North American news - Breeders Crown set for exciting eliminations

The countdown is on to one of the biggest weekends on the North American harness racing calendar, with champions, record-breakers and rising stars gathering at Scioto Downs in Ohio this weekend for the eliminations ahead of the $8 million Breeders Crown championship weekend on October 23–24.

Eliminations take place on Friday and Saturday (October 16–17), with eight defending Breeders Crown champions returning on Saturday to begin their title defences.

Friday night’s action belongs to the two-year-olds, headed by unbeaten pacing sensation Shalom Hanover (Papi Rob Hanover), who has won all seven starts this season.

The Ian Moore-trained youngster faces a serious challenge from Starstruck Dreamer (Captaintreacherous), the fastest freshman male pacer of 2026 with a blistering 1:48.4 mark. The pair previously clashed in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship, where Shalom Hanover prevailed by just a head.

Among the young trotters, Wrong Sounds Right (Tactical Landing) arrives with five wins from his last six starts and a share of the world record for two-year-old male trotters at 1:51.1.

Saturday brings together some of the sport’s biggest names.

The three-year-old pacing division features reigning Horse of the Year Beau Jangles (Cattlewash), Little Brown Jug winner Redland Rocket Man (Bulldog Hanover) and Meadowlands Pace champion Brandon Blvd (Downbytheseaside), setting up a fascinating battle for places in the final.

In the three-year-old trotting ranks, Hambletonian winner Apex faces a star-studded group that includes Kentucky Futurity winner Nix Nacken, Hambletonian runner-up Big Ranger and defending Breeders Crown champion Spencer Hanover.

The older pacers are equally impressive, with defending champion Ervin Hanover, Canadian Pacing Derby winner Best Chip, Dayton Pacing Derby winner Harrisburg Heist and former Breeders Crown winner Bythemissal among the contenders.

Meanwhile, French Wine returns to defend his Open Trot crown, while the mares’ pacing division features past champions Always B Naughty and Twin B Joe Fresh.

With ten of the twelve Breeders Crown divisions requiring eliminations, the pressure will be on from the opening race.

The two-year-old finals, worth $700,000 apiece, are scheduled for October 23, with the remaining championship events concluding the following night.

by Bevan Greig for Harnesslink