Twelve championships, two nights and more than $7.5 million in purses. The Breeders Crown 2026 finals land at Eldorado Scioto Downs in Lockbourne, Ohio, on Friday, October 23 and Saturday, October 24. Last weekend’s eliminations already tore up a few scripts. Redland Rocket Man, the Little Brown Jug winner, went off as the odds on favorite and finished last. Gentlemans Club won at 26/1 in a divisional record. Shalom Hanover lost his unbeaten record.
We break down every final below. You get posts, drivers and trainers for the eight fields already drawn, plus the finalists and form for the four Saturday races that draw on Tuesday, October 20. Then we give you our best bets for the weekend.
Breeders Crown 2026 Finals Schedule, Purses and TV
The four two year old finals go on Friday night. The other eight run on Saturday. Live racing starts at 6:00pm ET on both nights, and FS2 shows the action from 8:00pm to 11:00pm ET on Friday and from 7:00pm to 10:30pm ET on Saturday.
Elimination winners earned draw protection, which put them in the draw for posts 1 through 6. The other qualifiers drew for the remaining spots. That matters at Scioto. The track runs as a five eighths mile oval, and a horse stuck in post 8 or 9 faces a long trip around the first turn. The track publishes morning lines with the official program, so check the MyWinners app for the latest prices before you bet the Breeders Crown 2026 finals. The Hambletonian Society posts official fields as each final is drawn.
Friday Night: Two Year Old Breeders Crown Finals
Two Year Old Filly Trot ($700,000)
Marcus Melander holds the strongest hand in this race. He trains Birr Castle (post 2), Blue Ranger (post 3) and Two Day Hangover (post 4). Birr Castle skipped the eliminations after she won the Grade 1 Jim Doherty Memorial, a Win and You’re In race. Blue Ranger won her elim in 1:53.1 and Two Day Hangover won hers in 1:53.2 as the 6/5 favorite. Dexter Dunn drove both, and he can only sit behind one of them on Friday, so watch the final program for his pick.
Kissme Ifyoucan owns the fastest mile of the year by a freshman trotting filly at 1:51.4, but she drew post 9. Nevis Peak starts from the rail for Ron Burke after she chased Blue Ranger home in the first elim.
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer | Morning Line | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevis Peak | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burke | 7/2 | Chased Blue Ranger home in elim 1 |
| 2 | Birr Castle | Scott Zeron | Marcus Melander | 5/2 | Skipped elims after winning the Jim Doherty Memorial (G1) |
| 3 | Blue Ranger | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander | 3/1 | Won elim in 1:53.1 |
| 4 | Two Day Hangover | Mattias Melander | Marcus Melander | 5/1 | Won elim in 1:53.2 as 6/5 favorite |
| 5 | Shes A Home Run | Ronnie Wrenn Jr. | Vernon Beachy | 25/1 | |
| 6 | Climatic Hanover | Todd McCarthy | Lucas Wallin | 8/1 | |
| 7 | Putitondad’s Tab | Andrew McCarthy | Lucas Wallin | 25/1 | |
| 8 | Dandelion Wine | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | 12/1 | |
| 9 | Kissme Ifyoucan | Austin Hanners | Todd Luther | 20/1 | Fastest 1:51.4 by a freshman trotting filly this year |
Two Year Old Colt and Gelding Trot ($700,000)
Wrong Sounds Right leads all two year old male trotters in earnings this season with $586,250. He won the Mohawk Million in 1:51.1, and he cruised through his elim at 1/9 for Jim Campbell and Todd McCarthy. He drew post 6.
Lifetime Dreamer won the other elim by three lengths in 1:52.4. That set a track record and equaled the world record for a two year old colt or gelding trotter on a five eighths mile track. He drew post 5. Ake Svanstedt trains him and also sends out Yankee Boss from the rail and Jimdougie Armitage from post 3.
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer | Morning Line | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yankee Boss | Tim Tetrick | Ake Svanstedt | 20/1 | |
| 2 | Whateverittakes AS | Tony Hall | Anette Lorentzon | 6/1 | |
| 3 | Jimdougie Armitage | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | 10/1 | |
| 4 | Carbon Fiber | Ronnie Wrenn Jr. | Ron Burke | 20/1 | |
| 5 | Lifetime Dreamer | Yannick Gingras | Ake Svanstedt | 5/2 | Won elim by three lengths in 1:52.4 |
| 6 | Wrong Sounds Right | Todd McCarthy | Jim Campbell | 6/5 | Won elim at 1/9; $586,250 earned this season |
| 7 | Access Now | Bob McClure | Luc Blais | 8/1 | |
| 8 | Presidente | Dexter Dunn | Nancy Takter | 12/1 | |
| 9 | Top Reacher | Scott Zeron | Marcus Melander | 25/1 |
Two Year Old Colt and Gelding Pace ($700,000)
Shalom Hanover arrived unbeaten in seven starts this year and left his elim with a third place finish at 6/5. Starstruck Dreamer beat him there in 1:50.2. That result carries weight. Starstruck Dreamer owns the fastest freshman pacing mile of the year at 1:48.4, and his only loss in six starts before the elims came by a head to Shalom Hanover. He drew post 4 for Noel Daley and Todd McCarthy, while Shalom Hanover drew post 5.
Blazin Lou won the other elim in 1:50.4 for Tony Dinges and takes the rail. Ron Burke saddles three: Ocean Party, Stonebridge Blitz and Metro winner Eastie Boy, who finished second to Blazin Lou.
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer | Morning Line | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blazin Lou | Dexter Dunn | Tony Dinges | 5/2 | Won elim in 1:50.4 |
| 2 | Mr Bear | Marcus Miller | Erv Miller | 15/1 | |
| 3 | Ocean Party | Chris Page | Ron Burke | 25/1 | |
| 4 | Starstruck Dreamer | Todd McCarthy | Noel Daley | 2/1 | Beat Shalom Hanover in elim (1:50.2) |
| 5 | Shalom Hanover | Louis Roy | Dr. Ian Moore | 3/1 | 6/5 in elim, finished third |
| 6 | Eastie Boy | Ronnie Wrenn Jr. | Ron Burke | 6/1 | Metro winner; second to Blazin Lou |
| 7 | Night Surfer | Tim Tetrick | Virgil Morgan Jr. | 8/1 | |
| 8 | Stonebridge Blitz | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burke | 25/1 | |
| 9 | L A Captain | Bob McClure | Luc Blais | 25/1 |
Two Year Old Filly Pace ($700,000)
Ten fillies entered, so this division skipped the elims and goes straight to the final. Cleveland Darby drew the rail for Ron Burke after she swept the Ohio Triple Crown: the Ohio State Fair, the Ohio Sires Stakes Championship and the Ohio Breeders Championship. She knows how to win in this state, and the rail on a five eighths track suits her. Aceandaten drew the widest spot in post 10. Connections confirm drivers with the final program.
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer | Morning Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cleveland Darby | Chris Page | Ron Burke | 5/1 |
| 2 | Too Pink To Pass | Lauren Tritton | Shane Tritton | 25/1 |
| 3 | We Want It All | Louis Roy | Dr. Ian Moore | 20/1 |
| 4 | JK Lady Liberty | Scott Zeron | Nancy Takter | 9/2 |
| 5 | Positive Process | Yannick Gingras | Petter Engblom | 25/1 |
| 6 | My Taylors Swift | Ronnie Wrenn Jr. | Ron Burke | 10/1 |
| 7 | Cowboy Candy | Jason Bartlett | Aaron Lambert | 5/2 |
| 8 | Seaside Ubeaut | Dexter Dunn | Andrew Harris | 7/2 |
| 9 | Tempting Flames | David Miller | Michael Hitchcock | 8/1 |
| 10 | Aceandaten | Doug McNair | Gregg McNair | 6/1 |
Saturday Night: Three Year Old Breeders Crown Finals
Three Year Old Filly Trot ($664,500)
Nezuko Kamado S won the Hambletonian Oaks and then set a divisional record of 1:51.2 in her elim, holding off Custom by a nose. She drew post 4 for Marcus Melander and Scott Zeron. Storybook Love, last year’s two year old champion, starts from the rail for Matt Bax and Todd Ratchford after a third place finish behind She’s Moni in the elims.
She’s Moni won her elim for Nancy Takter and Yannick Gingras and drew post 3. Little Road won the other elim as a supplemented entry for Roger Hammer and Brady Brown and paid $9.40. The draw sheet lists Dexter Dunn on Setyoursightshigh, Southwind Chaska and Busy Miss Lissy S, so expect at least two driver changes on the program.
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Storybook Love | Todd Ratchford | Matt Bax |
| 2 | Victorianas Secret | Ronnie Wrenn Jr. | Vernon Beachy |
| 3 | She's Moni | Yannick Gingras | Nancy Takter |
| 4 | Nezuko Kamado S | Scott Zeron | Marcus Melander |
| 5 | Little Road | Brady Brown | Roger Hammer |
| 6 | Setyoursightshigh | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander |
| 7 | Custom | Jason Bartlett | Petter Engblom |
| 8 | Southwind Chaska | Dexter Dunn | Jim Oscarsson |
| 9 | Busy Miss Lissy S | Dexter Dunn | Ake Svanstedt |
Three Year Old Filly Pace ($664,500)
Hope Hill beat Miss Jum Jabber in both the Bluegrass and the Garnsey at The Red Mile this month. She then won her elim in 1:50.0 for Petter Engblom and Dexter Dunn and drew post 3. Sangria Summer won the other elim in 1:49.3 for Luc Blais and James MacDonald and takes the rail.
Miss Jum Jabber has 13 wins from 17 starts, including the PASS and KYSS finals, but she drew post 8. Whoomp sits in post 2 for Roger Welch and John DeLong. She has a 5, 6, 0 record from 11 starts and paced 1:48.3 in the Indiana Sires Stakes in July. Last year’s champion Loua Dipa does not appear in the final field.
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sangria Summer | James MacDonald | Luc Blais |
| 2 | Whoomp | John DeLong | Roger Welch |
| 3 | Hope Hill | Dexter Dunn | Petter Engblom |
| 4 | Say Goodnight | Tyler Buter | Nicholas Devita |
| 5 | A Clean Deal | Doug McNair | Robert Fellows |
| 6 | Darlin's Angel | Lauren Tritton | Juan Cano |
| 7 | She's A Bulldog | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burke |
| 8 | Miss Jum Jabber | Andrew McCarthy | Brett Pelling |
| 9 | Topville Lucky | Todd McCarthy | Andrew Harris |
Three Year Old Colt and Gelding Pace ($664,500)
No elim delivered a bigger shock. Redland Rocket Man arrived on a four race win streak that included the Little Brown Jug, went off as the odds on favorite and finished last of seven. Gentlemans Club won that race at 26/1 for Aaron Lambert and Andrew McCarthy in a divisional record of 1:48.3 and paid $54.60. Melillo took the second elim at 5/1 for Ron Burke and Ronnie Wrenn Jr., a length and a half clear of Brandon Blvd.
Brandon Blvd still looks like the leading three year old pacer on the season. He has five graded stakes wins this year, the Meadowlands Pace among them. The nine finalists are Al Papi, Brandon Blvd, Cooperstown Boy, Fragment, Funky Buddha, Gentlemans Club, Melillo, Odds On Mr Mamba and Sweet Lovin Lou. Beau Jangles, last year’s champion and Horse of the Year, missed the cut. So did Redland Rocket Man. Post positions come from the draw on Tuesday, October 20.
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer | Elim Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gentlemans Club | Andrew McCarthy | Aaron Lambert | Won Elim 1 at 26/1 (1:48.3) |
| 2 | Melillo | Ronnie Wrenn Jr. | Ron Burke | Won Elim 2 at 5/1 |
| 3 | Funky Buddha | Tim Tetrick | Tony Dinges | 3rd, Elim 1 |
| 4 | Brandon Blvd | Dexter Dunn | Andrew Harris | 2nd, Elim 2 |
| 5 | Al Papi | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burke | 4th, Elim 1 |
| 6 | Sweet Lovin Lou | Scott Zeron | Dan Lagace | 2nd, Elim 1 |
| 7 | Odds On Mr Mamba | Peter Wrenn | Melanie Wrenn | 5th, Elim 2 |
| 8 | Fragment | Jason Bartlett | Petter Engblom | 3rd, Elim 2 |
| 9 | Cooperstown Boy | Doug McNair | Jared Bako | 4th, Elim 2 |
Three Year Old Colt and Gelding Trot ($664,500)
Apex won the Hambletonian in 1:49.2 after a duel with Big Ranger, but his form has wobbled since. He broke stride early in the Kentucky Futurity. Nix Nacken won that race and the Canadian Trotting Classic, beating Apex in the latter. Melander trains both, plus American Power.
Big Ranger won his elim in 1:51.1 at 1/5 for Anette Lorentzon and Tim Tetrick, two and a quarter lengths clear of Nix Nacken. Diabolic Hill took the other elim in a lifetime best 1:51.2 for Annie Stoebe and Todd McCarthy, with Apex a quarter length back. The finalists are American Power, Apex, Big Ranger, Captain Jordan, Diabolic Hill, Inexpressable, Nix Nacken, Read The Room and Strobe Lite. Defending champion Spencer Hanover missed the final. Posts come from the Tuesday draw.
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer | Elim Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Power | Yannick Gingras | Marcus Melander | 4th, Elim 1 |
| 2 | Big Ranger | Tim Tetrick | Anette Lorentzon | Won Elim 2 at 1/5 (1:51.1) |
| 3 | Diabolic Hill | Todd McCarthy | Annie Stoebe | Won Elim 1 (1:51.2) |
| 4 | Inexpressable | Scott Zeron | Lucas Wallin | 3rd, Elim 1 |
| 5 | Nix Nacken | Scott Zeron | Marcus Melander | 2nd, Elim 2 |
| 6 | Apex | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander | 2nd, Elim 1 |
| 7 | Strobe Lite | Louis Roy | Ben Baillargeon | 5th, Elim 1 |
| 8 | Read The Room | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | 3rd, Elim 2 |
| 9 | Captain Jordan | Chris Page | Scott Di Domenico | 4th, Elim 2 |
Saturday Night: Open and Mare Breeders Crown Finals
Open Trot ($600,000)
This is the race of the weekend, and it could settle Horse of the Year. Super Chapter has not lost since On To Norway beat him in two world record miles at The Meadowlands. Since then Marcus Melander’s star has won the Maple Leaf Trot in a Canadian record 1:49.3 and the $1 million Yonkers International at a mile and a quarter. He has banked more than $3.2 million in his career.
On To Norway answered with a win in the Caesars Trotting Classic at his home track, Harrah’s Hoosier Park, in September. That win took him to 10 victories from 12 starts this year for Ron Burke and John DeLong. Both stars earned byes into the final. Emoticon Legacy won the lone elim at 1/9 for Luc Blais and Bob McClure, with Go Dog Go second. Posts come from the Tuesday draw.
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer | Elim Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French Wine | Jason Bartlett | Nancy Takter | Qualified |
| 2 | Gimpanzee Dancer | David Miller | Christopher Beaver | Qualified |
| 3 | Lexus Kody | TBC | Ron Burke | Qualified |
| 4 | Emoticon Legacy | Bob McClure | Luc Blais | Won elim at 1/9 |
| 5 | Antognoni S | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burke | Qualified |
| 6 | Go Dog Go | Scott Zeron | Carter Pinske | 2nd, elim |
| 7 | On To Norway | TBC | Ron Burke | Bye |
| 8 | Super Chapter | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander | Bye |
| 9 | Up Your Deo | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt | Qualified |
Open Pace ($662,000)
Ervin Hanover returns to defend his title for Dave Menary. Women Layer won the first elim in 1:48.4 for Virgil Morgan Jr. and Yannick Gingras, three quarters of a length clear of Best Chip. Dandy Ideal matched that 1:48.4 in the second elim for Brett Pelling and Tim Tetrick and held Prince Hal Hanover by a neck. The finalists are Admiral Hill, Best Chip, Calicojack Hanover, Dandy Ideal, Ervin Hanover, Ken Hanover, Prince Hal Hanover, Surreal Ideal and Women Layer. Posts come from the Tuesday draw.
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer | Elim Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Women Layer | Yannick Gingras | Virgil Morgan Jr. | Won Elim 1 (1:48.4) |
| 2 | Best Chip | Jason Bartlett | Joe Bongiorno | 2nd, Elim 1 |
| 3 | Dandy Ideal | Tim Tetrick | Brett Pelling | Won Elim 2 (1:48.4) |
| 4 | Calicojack Hanover | TBC | Ron Burke | 4th, Elim 2 |
| 5 | Prince Hal Hanover | Todd McCarthy | Dr. Ian Moore | 2nd, Elim 2 |
| 6 | Ken Hanover | David Miller | Roland Mallar | 5th, Elim 1 |
| 7 | Admiral Hill | Andrew McCarthy | Petter Engblom | Qualified, Elim 1 |
| 8 | Surreal Ideal | TBC | Vernon Beachy | 3rd, Elim 1 |
| 9 | Ervin Hanover | Dexter Dunn | Dave Menary | 3rd, Elim 2 (defending champion) |
Mare Pace ($443,000)
Twin B Joe Fresh, the 2024 champion, won the elim in 1:49.4 at 3/5 for Chris Ryder and Dexter Dunn and drew post 6. Tarapasta (post 5) and Unreasonable (post 9) skipped the elim with byes. Tarapasta won the MGM Ursula McIntyre Series final at Yonkers in the spring. The Last Martini, who dead heated with Miki And Minnie to win last year’s three year old filly pace final, starts from the rail for Jared Bako and Doug McNair. Ron Burke runs Champagne Room and Rodeo Drive Deo. Last year’s winner Always B Naughty did not make the final.
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Last Martini | Doug McNair | Jared Bako |
| 2 | Talk Curdy To Me | Jason Bartlett | David Menary |
| 3 | Francent N | Louis Roy | Pat Lachance |
| 4 | Rocket Deo | Tim Tetrick | Brett Pelling |
| 5 | Tarapasta | Matt Kakaley | Travis Alexander |
| 6 | Twin B Joe Fresh | Dexter Dunn | Chris Ryder |
| 7 | Champagne Room | Ronnie Wrenn Jr. | Ron Burke |
| 8 | Rodeo Drive Deo | Yannick Gingras | Ron Burke |
| 9 | Unreasonable | Todd McCarthy | Andrew Harris |
Mare Trot ($400,000)
Ten mares, no elims. Warrawee Michelle won this race last year at Woodbine Mohawk Park for Ake Svanstedt in a Breeders Crown record 1:50.2, and she drew post 6. Tactical Moni tuned up with a win in a $28,571 prep on elimination night, trotting 1:51.0 for Melander and Dunn, and she drew the rail.
| Post | Horse | Driver | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tactical Moni | Dexter Dunn | Marcus Melander |
| 2 | Jurassic Hattie | Brett Miller | Stacey Van Huizen |
| 3 | Miracle Maven | John DeLong | Henry Graber Jr. |
| 4 | Bravo Angel S | Jason Bartlett | Petter Engblom |
| 5 | R Dutchess | Tim Tetrick | John Butenschoen |
| 6 | Warrawee Michelle | Ake Svanstedt | Ake Svanstedt |
| 7 | Woman Of Passion | Scott Zeron | Carter Pinske |
| 8 | Delaney Hanover | Scott Zeron | Lucas Wallin |
| 9 | Walspea | Yannick Gingras | Trond Smedshammer |
| 10 | Yo Tillie | Todd McCarthy | Lucas Wallin |
How We Bet the Breeders Crown 2026 Finals
The draw comes first for us. Elim winners took posts 1 through 6, and on a five eighths oval the inside half of the gate lets a driver grab a spot early without burning his horse. We will forgive a big name in post 8 or 9 only when the form gap justifies it.
Next, follow Marcus Melander. He has three fillies in the two year old filly trot, three colts in the three year old colt trot and Super Chapter in the Open Trot. His barn has the depth to fill exotic tickets across the card.
Finally, watch the driver declarations. Dexter Dunn drove more than one finalist in several divisions, and the horse he keeps tells you which one his camp rates highest. When Dunn jumps off a horse, its price often drifts, and that is where we look for value.
Our Breeders Crown 2026 Finals Best Bets
Our Friday banker is Wrong Sounds Right in the Two Year Old Colt and Gelding Trot. He leads the division on earnings and speed, he won his elim with plenty left at 1/9, and post 6 gives Todd McCarthy options.
For value on Friday, we want Starstruck Dreamer in the Two Year Old Colt and Gelding Pace. He beat Shalom Hanover when it counted, he owns the fastest freshman mile of the season, and he drew inside the beaten favorite.
On Saturday we side with Hope Hill in the Three Year Old Filly Pace. She has beaten Miss Jum Jabber twice in a row, and she drew five spots inside her.
In the Open Trot, Super Chapter gets our vote. He arrives as the best trotter in training on current form, and he has won the Maple Leaf Trot and the Yonkers International since his last defeat.
Our exotic play is a Melander exacta box in the Two Year Old Filly Trot: Birr Castle, Blue Ranger and Two Day Hangover.
Bet the Breeders Crown 2026 Finals With MyWinners
All twelve Breeders Crown 2026 finals run on the MyWinners card across Friday and Saturday night. Read our eliminations preview for the form that got these horses to Scioto and our weekend racing preview for the rest of the action, then check the app for the program and morning lines once they drop. MyWinners online betting is open to all customers 18 and over.
Bet online at app.mywinners.com, on the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android, or go here to find your nearest MyWinners or Winners venue in CT.
10-7-26 Harness Racing – ScottLinscottPhoto” by Scott Linscott, CC BY-NC 4.0
