Watch the battle between When Dovescry and Atlanta by clicking here.

East Rutherford, NJ — When Dovescry (David Miller) took the lead prior to the half and fended off a challenge from Atlanta around the final turn and through the stretch to win Saturday’s (Nov. 20) $175,000 TVG Series championship for female trotters by one length in a stakes-record-equaling 1:51.4 at The Meadowlands.

When Dovescry held off a hard charging Atlanta to win the TVG Mares Final. Lisa Photo.

Atlanta (Yannick Gingras) finished second and Bella Bellini (Dexter Dunn), a 3-year-old filly taking on the mares, was third.

Breeders Crown Mare Trot winner Felicityshagwell S (Ake Svanstedt) led the field to the opening quarter in :27.1, taking the top spot ahead of Hypnotic AM (Brian Sears) and Next Level Stuff (Tim Tetrick) after the three left the gate quickly for position in the first turn. When Dovescry was fourth, but driver David Miller had the 5-year-old mare moving toward the front before reaching the quarter.

Once on top, When Dovescry reached the half in :56 and three-quarters in 1:24 on the way to her eighth win in 18 starts this season.

“I was a little disappointed in the Breeders Crown, I misread the race and ended up in a bad spot and she raced real well,” Miller said, referring to When Dovescry’s third-place effort on Oct. 30 at The Meadowlands. “After the way she raced in her last start (winning in 1:51.2 at the Big M on Nov. 12), I thought I would give her her best shot.

“She got to the lead and was able to get a breather in. When Atlanta came, I took off. I didn’t want (Atlanta) swelling up beside me. So, we took off and my mare just raced her heart out through the stretch. She knows what to do.”

When Dovescry is trained by Brett Pelling and owned by John Lengacher. A daughter of Muscle Hill out of Cedar Dove, she was bred by William Weaver III. She has finished off the board just once in her 18 starts this year and earned $514,014.

For her career, she has won 20 of 47 races and $1.63 million.

“I’ve got to give credit to Brett,” Miller said. “He’s kept her sharp all year and he’s got her really sharp right now. He told me coming out onto the track that she’s in super form. All that figured into my strategy of racing her.”

When Dovescry, the 8-5 second choice behind 4-5 Atlanta, paid $5.40 to win.