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Triple the fun Blissfall Hall wins pacing triple crown
Posted: Sunday October 17, 1999 11:29 AM
MEADOW LANDS, Pa. (AP) - Blissfull Hall became the ninth triple crown winner in pacing history, winning the first elimination heat and the final of the the Messenger Stakes on Saturday night at The Meadows. The last pacer to win the Cane Pace, the Little Brown Jug and the Messenger was Western Dreamer in 1997. The last winner before that was Ralph Hanover in 1983. Shady Character had a chance to win the triple crown last year but was beaten by Fit For Life in the Messenger. Driven by Ron Pierce, Blissfull Hall cruised in the opening elimination in 1:51:1, one-tenth of second off the stakes record. Grinfromeartoear was second and Looking For Art third. Art's Conquest, driven by Eric Ledford, won the second elimination in 1:52:4 and was followed by Sadies Dreamboat and Union Square. In the final, it was all Blissfull Hall as he was clocked in 1:51.2, missing the world record for a two-heat race by three-fifths of a second. He was in fifth place between the quarter and half poles before pulling away to the win. 'We just stepped on the gas,' Pierce said. 'He was just brilliant. He was flying.' Looking For Art was second in the final, followed by Grinfromeartoear and Island Fantasy. Blissfull earned $391,230 for winning the two heats and picked up the $250,000 bonus put up the three tracks that stage the triple crown. The other pacing triple crown winners were Adios Butler (1959), Bret Hanover (1965), Romeo Hanover (1966), Rum Customer (1968), Most Happy Fella (1970) and Niatross (1980).
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