Phaetosive sets new track standard, Manchego rolls in Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot eliminations
October 20, 2017,by Gerry Connors and Jay Bergman for the Breeders Crown
Anderson, IN — 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.
Basquiat, the even-money favorite and the previous track record holder with a mark of 1:53.4, went to the lead despite the outside post eight, and set fractions of :27.4 and :57.1 while Phaetosive and trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer bided their time third. Phaetosive moved out raw into the far turn, trotted up to Basquiat by the 1:25.4 three-quarters, put that rival away quickly, and finished in :27.4 to win by three lengths in hand.
Dean Gillette photo
Manchego remains perfect after another 1:54.1 triumph in her Breeders Crown elimination at Hoosier Park.
Seviyorum closed on the far outside to catch Jordan Blue Chip for second, with Atlanta and Hey Blondie also earning their way into next Friday’s final.
Phaetosive, owned by the Purple Haze Stables LLC now sports a career record of 6-4-2-0, with her only two defeats coming to the undefeated Manchego, who won the division’s other elimination.
Smedshammer said he hadn’t been to Hoosier Park in 20 years.
“And I even got lost coming here.”
Fortunately, there was no deviation of course with Phaetosive.
“I got her into striking position, because I knew Yannick (Gingras, with Basquiat, who would finish sixth) would be leaving. I moved her out at the half, and she trotted up strongly and went right on by.”
Manchego continued her unbeaten ways capturing the second of two $20,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for juvenile trotting fillies Friday night at Hoosier Park. Yannick Gingras was in the sulky for the victory, which was clocked in 1:54.1.
Gingras and Manchego floated out at the start and allowed rail-starting Looking For Zelda to take control of the race and cut the opening fraction of :27.3. Manchego was rated to take command after the first three-eighths and was able to set well-rated fractions sprinting off in the late stages for her 11th win in as many career starts. Lily Stride went a brave trip racing much of the mile without cover to gain the second spot, though a full 2-1/2 lengths off the winner.
A $120,000 yearling purchase by Black Horse Racing, John Fielding and Herb Liverman from last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Manchego is a daughter of Muscle Hill from the Cantab Hall-sired mare Secret Magic.
Asked about the threat to Manchego at headstretch, trainer Jimmy Takter offered this: “It would take one heck of a filly to go by this filly,” he said. “So far, we haven’t seen anyone.”
Manchego, a 1-20 proposition, returned $2.10 for the victory while pushing her career bankroll to $573,948. In addition to the winner and Lily Stride, Top Expectations, S M S Princess and Looking For Zelda all advanced to next Friday’s final.
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