Photo of Mr Bear and Marcus Miller by Dean Gillette
Standardbred racing will take center stage this weekend as the prestigious Breeders’ Crown makes its way to Scioto Downs Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24. Two-year-olds are in action Friday with the remainder of the divisions stepping on track Saturday. Both nights will include Indiana sired horses vying for the titles of the Breeders Crown.
Mr Bear, the recent second place finisher in the Super Final of Indiana Sires Stakes action at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, finished third in his elimination the previous week. It was his first start outside of Indiana in his young career. He brings in a record of eight wins in 11 starts and will seek another victory from post two in Race 11 Friday. Marcus Miller will handle the driving duties at odds of 15-1 in the nine-horse final.
Switching gears to Saturday and to the older trotters, On To Norway hopes to extend his strong season with a win in the $600,000 Breeders Crown final for open trotters. The Muscle Massive gelding begins from post seven in the very first Breeders Crown event Saturday. Ronnie Wrenn Jr. will guide On To Norway at odds of 9-2 for the Ron Burke barn. On to Norway comes into the race off a win in the Indiana Sires Stakes Super Final a few weeks ago. He is 11 for 14 this season and took his new career mark of 1:48.3 earlier this year at The Meadowlands, a world champion effort. The millionaire trotter is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Black and White Stable, and Michael Rosenthal.
In the three-year-old pacing filly ranks, 2025 Indiana Pacer of the Year Whoomp tries to add a Breeders Crown title to her credentials in Race 5. The Rockin Image filly has won five of her starts this season, including the Super Final for Indiana Sires Stakes on Hoosier Champions Night. Whoomp finished second in her Breeders Crown elimination, also her first start outside the state of Indiana. She will begin from post 2 with John DeLong in the bike for trainer Roger Welch. The homebred filly is owned by William C., William P. and Jesse DeLong.
Indiana’s world champion Odds on Mr Mamba will also be featured during Breeders Crown action. The Odds on Equuleus gelding will begin from post seven in the Breeders Crown Final for three-year-old final. Driven by Peter Wrenn, Odds on Mr Mamba has won five races this year, including the North America Cup earlier in the summer. Odds on Mr Mamba finished fifth in his elimination to advance to the final. Melanie Wrenn trains the standout Indiana pacer for Odds on Racing.
Racing gets underway at 6:08 p.m. both nights. For Clubhouse reservations or more information regarding the Breeders Crown event, which will offer more than $7 million in purses over 12 championship races, go to Scioto Downs’ website. Several options are available through Open Table, including Clubhouse seating and patio table reservations.
