Hopes ride with sophomores

Bob McIntosh is the leading trainer in Breeders Crown history with 14 champions, and in this year's upcoming races he hopes to add to that total with 3-year-old filly pacer Belovedangel and 3-year-old colt pacer Stonebridge Regal. Each sophomore will race in eliminations this weekend at the Meadowlands in hopes of finding a starting spot in the rich finals on Saturday, Nov. 26.



Courageous Lady winner Belovedangel landed post five in one of two eliminations for the filly pacers Friday night, drawing in against divisional heavyweights Cabrini Hanover, Chotat Milk and Just Wait Kate. Rounding out the short six-horse field is Ifyoucouldcwhati C and West End.



"She's in a tough division, but she seems good. She trained up really good and is racing good," McIntosh said of Belovedangel, a daughter of Artsplace who has won five of 19 starts this year and more than $340,000 in earnings. "It's like they seeded the two divisions. Finishing in the top five, I think she does that, but it's a big thing to win it because you get to pick your post (in the final)."



McIntosh said that although he didn't care for the draw for his filly, he was happy that Stonebridge Regal drew away from sophomore bearcats Rocknroll Hanover, American Ideal and Gryffindor in Saturday night's elims. The son of Artsplace has 11 wins in 20 starts this year and $608,993 in earnings. Taking on the likes of Village Jolt, Cam's Fool and Gold Dust Beach in his elim, Stonebridge Regal is coming off a sixth-place finish in the Progress Pace at Dover Downs Nov. 13.



"Stonebridge Regal looks pretty good in there; he got in the easy division so I shouldn't (complain)," said McIntosh. "He had the seven hole at Dover and got beat three lengths…and with the seven hole and the Breeders Crown coming up, I didn't want to barbecue him. He has as good a shot as anybody. It's been a long year, but he seems good and fresh."



McIntosh added that although Stonebridge Regal is eligible to the Matron at Dover Downs that follows the Breeders Crown, he doesn't plan on racing the colt. He said the Crown would be his last start of the year but he plans on bringing him back to the races next year at four.

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