by Ken Weingartner for the Breeders Crown

TORONTO – Mike Lachance won his second Breeders Crown title Saturday night, guiding Possess The Magic past favorite Pampered Princess in the stretch to win the trophy for 2-year-old filly trotters by 1-½ lengths in 1:57.2 at Woodbine Racetrack.

Possess The Magic, trained by recent Hall of Fame inductee Ron Gurfein, took advantage of soft early fractions to claim the lead from Sheer Soul at the half in 59.3 seconds. Pampered Princess made her move on the outside prior to the three-quarter mark and took the lead, but Possess The Magic retook the advantage in the lane.

“Honestly, I didn’t think I could beat [Pampered Princess], but we got away with a half in 59.3 and it was just a sprint in the stretch,” said Lachance, who increased his Crown total to 25 titles. “She was good and strong tonight. We couldn’t do anything with her at the beginning of the year, but now we can do everything we want.”

Possess The Magic, owned by Brittany Farms, has won nine of 13 starts and earned $697,622.

“I always thought she was as good [as Pampered Princess],” Gurfein said. “I really thought we had a good chance to win it. It’s very special.”

Adelaide Hall finished third.

“She got a good trip, second over just where I wanted to be,” driver Jack Moiseyev said. “She had a few problems at the half and got a little rough, but she straightened herself out and I was kind of hoping for third going in.”