11 aim for third jewel of pacing's Triple Crown

Drivers were finalized for Saturday night's pair of $40,000 eliminations for the $725,480 Messenger Stakes final at Yonkers Raceway, the richest event in the race's history and final jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown.

In the first elimination for 3-year-old colts and geldings, Brian Sears, who was double-listed with Watta Hotshot from the pylons and Always A Virgin (post four), surprised no one by choosing the latter. The Cane Pace winner--first jewel of the Pacing Crown--has earned more than $627,000 this season. Greg Grismore gets acquainted with Watta Hotshot, who is 0-for-15 in 2007 but has nonetheless managed to bank $283,000.

Always a Virgin was made the 6-5 early choice by Raceway program editor Paul-John Ramos. Sears, in a statistical oddity, is 0-for-18 at Yonkers this season, having driven in two programs last month.

The two Messenger eliminations go as races 7 and 8 during the 10-race program (first post 7:40 p.m.), with the first four finishers in each returning for next Saturday night's (Oct. 27) final. That evening also includes the $291,050 Lady Maud for 3-year-old pacing fillies, which attracted eight in a "one-dash-for-the-cash" event.

The elimination fields for the 52nd Messenger Stakes, with drivers and morning-line odds:

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