Darlinonthebeach and Nike Franco N win Crown Mare Pace eliminations
October 20, 2017,by Frank Cotolo and Jay Bergman, for the Breeders Crown
Anderson, IN — Darlinonthebeach, with Brett Miller in the sulky, won the first of two Breeders Crown eliminations for mare pacers in 1:49.3 at Hoosier Park on Friday night (Oct. 20).
Dean Gillette photo
Darlinonthebeach was a 1:49.3 winner in her Crown Mare Pace elimination.
The winner is trained by Nancy Johansson for owner-breeder White Birch Farm.
Darlinonthebeach left alertly, with Lady Shadow by her side, letting that one get the lead in a first quarter of :26. Lady Shadow cut the half in :54.4 as Pure Country went first over to chase the top two. The three-
quarters went in 1:22.4.
Darlinonthebeach (Somebeachsomewhere-Darlin’s Delight) was game around the turn and into the stretch and sprinted by Lady Shadow, who held the second spot. Windsun Glory closed late to get the show dough with Pure Country finishing fourth and Blue Moon Stride fifth.
Assistant trainer Marcus Johansson said he was “happy here with her effort” though he said she
had a slow start this season.
Darlinonthebeach, who went off at 5-1 and paid $13.80 to win, lifted her lifetime earnings to just under $950,000.
Dean Gillette photo
Nike Franco N took the second elimination in a time of 1:51.2.
Nike Franco N cruised to victory in the second $25,000 elimination. Tim Tetrick guided the 2-5 favorite to a 1:51.2 score.
Call Me Queen Be took the lead early but Nike Franco N was able to regain command past the :26.2 opening quarter and then set even fractions of :55.3 and 1:24 with Medusa offering token pressure.
In the stretch, Nike Franco N cruised to a handy victory with her :27.2 final quarter putting her 2-1/4 lengths ahead of runner-up Bedroomconfessions at the wire.
Owned by Richard Poillucci, the 7-year-old by McArdle-Nearea Franco was a winner for the 29th time in her 52-race career. Jim King Jr. trains Nike Franco N.
“She’s just a sweetheart,” said Tetrick. “She’s just as good on or off the pace. When they let her go 1:24 to the three-quarters, she likes that, too.”
Nike Franco N returned $2.80 to win.
Joining the top pair in the Oct. 27 Breeders Crown finale will be L A Delight, Seventimesavirgin and Sassa Hanover.
- Ella Christina pulls the upset in the 3-Year-Old Filly Pace elimination (Friday, October 20, 2017)
The Western Ideal filly Ella Christina pulled a big upset in the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace elimination Friday night (Oct. 20) at Hoosier Park. She stormed home from seventh at the top of the stretch to post a 1:51 victory and return $72.00 to her scattered backers after going off at odds of 35-1.
- Rainbow Room and Youaremycandygirl take Crown eliminations (Friday, October 20, 2017)
Rainbow Room, with David Miller in the sulky, won the first of two eliminations of the Breeders Crown 2-year-old filly pace at Hoosier Park on Friday night (Oct. 20) in 1:52.3. Youaremycandygirl won the second elimination in a time of 1:51.
- Overdraft Volo reigns supreme in Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot elimination (Friday, October 20, 2017)
Overdraft Volo drafted nicely in the pocket until the head of the stretch, moved out to the lead, then held off the late move of favored Ice Attraction to win the single Breeders Crown elimination for 3-Year-Old Trotting Fillies in 1:53.3 at Hoosier Park Friday night (Oct. 20).
- Phaetosive sets new track standard, Manchego rolls in Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot eliminations (Friday, October 20, 2017)
Despite not having raced for 32 days, the Explosive Matter-Phaeton filly Phaetosive ($4.60) set a Hoosier Park track record for freshman filly trotters in winning the first of two Breeders Crown eliminations Friday night, stopping the timer in 1:53.3. Manchego kept her perfect record intact in the second elimination.
- Darlinonthebeach is ‘coming into form’ heading into Breeders Crown (Monday, October 23, 2017)
Darlinonthebeach can end a lot of frustration and take care of some unfinished family business with a good trip this Friday (Oct. 27). Trainer Nancy Johansson’s horse is 3-1 on the morning line for the $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Pace at Hoosier Park. Darlinonthebeach won the first of two eliminations this past Friday in 1:49.3, while race favorite Nike Franco N (2-1) won the second elimination in 1:51.2.