<body><div>East Rutherford, NJ — Bythemissal and driver Yannick Gingras won with authority in the first of two $25,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace eliminations on Saturday night (Oct. 19) at the Meadowlands. The 5-year-old Downbytheseaside-sired gelding was a handy 1:48.4 winner.The field of eight saw multiple horses leaving the gate, and Gingras was smart to keep Bythemissal in reserve through a series of lead changes before assuming command on the backstretch following a :27.1 opening quarter.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3KasfC_0wESnbH700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3KasfC_0wESnbH700" width="625" height="350" ><figcaption>Bythemissal and driver Yannick Gingras threw down a :26 sprint home to seal the first Breeders Crown Open Pace elimination on Saturday at the Meadowlands. Lisa Photo.</figcaption></figure>Once settled in command, Bythemissal, trained by Ron Burke, cut a leisurely pace, hitting the half in :55.1 and awaiting company. Scott Zeron took the challenge with It’s My Show attacking without cover on the turn and towing Seven Colors (Dexter Dunn) and Coach Stefanos (James MacDonald) along in the outer tier.It’s My Show (Scott Zeron) couldn’t reach the leader through three-quarters in 1:22.4, at which point Gingras let Bythemissal out and got an instant response. From the top of the stretch home, the battle was for minor spoils with Coach Stefanos and MacDonald offering the most speed to be well clear for second, a length in arrears. In the battle for show, Seven Colors edged out Voukefalas (Jordan Stratton) and It’s My Show with all three gaining entry into next Saturday’s (Oct. 26) final.It was the second win in just six starts this year for defending Breeders Crown champion Bythemissal. From the Western Hanover-sired broodmare Dismissal, Bythemissal was bred by Stephen Dey III.Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Eric Good, Rich Lombardo Racing and Weaver Bruscemi, Bythemissal paid $2.40 to win.“The horse is super sharp. I kicked out the earplugs just to be safe,” said Gingras of the late challenge in the homestretch.The second $25,000 elimination saw Ruthless Hanover and driver Andy Miller get the front three-eighths of a mile into the race and lead the rest of the way, scoring in 1:48.1 over a determined Abuckabett Hanover.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3Hw43c_0wESnbH700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Hw43c_0wESnbH700" width="625" height="350" ><figcaption>Ruthless Hanover dug in to keep Abuckabett Hanover just at bay in the second Breeders Crown Open Pace elimination. Lisa Photo</figcaption></figure>South Beach Star and driver David Miller left alertly, looping Ruthless Hanover on the first turn and driving to the top before the :26.2 first quarter. Ruthless Hanover and Andy Miller gained control as the field lined up through a :54.2 first-half clocking. As has been the custom for Ruthless Hanover, Miller let him sprint hard through the far turn, making it near impossible for Abuckabett Hanover and Dunn to make any sort of progress through a :26.4 third-quarter split.With a long lead entering the stretch, Andy Miller worked to keep Ruthless Hanover engaged, and he did hold Abuckabett Hanover a neck at bay, though that rival closed a big gap in the late stages. South Beach Star (David Miller) held his ground well for third with Why Not Now (Matt Kakaley) fourth and El Rey (Todd McCarthy) finding a seam along the pylons in deep stretch to secure the final berth.Ruthless Hanover is a son of Somebeachsomewhere from the Rocknroll Hanover-sired Rockaroundthetrack. He was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and is trained by Tom Cancelliere for owner John Cancelliere. As the 2-1 second choice, Ruthless Hanover paid $6.00 to win.“I didn’t want to use him too much on the first turn,” said Andy Miller of his strategy to keep Ruthless Hanover in check until the early dust had settled.In an upset, Grace Hill ended the nine-race winning streak of favored Twin B Joe Fresh to capture the single $25,000 elimination for the Breeders Crown Mare Pace. Todd McCarthy executed the upset, putting the former Crown champion in perfect position behind the heavily favored Twin B Joe Fresh and then out-sprinting her rival in a spirited 1:48.4 clocking.Grace Hill, bred by White Birch Farm, is owned by Tom Hill and trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. The daughter of Always B Miki from the Western Terror-sired dam Western Silk won for the sixth time this year and quickly elevated her status to major contender for next week’s final. She paid $22.60 to win.Eight of the 10 mares in the elimination qualified with Beach Cowgirl, Always B Naughty, Sylvia Hanover, Valar Dohaeris, Kobe’s Gigi and Zanatta joining the top pair. Silver Label and Strong Poison both received byes into the final.Listed drivers are from the eliminations. Elimination winners drew for posts one through six and are listed in italics.PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer1 – Ruthless Hanover – Andy Miller – Tom Cancelliere2 – Seven Colors – Dester Dunn – Andrew Harris3 – It’s My Show – Scott Zeron – Linda Toscano4 – Voukefalas – Jordan Stratton – Michael Russo5 – South Beach Star – David Miller – Mark Silva6 – Bythemissal – Yannick Gingras – Ron Burke7 – Coach Stefanos – James MacDonald – Erv Miller8 – Abuckabett Hanover – Dexter Dunn – Andrew Harris9 – El Rey – Todd McCarthy – Andrew Harris10 – Why Not Now – Matt Kakaley – Travis Alexander</div></body>

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Bythemissal converts, ‘Ruthless’ holds sway, ‘Joe Fresh’ defeated in Crown pace elims

East Rutherford, NJ — Bythemissal and driver Yannick Gingras won with authority in the first of two $25,000 Breeders Crown Open Pace eliminations on Saturday night (Oct. 19) at the Meadowlands. The 5-year-old Downbytheseaside-sired gelding was a handy 1:48.4 winner. The field of eight saw multiple horses leaving the...

Bythemissal converts, ‘Ruthless’ holds sway, ‘Joe Fresh’ defeated in Crown pace elims

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