East Rutherford, NJ — My Girl EJ and Dexter Dunn made it back-to-back Breeders Crown victories on Saturday night (Oct. 26) when they captured the $600,000 event for sophomore pacing fillies at The Meadowlands in 1:49.3, holding off a longshot bid by Tarrific in the final strides.
Dunn kept his position from the start as My Girl EJ, a homebred daughter of Sweet Lou, stayed parked while allowing Direction and Todd McCarthy to move quickly towards the lead. Tarrific, with Jason Bartlett, overcame post 10 with a sharp opening bid and gained control midway on the opening bend. Following a :27.2 first quarter, McCarthy moved Direction to the front, and that prompted Dunn to get on the move with 6-5 favorite My Girl EJ.
Direction and My Girl EJ hooked up briefly with McCarthy parking the favorite well past the :55.1 half before yielding control of the race. My Girl EJ kept a lively clip through three-quarters in 1:22.2 as Its A Love Thing with James MacDonald applied some pressure first over followed by Rocket Deo in the outer tier.
Once into the homestretch, My Girl EJ asserted herself by pulling away from the pocket-sitting Direction, but found late company along the pylons with Tarrific closing ground rapidly for Bartlett with a shot at a huge upset. My Girl EJ, trained by Ron Burke, would not be denied as she bravely held off Tarrific by a neck on the finish with Direction not far back in third. Its A Love Thing held on to fourth with Rocket Deo fifth across the line.
“I had full faith in her, having driven her for the last two years,” said Dunn of his confidence with the strong middle-half move. “She’s quick, she’s tough and she’s game.”
My Girl EJ — the sixth filly in Breeders Crown history to repeat as a 2- and 3-year-old — is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Ron Burke and Elizabeth Novak. From the top producing broodmare Lucy’s Pearl, a daughter of Well Said, My Girl EJ was a winner for the ninth time this year and the 14th time during her career. Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi and Elizabeth Novak bred the filly who upped her career bank account to $1,444,060.
Ron Burke collected his fourth trophy in the 3-year-old filly pace, making him the winningest trainer in the event after being tied at three wins with the late Bob McIntosh. Burke last won in this division in 2019 with Warrawee Ubeaut. Dunn won for the first time in this division.
As the public’s choice, My Girl EJ paid $4.40 to win.