Trainer Kelly O’Donnell told harnessracing.com Thursday afternoon that Little Brown Jug winner P-Forty-Seven will make his first major stakes appearance as a 4 year old in the Breeders Crown late next month after the son of The Panderosa won a qualifier at the Meadowlands earlier that day. In a gate-to-wire performance that impressed both O’Donnell and driver David Miller, P-Forty-Seven left from the rail in a five-horse field and posted fractions of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:25.2 on his way to an eight-length victory in 1:52.1.
P-Forty-Seven’s 2006 season was delayed after undergoing laser surgery in late April for an entrapped epiglottis. At the time O’Donnell said there would be no way P Forty Seven would be ready for the Canadian Pacing Derby this month at Woodbine/Mohawk, and that it would be close for the William Haughton Memorial in July at the Meadowlands. O’Donnell told harnessracing.com Thursday that he decided later to not even consider the Haughton, and now instead is pointing him toward the Breeders Crown at the Meadowlands.
“The first thing I did this morning after the qualifier was ask David if he thought I should qualify him again or what, and he told me right away to put him in right away in the 4-year-old open (at the Meadowlands Saturday, July 1),” said O’Donnell. “He’ll go to the Breeders Crown, and that will also be tough because he’ll have to take on those horses with only two, or three, starts at the most.”
Also winning a qualifier Thursday morning was 2005 Merrie Annabelle champion Miss Wisconsin, who trotted in 1:57 for driver Mike Lachance and trainer Ron Gurfein.