Manchego remains unbeaten with Breeders Crown triumph
October 27, 2017,by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Anderson, IN — Manchego became the first undefeated 2-year-old female trotter to win a Breeders Crown, capturing Friday’s (Oct. 27) $600,000 final by 4-1/4 lengths over Seviyorum in 1:54.4 over a sloppy track at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Phaetosive finished third.
USTA/Mark Hall photo
Manchego remained unbeaten with a 1:54.4 Breeders Crown victory.
Manchego improved to 12-for-12 with the victory for trainer Jimmy Takter, who increased his record for Breeders Crown wins to 31 with the victory. Takter has won this race five of the last six years.
Yannick Gingras, Manchego’s driver, has won 17 Breeders Crown finals.
S M S Princess, Manchego and Phaetosive battled three wide through the first turn, with S M S Princess holding the early lead before yielding to Manchego as they reached the first quarter in :27.2. Manchengo kept Phaetosive to her outside up the backstretch before Phaetosive took the lead in a :55.4 half.
On the final turn, Manchego made her move to claim the lead for good and powered past Phaetosive near the top of the stretch on her way to her historic win.
“She is unique to do what she has done this year,” Takter said. “To get 12 wins, that’s tough to do in today’s market. It’s really so hard for a horse to stay in shape. She’s just a unique animal.
“I have more respect for Trond’s filly, she has been chasing us all year. She’s a very good filly. I didn’t want her in my back. Yannick and I talked about it a little bit. I would rather sit behind her and let her do the dirty job. When I saw that half I say she is going to win.”
Manchego is owned by Barry Guariglia’s Black Horse Racing, John Fielding and Herb Liverman. Fielding has won 13 Breeders Crown trophies while Liverman has won six and Guariglia two.
“I’ve been doing this for a while and it kind of took a couple of starts for me to realize how good she was,” Guariglia said. “Probably after the (Doherty Memorial) I thought this was a special horse. Her attitude is unparalleled. She wants to do it and always has a spring in her step.”
A daughter of Muscle Hill out of the mare Secret Magic, Manchego has earned $873,948 this year. She was bred by Brittany Farms.
Manchego paid $3.00 to win as the 1-2 favorite.
Hoosier Park, in conjunction with Roberts Communications, will offer live steaming and replays of the Breeders Crown races at www.hoosierpark.com/racing/2017breederscrown/.
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