Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Mystical Sunshine and driver Ron Pierce bottomed out the field with a wire to wire victory in the $250,000 Breeders Crown for trotting mares on Saturday at The Meadowlands.

The five-year-old daughter of Yankee Glide was first to the top at the :27.1 quarter, with Ecstatic (John Campbell) right behind her and held that lead to the :56.4 half and held off the challenge of Peaceful Way (Trevor Ritchie), who was off the rail and trotting down the backstretch in an attenpt to take over the lead. Peaceful Way was on the wheel of Mystical Sunshine in the final turn, but could not stay with her down the stretch. Mystical Sunshine went on to win by in 1:53.3, with Three Little Words (David Miller) in second and Peaceful Way (Trevor Ritchie) in third.

“I pretty much wanted to get her out of the gate and take control,” said winning driver Ron Pierce. “I was also concerned about that filly Cat was on [Ticket To Glide]. She’s been racing awfully good. So once I got control of the race, I had a bit of a breather down the back. They weren’t getting to me, the mare felt super. Chris [Ryder, the trainer] did a super job and I’m very happy to win his first Breeders Crown. You can never get really comfortable with Peaceful Way on your back. She’s a very special mare and she’s blown by me what seems like three dozen times. So I wouldn’t have been surprised if she did blow by me again. But tonight she didn’t, I’m very happy.”

First time Breeders Crown winning trainer Chris Ryder noted that Mystical Sunshine has spent many races as a bridesmaid to Peaceful Way, “I guess Mystical Sunshine hasn’t gotten that much respect because Peaceful way has been beating her most of the time. When you finish in second or you;re second best, that’s just the way it is. It doesn’t worry us. Taking nothing away from Peaceful Way, I always thought that my mare was sharp and if things went our way we would have a shot to beat her one day and today it happened. I’ve been fortunate to have her, she tries hard, she’s just been a beautiful mare. I congratulate Alvin Jacobson and Sid Korn and I’m very pleased for them”

Ticket To Glide was fourth and Ecstatic crossed the wire sixth but was placed fifth, due to a lapped on break by Godess of Chaos. Mystical Sunshine is owned by Alvin Jacobson and Sid Korn and she’s trained by Chris Ryder.