by Frank Cotolo for Breeders Crown

East Rutherford, NJ — In the first of two $20,000 Breeders Crown elims for the Open Mare Pacers at The Meadowlands on Oct. 21, Frost Damage Blues, driven by Brett Miller, finished second but was placed first for the 1:51.1 win.

Solar Sister, who finished first, was disqualified for interfering with Sassa Hanover, who broke stride just before finishing second in a gallop.

Sassa Hanover took the lead early and cut a slow :28.3 first quarter, while Solar Sister sat third, but only between fractions as McNair took Solar Sister first-over and to the lead through the half-mile in :57.1. From there, Solar Sister refused a challenge by Katie Said and tipped three-quarters in 1:24.3. It was clear sailing from there while on the outside Frost Damage Blues took the stretch by storm to close to finish second. Trained by Tom Fanning, Frost Damage Blues is owned by William J. Augustine. She paid $10.00 for the win.

“I was hollering pull, her pull her,” said Augustine. “Brett Miller was just sitting back and waiting. The race was so slow, even the announcer that was calling the race was saying how slow it was for the quality caliber of the horses. She’s a fantastic mare, they’re all great horses but she’s a fantastic mare.”

Divine Caroline was fourth, placed third, placed second, while Sassa Hanover was third, placed fourth, placed third, and Solar Sister was first, placed fourth. Katie Said qualified for the final by finishing fifth.

In the second of two $20,000 Breeders Crown elims for the Open Mare Pacers, Lady Shadow soared over the “good” surface to handily win in 1:48.4.

Driven by Yannick Gingras for trainer Ronald Adams and owners D.C. Kryway, Carl Atley, Ed Gold and BFJ Stable, Lady Shadow sat third as Bedroomconfessions cut the first quarter in :26.4. Gingras tipped Lady Shadow out, brushed to control on top and began to draw away in :54 and 1:21.1 with Bedroomconfessions on her tail.

Those two put many lengths between them and the rest of the field and Lady Shadow kept eating real estate to put her fgur lengths away from Bedroomshadows, who finished second.
Regil Electra got third, Skippin By picked up a final berth finishing fourth and fifth was Bettor Be Steppin.

Lady Shadow paid $3.20 to win.

The complete field for the $250,000 Breeders Crown field for distaff pacers is as follows:

1 – Divine Caroline – D. Miller – Holloway
2 – Lady Shadow – Gingras – Adams
3 – Katie Said – S. Zeron – Takter
4 – Frost Damage Blues – B. Miller – Fanning
5 – Solar Sister – D. McNair – G. McNair
6 – Skippin By – Callahan – Burke
7 – Sassa Hanover – Gingras – Burke
8 – Regil Elektra – Bongiorno – Armer
9 – Bettor Be Steppin – D. Miller – Holloway
10 – Bedroomconfessions – S. Zeron – Alagna

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