Betterthancheddar Wins ‘Crown’ within a Hearbeat

TORONTO, ON— Betterthancheddar won the $500,000 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Colt Pace in 1:49.2, paying $11 to win. Roll With Joe finished second, Alsace Hanover was third and Up The Credit finished fourth.

Betterthancheddar, Hugadragon, Roll With Joe and Big Bad John all left the gate with speed. Big Bad John was three wide and moved two wide to duel with Roll With Joe for command. Roll With Joe lead the field by the quarter in :26. Betterthancheddar was in third and Hugadragon was in fourth.

Big Bad John cleared the front down the backstretch, with Roll With Joe in second and Betterthancheddar was in third. Westwardho Hanover came first over and moved to third at the half in :53.4 (:27.4). Big Bad John had the lead around the far turn. Westwardho Hanover applied pressure in second and Roll With Joe came second over. Alsace Hanover came off cover at three-quarters in 1:21.2 (:27.3).

Big Bad John had a wall of horses behind him at the top of the stretch. Westwardho Hanover was to his outside. Alsace Hanover was three wide and Betterthancheddar was riding the pylons with Roll With Joe. Big Bad John gave way, so Roll With Joe took the lead approaching the wire. Betterthancheddar lunged up the inside to get his nose up to win. Roll With Joe finished second, Alsace Hanover was third and Up The Credit finished fourth.

Betterthancheddar is a three-year-old colt by Bettor’s Delight out of the mare Lady Ashlee Ann by Camtastic. He has earned $335,141 in 2011. He was bred by Winbak Farm. He is owned by Steve Calhoun and West Wins Stable, trained by Casie Coleman and Mark Macdonald was in the bike.