Can Win The West win the Crown?

Won The West is coming off three impressive victories west of the Alleghenies, but can he continue that streak at the Meadowlands in the Breeders Crown? The owners of the 3-year-old pacing gelding think so because they’ve reached deep into their pockets to pay the $62,500 supplemental entry fee to start Won The West in the Breeders Crown.

After Won The West captured the $275,000 American National at Balmoral on Nov. 3, his connections discussed supplementing him to the big dance at the Big M.

“I think he deserves a chance,” driver Greg Grismore told his owners. “He’s sound and in good shape.”

Trainer Mickey Burke wasn’t at Balmoral, but when he watched the race he agreed it was a “monster mile” and that the owners should supplement him.  

Won The West’s owners are, however, playing with his money as the son of Western Hanover has earned $602,974 this season, including more than a quarter-million in his last three starts. For the season, Won The West has 16 wins in 26 tries.

The pacer is owned by James C. Koehler and William C. Robinson, both of Findlay, Ohio, and Strollin Stable of Marion, Ohio. They purchased him as a yearling for a mere $35,000.

“He cracked a bone in his foot as a 2 year old,” says Koehler. “We paid him into some stakes, but not in all of them. We didn’t even know if he was going to race as a 3 year old.”

Won The West never won the heart of his first trainer Brian Brown. The youngster proved to be a cantankerous colt and Brown told Koehler, “I just can’t get along with him.”

Brown thought the youngster needed to be castrated. First, however, he recommended that the owners send Won The West to trainer Burke to see what he could do with the rambunctious pacer.

Burke got Won The West to the races February at The Meadows, but his first starts weren’t impressive. And his behavior was even worse.

“He was always in a bad mood,” says Koehler of his pace. “He would run over people. He would stop during his miles. He was dangerous. Mickey came to the same conclusion that he needed to be gelded.”

After being castrated in early spring, Won The West got some recovery time and Grismore drove him for the first time in early May. He won in 1:52.3 at Pocono.

“I’ll race this one anywhere you take him,” Grismore said after the race.

Warm weather seemed to bring out the best in Won The West  as he vaulted into prominence with a victory in the $87,600 Cleveland Classic with Grismore driving in late June. He followed that with wins in a Pa. Sires Stakes at The Meadows and the Geers Stake at Tioga.

On his home track at The Meadows, Won The West finished second to stablemate May June Character in the Adios, then shipped west to Scioto Downs where he won the Jug Preview in September. In the two-heat Little Brown Jug, the gelding finished 3-4.

“He had a bruised foot behind in those races,” says Koehler. “His regular vet was gone, but we could tell he was sore behind. After the Jug, his vet was back and fixed him up. When he went to Lexington he was looking good and feeling good.

And racing good, too. His greatest win came in the $190,000 Tattersalls at The Red Mile in early October when he defeated a talent-laden field in 1:49.1. Behind him were Jug runner-up Hot Rod Mindale as well as division leaders Southwind Lynx and Always A Virgin.

“That day he drew the rail,” says Koehler. “He’d had bad posts in many big races and that’s really hurt him. But I’ve watched that Tattersalls Pace over and over again and I still don’t know how Greg got him through the pack. There must have been only an inch of room on either side of the sulky.”

In the American National, Won The West’s bad luck with post positions returned. He drew post nine. He left alertly for Grismore, then yielded and fought his way back to win by a head.

“He’s lazy at times,” explains Koehler. “He seldom wins by big margins. He starts out fast and then eases up when he gets close to the lead. Greg really has to get after him.”

Koehler is optimistic that Won The West will earn his supplemental fee back in the Breeders Crown.

“If he draws a good post, anything from post five and inside, I think he’ll be a factor,” says Koehler. “We just need a little luck in the draw and in the race.”

Won The West must first pass his elimination race on Saturday. He drew post seven in the tougher of the two elims, with Always A Virgin, Southwind Lynx and Sutter Hanover all to his inside. The first five finishers in the $25,000 event will advance to the final. (Breeders Crown)

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