STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33

Manalapan, NJ 07726

Phone: 732-462-2357

Fax: 732-409-0741

STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726 

Phone: 732-462-2357 | Fax: 732-409-0741

BACK

GEM QUALITY SHAKES LOOSE FOR TRACK-RECORD CROWN WIN

Frank Cotolo for The Breeders Crown • October 28, 2023

Two strong moves helped 23-1 Gem Quality and driver Dexter Dunn glide down the stretch to win Friday’s $700,000 Breeders Crown final for freshman male pacers at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Full of pace throughout, Gem Quality’s 1:50 mile set the track record for 2-year-old colt pacers ...

ANDERSON, IN -- October 27, 2023 -- Two strong moves helped 23-1 Gem Quality and driver Dexter Dunn glide down the stretch to win Friday’s $700,000 Breeders Crown final for freshman male pacers at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Full of pace throughout, Gem Quality’s 1:50 mile set the track record for 2-year-old colt pacers.


After a recall caused by Newsroom, Dunn took Gem Quality directly to the top when the starting gate guided the field of 10 into battle. Also leaving aggressively was Legendary Hanover (James Macdonald) shooting for the lead from post nine and giving Gem Quality good cover while cutting the first quarter in :26. 


Public-choice Captain Albano (Todd McCarthy) lifted from the inside to scoot by the top two and earn his public support with a firm lead through a :54.2 half. Gem Quality rolled comfortably in third as Newsroom (David Miller) muscled to the outside with his best stride, though he did not have much to offer by the 1:23 three-quarters. 


The group chasing Captain Albano had no chance gaining over the pacing speed put into gear by Gem Quality. Needing no urging, the Captain Crunch-Twinkle colt took Dunn for an easy ride, passing Captain Albano with Storm Shadow finding room to finish third as Nuclear (Any Miller) found a clear late path to take the fourth spot.

The margin of victory was 1-1/4 lengths.


“I’m not surprised,” said trainer Chris Ryder, who won his sixth Breeders Crown and first with a male student. He said Gem Quality “always had good speed. Last week he pulled up a bit (in the elim) at the wire, so we gave him an easy week and he came in fresh.”


The trip, according to Dunn, looked good from the start. “We used him a little at the gate, but I was happy where we were at the quarter (with cover).” He said his colt “exploded” in the stretch. 

Gem Quality paid $48.60 to win.


Let It Ride Stables, Bottom Line Racing, Brad Grant, and Enviro Stables own the track-record-breaker, who won his fourth race in eight starts and has earned $438,940 in his first racing season.

Let It Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing bred the colt.

By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager July 4, 2025
The Fourth of July weekend at The Meadowlands will bring more than fireworks for trainer Annie Stoebe ...
By Courtney Stafford July 2, 2025
Harness Racing Community Celebrates Major Legislative Win as State Renews Full Commitment to Industry Support…
By cstafford June 30, 2025
The U.S. Supreme Court announced today that it has granted certiorari in the challenge brought by the United States Trotting Association (USTA), the States of Oklahoma, West Virginia, and Louisiana, and a group of racetracks, racing associations, and breeders against the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA), and has vacated the decision and remanded the case for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to reconsider its decision upholding HISA ...
By Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands June 29, 2025
The doll of her class as a 2- and 3-year-old, Sylvia Hanover endured many defeats as Twin B Joe Fresh claimed the crown in the 4-year-old campaign in progress to a Horse of the Year title ...
By Frank Cotolo, for The Meadowlands June 29, 2025
Periculum, with Scott Zeron at the reins, fired midstretch from off the pace to carve a 1:50 score in the $164,000 Crawford Farms Open Trot on Saturday (June 28) at The Meadowlands ...
By Ray Cotolo, for The Meadowlands June 29, 2025
Saturday (June 28) saw speedy returning victories by Ken Hanover, a winner once last year from 12 starts in a lifetime-best mile over this track, and 2024 Breeders Crown Open Pace champion Coach Stefanos in their respective $86,500 divisions of the Dave Brower Memorial at The Meadowlands ...
More Posts