever Starlet (2003 2-year-old filly trot) and Peaceful Way (2005 Mare Trot). In addition, Libfeld was the breeder of Forever Starlet and among the breeders of Duke Of York and 2010 2-year-old filly trot champion Martiniontherocks. John Bax didn t see saw Commander Crowe in person, but he knows he should be respected. Commander Crowe won the first 23 races of his career and is the second-fastest Swedishborn trotter in history, as well as the European record-holder with a 1:50.4 mark. I didn t race against him, so I can only go on what the guys tell me, Bax said. We maybe underestimate the European stock. You go over there to race them and you see how good they really are. I think he ll be heard from. But it s hard to say how they ll handle the shipping coming this way. We ve got a home-court advantage. Both foreign trotters are expected to arrive in Canada on Thursday. They are flying directly to Toronto from Amsterdam, then shipping to quarantine at Mohawk Racetrack. They say you either come in right before, or you come in a long way before; it doesn t seem to work as well if you come in 10 days or a week before, Bax said. You can come in real close and maybe get away with it, or come in a month early and get acclimated.
HOT SHOT BLUE CHIP (Revenue S Hustle N Muscle Muscles Yankee) A 5-year-old bay gelding, Hot Shot Blue Chip was purchased as a yearling for $110,000. He is owned by Thomas Dillon of Anson, Maine. He was bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock. Hot Shot Blue Chip finished second to Enough Talk in the 2010 Breeders Crown Open Trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. He went off stride and finished 10th in the 2009 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old male trotters at Woodbine. On Oct. 1 at Lexington s Red Mile, Hot Shot Blue Chip finished second to San Pail in the $145,000 Allerage Farms Trot. He was third, behind San Pail and Arch Madness, in the $766,500 Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk on July 23. John Campbell, the Breeders Crown s leading driver in wins (44) and earnings ($19.9 million), drove Hot Shot Blue Chip in his most recent two races: the second-place finish in the Allerage and a victory in a non-stakes race at Pocono Downs. Campbell gave him a very good trip there (at Pocono), trainer Jonas Czernyson said, and a good trip in Kentucky, so I m hoping we re on to something and have him somewhat figured out. I don t think we ll ever get him totally figured out. I m hoping that s our big answer. I guess we ll never know. Let s hope we are going in the right direction. Campbell is harness racing s all-time leader in earnings, with $276 million. This is owner Thomas Dillon s fourth trip to a Breeders Crown final. He is looking for his first win. Dillon is in the logging business in northern New England. Trainer Jonas Czernyson is in search of his first Breeders Crown trophy. In addition to finishing second with Hot Shot Blue Chip last year, he was second with Autumn Escapade in the 2010 Mare Trot. Czernyson, a native of Sweden who won the 2005 Hambletonian Oaks with Jalopy, was an assistant to countryman Per Eriksson for many years before starting his own stable a decade ago. Eriksson won nine Breeders Crown trophies. Blue Chip Bloodstock produced Breeders Crown champions Belovedangel (2005 3-year-old filly pace) and Santanna Blue Chip (2007 2-year-old colt pace). Blue Chip Bloodstock as owners have owned Art Major (2003 Open pace) and this year s three-year-colt pacer contender Roll With Joe.
LUCKY JIM (SJ s Photo Hawaiian Sierra Sierra Kosmos) A 6-year-old brown gelding, Lucky Jim is owned by brothers David and John Prushnok and Bill Gregg, all from Punxsutawney, PA. He was bred by Bill Troyer and named in honor of Gregg s late father, Jim. Originally named C C Sabathia Lucky Jim won the 2009 Breeders Crown Open Trot at the Meadowlands Racetrack. He went off stride as the favorite and finished sixth in the 2010 Open Trot at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. As a 4-year-old in 2009, Lucky Jim enjoyed a magical season. He won his first 15 races on his way to 17 triumphs in 18 outings and $1.06 million in purses. He was named the Dan Patch Award winner as best older male trotter by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. A late-bloomer, Lucky Jim was winless in nine starts as a 3-year-old. He joined Sand Vic as the only horses since 1976 to go winless at age 3 or older and win a Dan Patch Award the following year. In addition to winning the Breeders Crown, Lucky Jim s victories in 2009 included a 1:50.1 triumph in the Nat Ray Invitational at the Meadowlands. The time equaled the fastest mile ever on a one-mile racetrack. Other top wins in 2009 included the $250,000 Maxie Lee, $203,000 Titan Cup and $200,000 Cutler Memorial. Last year, he won the $195,000 Credit Winner. Lucky Jim is the last horse to defeat San Pail this season, beating him in an open at Mohawk on July 16. San Pail won the 2009 Maple Leaf Trot, which was the only loss Lucky Jim suffered that season. Trainer Julie Miller and her husband, driver Andy Miller, had Lucky Jim in their stable until June, when he was moved to the stable of Andy s brother, Erv Miller. Andy has remained the horse s primary driver. Lucky Jim has battled foot problems from time to time. Erv Miller, who grew up in an Amish household in Illinois, was named Trainer of the Year in 2005 by the U.S. Harness Writers Association. His stable has won at least $5 million in seven consecutive seasons. He is best known for his work with Breeders Crown champions Loyal Opposition and Lis Mara. Miller and his brother, Andy, won the 2010 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old male trotters with Manofmanymissions at Pocono Downs. They also teamed to win the 2004 Breeders Crown for 2-year-old filly pacers with Restive Hanover at Woodbine, giving each their first Crown triumph. Erv Miller has won a total of five Breeders Crown trophies as a trainer. Gregg owned horses in a partnership (FLG, which stood for Four Lucky Guys) in the mid-1990s, but got out of ownership for a few years before getting involved with the Prushnoks. Gregg and the Prushnoks are both in the energy business in western Pennsylvania.
RAPIDE LEBEL (Ginger Somolli Koranie Des Noes Micky Viking) A 6-year-old gelding, Rapide Lebel is owned by Alexandre Provost. Rapide Lebel won the Aby Grand Prix in two consecutive heats on Sept. 17 in Sweden to claim victory in the European Grand Circuit standings. He became only the fourth horse to win the race by sweeping both heats. He won the first heat despite racing three wide and parked out for most of the race. Famed Swedish horseman Stig H. Johansson, now a commentator for Swedish TV, was impressed with the performance, saying Rapide Lebel has Varenne class. Varenne was the last invited foreign horse to win the Breeders Crown Open Trot. It happened 10 years ago when the Italian sensation won at the Meadowlands in a then-world-record 1:51.1. Rapide Lebel in July won the St. Michel Race in 1:51.4 at the five-eighths-mile Mikkeli track in Finland to become the fastest French trotter in history. He missed Varenne s European record, set at the same track, by one-fifth of a second. Arch Madness defeated Rapide Lebel, the fastest French trotter in history, in the Oslo Grand Prix In the prestigious Elitlopp in Sweden in May, Rapide Lebel lost by a nose to German trotter Brioni. The time was 1:53.2 at the five-eighths-mile track in Sovalla. He s obviously a very strong horse, Trond Smedshammer said. He can carry his speed for a long time, but so can the top horses on this side. I m not sure how good or close to top form he is right now, so it s kind of hard for me to give a real evaluation. You don t know how they re going to deal with shipping over here, either. (Rapide Lebel) is fast and tough, Bax said. I think he can go all out for the whole mile. He s a handful; I think he made a little bit of a break at the gate in Norway when we raced against him and spent the rest of the mile on the outside, but he was still around. Commander Crowe and Rapide Lobell fly from Amsterdam Thursday night to Toronto. After passing quarantine, they will ship by truck to Mohawk Raceway and remain in separate quarters there, then truck back to Woodbine on race night. Rapide Lebel will allegedly race without shoes. Trainer Sébastien Guarato was confident after Rapide Lebel s last work. My horse is in best form, better than ever. Guarato has watched videos of San Pail and he was very impressed by him, considering him a very difficult horse to beat. He s thankful there are only seven horses in the field, as a post nine or 10 would leave very little chance to win. Rapide Lebel drew post five. When foreign horses Commander Crowe and Rapide Lebel arrive in Toronto for Saturday s $600,000 Breeders Crown Trot at Woodbine Racetrack, the obstacles to victory go beyond merely facing five rivals.
SAN PAIL (San Pellegrino Village Beauty Balanced Image) A 7-year-old brown gelding, San Pail is owned by breeder Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry, Ontario, and trainer Rod Hughes of Dunsford, Ontario. This is San Pail s first appearance in the Breeders Crown. We are all systems go, Hughes said. He was terrific again [Oct. 15 winning the open handicap at Woodbine] and I couldn t have him in better form. I decided to race him because I didn t figure there would be eliminations and it proved to be right. On July 23, San Pail won his third consecutive Maple Leaf Trot title, equaling the record set by Grandpa Jim from 1969-71. San Pail s time of 1:51.1 in this year s Maple Leaf set the stakes record and equaled the track record for older trotters at Mohawk. Other top wins this year for San Pail include the $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational at the Meadowlands, the $218,000 Credit Winner at Vernon Downs and the $145,000 Allerage Farms Trot at The Red Mile. He seems to be getting better as the year goes along, or stronger, Hughes said recently. He s a little more mentally focused. He s definitely putting in a good year for me. He always gives you 110 percent, but he seems to be on his own mission this year. A two-time O Brien Award winner as Canada s champion older trotter, San Pail has won 27 of his last 31 starts and finished worse than second only once during that span. San Pail is the unanimous No. 1-ranked horse in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown Top 10 poll. That means a lot to see him up there, Hughes said. It s nice to be included in such a list. He s definitely given me quite a few good experiences, no matter where we end up. Breeder Glenn Van Camp intended to sell San Pail at auction when he was a yearling in 2005, but after San Pail developed a large bump on his hock after being kicked by another horse, Van Camp kept him. This is Van Camp s second Breeders Crown appearance, and first since 1995 with Warrawee Karri, who finished fifth in the Mares Trot. Hughes is making his first Breeders Crown starts as both a trainer and owner. He s meant everything (to me), Hughes said about San Pail. He s paid for my farm and completely changed my life. I just know that horses like him don t come around every day or even at all. People look for this type of horse their entire life and don t get it. I ve lucked into him and I don t take it for granted. San Pail s sire San Pellegrino has never had another starter in the Breeders Crown but finished third in his elimination in 1998 at Colonial Downs and then came back the next week and finished second in the final to CR Commando.