Breeders Crown winner for Captain Crunch

Captain Crunch has sired a Breeders Crown winner from his debut crop, with the Chris Ryder trained Gem Quality taking out the $700,000 Final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings at Harrahʻs Hoosier Park in track record time on Friday.

A close second in his elimination last week, Gem Quality (pictured) showed good speed off the gate to take the lead before handing up to Legendary Hanover before the quarter pole.

When the race favourite Captain Albano came round and took up the running at the mid-way point, Gem Quality and kiwi reinsman Dexter Dunn found themselves shuffled three back on the running rail.

Three lengths in arrears at the top of the straight, Gem Quality stormed home to win going away by a length and a quarter in a time of 1:50 flat – a new Harrahʻs Hoosier Park track record for a 2-year-old pacing colt.

Gem Quality has now won four of his eight starts, placing in a further two, for earnings of $442,710.

He is out of the Bettorʻs Delight mare Twinkle.

Captain Crunch is currently the leading first season pacing sire in North America.