Driver Brady Brown spent his Tuesday doing what he normally does, driving in qualifiers, and then dashing off to help a horseman friend feed some horses. A few days earlier, however, the young driver, based at the Meadows in Washington, PA, was enjoying the rush of the most exciting time of his career. On October 17, he drove Roger Hammer’s filly Little Road to a 1:53.3 win in the $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination at Eldorado Scioto Downs, cementing her spot in the final this weekend.
Chris Gooden Photo
Now Brady is heading to his first Breeders Crown with a filly he’s been teamed up with her whole career. “I’ve driven her since she was a two-year-old, since her qualifier,” he said. “I drove her since her first start at the Meadows, and Roger Hammer drove her once at a fair because I couldn’t be there, but other than that, I’ve driven her pretty much the whole go-around. Justin Walters qualified her this year, too, at Shenandoah, because we had to get a start in her, and Hammer put her in a qualifier. But other than that, it’s been me.”
Little Road is trained by Roger Hammer. Based in Bedford, Pennsylvania, Hammer is best known for his homebred trotter Vivid Photo, who took all of harness racing on a wild, terrific ride from 2004 to 2012. A triumphant win in the 2005 Hambletonian catapulted Hammer and Vivid Photo into the history books. At 80 years old, Roger’s career as both a trainer and driver has been nothing short of remarkable, with 4,463 wins from 16,479 starts, and total earnings of $23.9 million as a driver. His training stats are equally impressive, with total earnings of $21.6 million, and 2,678 wins from 14,152 starts.
Brady says the daughter of Fordham Road is not your stereotypical ornery filly. “She’s actually very easy to drive,” he admitted. “She’s more of a handful warming up than anything, a little wild before the race. There’s a lot of energy under her!!!! But when it comes to race time, she’s pretty good.”
Definitely ‘pretty good’ and much more, as her win in the 2nd Breeders Crown elimination for three-year-old filly trotters was her 10th win this season.
Little Road was supplemented to the Breeders Crown by Roger, which he seldom does. His confidence in her and her record made the decision an easy one.
As driver and trainer stood, waiting, on eliminations night, the slightly chilly night air surrounded them, and Brady looked to the legendary trainer for his final pre-race thoughts. “The only thing Roger told me was ‘Either be on the front, or follow Ronnie Wrenn’ (with Victorianas Secret). If he comes, you can follow him. If he’s not coming, or if someone else is coming, you just keep going forward.”
“But until that point, until the gate came around, I had a thousand things going through my mind. Just remembering whose horse was what, and who was driving what. Who to follow, and who not to follow.”
“Before we got into the stretch, and the last turn, I was sitting there going, well I’m sitting 3rd right now, I said I’m ‘1-2-3’. And then the passing lane came, and then….luckily I was 1! I was speechless.”
He admits that the nerves for the final haven’t quite set in yet. “Someone asked me at qualifiers, and I said most likely they will at post time,” he laughed.
Working with the great Roger Hammer has been tremendous for Brady. “He’s the absolute best! I look up to him so much. Before I even started driving horses, I was at the fairs, and he was there. When I got my license, and started driving, I was driving against him. A few years after that, he started giving me drives at the fairs. He’s just an all- around great person.”
Little Road drew post 5 for the final. “Roger said ‘That’s perfect’. “
Brady gets emotional describing what it means to drive in a Breeders Crown. “It just means so much to me, especially driving for Roger Hammer, it means even more to me. I look up to him so much. He’s been one of the best teachers on everything. Just being able to drive for him in a Breeders Crown.”
How will he prepare for this momentous drive in the $664,500 Breeders Crown Final? “Like I always do. I’m pretty laid back. I’ll do my homework and watch some replays on some horses that I haven’t raced against and know everybody in the field. I don’t get too worked up until the time comes.”
Post Time for the finals on Friday, October 23, (two-year-olds) and Saturday, October 24 (three-year-olds and open divisions) is 6:00pm both days at Eldorado Scioto Downs.
Brady Brown
1618 wins
1949 2nd
2398 3rd
Total Earnings $17,835,709
Little Road
2026
16-10-3-1
2025
9-6-1-1
Total Earnings $373,150
Brown, Hammer take ‘Road’ to Breeders Crown – U.S. Trotting News
https://harnesslink.com/
The Media — Hambletonian Society Inc
Cover Photo Credit to Chris Gooden
