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.
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/.
- Emoticon Hanover wires the field in Breeders Crown Mare Trot (Friday, October 27, 2017)
Emoticon Hanover and driver Dan Dube went to the front and never looked back to win Friday’s (Oct. 27) $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot by three-quarters of a length over Caprice Hill in 1:53.4 at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
- Blazin Britches scores in 1:52.1 in Crown filly pace (Friday, October 27, 2017)
Blazin Britches, one of last week’s beaten elimination favorites, won the $500,000 Breeders Crown 3-year-old filly pace by a half-length at Hoosier Park Friday night (Oct. 27). The time for the mile was 1:52.1 over a sloppy track. Trace Tetrick was in the sulky.
- Ariana G romps to easy Breeders Crown victory (Friday, October 27, 2017)
As co-owner Marvin Katz made his way to the winner’s circle for another celebration with Ariana G, the word he used to best describe the 3-year-old female trotter was “fantastic.” He could have chosen others, including dominant. Ariana G won Friday’s (Oct. 27) $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old female trotters by 5-1/4 lengths over Ice Attraction in 1:54.3 over a sloppy track at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Dream Together finished third. Ariana G joined Shake It Cerry as the only trotting fillies since 2002 to win the Breeders Crown at ages 2 and 3.
- Youaremycandygirl captures Breeders Crown 2-year-old filly pace (Friday, October 27, 2017)
Youaremycandygirl, the heavy 2-5 public choice off a strong elimination score last week, won the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old filly pace by 4-1/2 lengths at Hoosier Park Friday night (Oct. 27). The time for the mile was 1:53.2 over a sloppy track. Yannick Gingras drove the filly for trainer Ron Burke.
- Pure Country wins wild finish in Breeders Crown Mare Pace (Friday, October 27, 2017)
Eight horses fanned across the track in a battle down the stretch, with Pure Country surging in the closing strides to capture Friday’s (Oct. 27) $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Pace by 1-1/4 lengths over Bedroomconfessions in 1:52.1 over a sloppy track at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino. Lady Shadow was third.
- Exciting night of racing featured during first evening of Breeders Crown at Hoosier (Friday, October 27, 2017)
Rain settled into the area and made racing conditions muddy, but the inclement weather didn’t come close to dampening the spirits of racing fans as they witnessed history in the making. The first of two nights of the Breeders Crown Championships at Hoosier Park brought in a full house ready to see the best horses in North America vie for divisional honors.