from Breeders Crown Media

Toronto, ON — Favored American Jewel, with Tim Tetrick at the controls, took over from Economy Terror in early stretch and went on to a 1-1/4 length win over a closing Shelliscape in the $500,000 Breeders Crown 3-year-old filly pace on Saturday (Oct. 27) at Woodbine Racetrack.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

American Jewel was a 1:52.1 winner.

It was the eighth win in 15 starts this year for the daughter of American Ideal-Trim Hanover, as she completed the mile in 1:52.1. Longshot Big Mcdeal also rallied late for third.

Despite a monster 2-year-old campaign which saw her win eight of nine outings, American Jewel was the runner-up in year-end balloting for divisional honors to Crown winner Economy Terror.

Saturday night, she was able to best that rival and her other peers with a perfect trip from third, before being tipped out for the stretch drive, as she first went by Economy Terror and then had more than enough in reserve to hold the closers at bay.

Last week, American Jewel gutted out a nose decision over Economy Terror in her 1:52.3 elim to allow her connections a choice of post positions (post four) for the final, while Romantic Moment took the other elim in a slightly faster 1:52.1. Both elim winners were trained by Jimmy Takter for Brittany Farms.

“(In last week’s elim) my mare needed a good braven-up trip and she got it,” explained Tetrick. “She really responded well off that. I’m just really tickled with this mare. She deserves a Breeders Crown. She got hurt last year and didn’t make it, but she made up for it tonight. I knew there were some good horses behind me and I was first up into the wind. You never know. My mare raced great. She held them off and she’s a champion.”

It was Romantic Moment who first burst to the front, taking the field through a :26.2 opening quarter, before Economy Terror took over before the half in :54.4, and still led through a 1:23.3 three-quarters before being collared in early stretch and fading to seventh.

With the $250,000 winning pot, American Jewel now boasts career earnings of $1.7 million for her owner and breeder, Brittany Farms of Versailles, Kentucky.

Sent postward the 8-5 choice, American Jewel returned $5.30, $3.60 and $2.80, combining with Shelliscape ($7.50, $4.50) for a $33.20 (4-5) exactor. A 4-5-2 (Big McDeal, $10.10 to show) triactor paid $355, while a $1 superfecta (4-5-2-3 — Romantic Moment) came back $839.65.