The National Equestrian Center on Vesey Street provided a dramatic backdrop this weekend as the Driving Horse and Pony Association hosted its prestigious Champion of Champions event. In a test of speed, stamina, and consistency over two grueling days of racing, Teshi Zuill guided Somegoldsomewhere to a hard-fought overall victory following a tense final dash on Sunday afternoon.
The competition opened on Saturday with several ponies separated by mere fractions of a second. Teshi Zuill set the tone early, recording the fastest combined time of the first day at 2:07/1. However, the leaderboard was congested, with Darico Clarke and Gold Rush sitting just two-tenths of a second behind at 2:07/3. The opening day also saw standout performances from Tahzii Flood and Candyce Martins, both of whom remained firmly in the hunt after clocking identical combined marks of 2:07/4.
Sunday's finale introduced fresh drama as the track conditions and fatigue began to play a role. Candyce Martins and Smart Machine, who had been among the favorites after a blistering 1:03/0 on Saturday, were forced to scratch from both Sunday dashes, ending their title aspirations. Tahzii Flood and Huntinforgold also saw their challenge fade after failing to start the final dash of the day, leaving the battle for the crown to a two-horse race between Zuill and Clarke.
Darico Clarke and Gold Rush put immense pressure on the leaders, clocking a solid 2:08/4 over the two Sunday heats to finish with a final combined time of 4:16/2. Knowing the margin for error was virtually non-existent, Teshi Zuill maintained a composed drive behind Somegoldsomewhere. Matching Clarke’s Sunday time of 2:08/4 exactly, Zuill utilized his slim overnight advantage to secure the championship by the narrowest of margins.
When the final times were tallied, Somegoldsomewhere claimed the top spot on the podium with an aggregate time of 4:16/0, just two-tenths of a second ahead of the runner-up Gold Rush. Xanaje DeGraff and Double Time showcased remarkable durability to secure third place overall with a final time of 4:20/0. Despite their late-session setbacks, Huntinforgold and Smart Machine were credited with fourth and fifth place respectively based on their completed heats, concluding a weekend that once again highlighted the high-octane nature of Bermudian harness racing.
Click Here to see the Full 2026 Champion of Champions Day Two Results
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