Pure Country wins thrilling Breeders Crown elimination
October 22, 2016,by Ray Cotolo for The Breeders Crown
East Rutherford, NJ — Pacing off the gate into fourth, Jimmy Takter trainee Pure Country was flushed first over heading to the half and sustained her uncovered bid to win the first of two $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old filly pace on Saturday (Oct. 22) at the Meadowlands in 1:51.
Darlinonthebeach took the lead through a :27.4 first quarter while Call Me Queen Be settled for the pocket. L A Delight, getting away last, moved two wide and managed to flush Pure Country heading to the half.
Pure Country narrowed in on Darlinonthebeach through a half in :55.3 and three-quarters in 1:23.2 before sticking her head in front in the stretch. L A Delight fanned off cover and closed down the center of the track to take second, while Call Me Queen Be sprinted up the rail for third. Darlinonthebeach and Kiss Me Onthebeach also made the final.
By Somebeachsomewhere out of the Western Hanover mare Western Montana, Pure Country won her 19th race in 29 career starts, earning $1,662,198 for owner Diamond Creek Racing. Driven by Brett Miller, she paid $5.20 to win.
“I always felt like she was better when she has a target,” Miller said. “Obviously, she can do it any way, but she was very tough tonight.”
Lisa photo
Newborn Sassy (Tim Tetrick) sliced through traffic in the final strides to win her $25,000 elimination in 1:53.
Newborn Sassy (Tim Tetrick) sliced through traffic in the final strides to win her $25,000 elimination in 1:53 by three-quarters of a length at The Meadowlands. Newborn Sassy is trained and co-owned by Jo Ann Looney-King along with owners CC Racing.
Blue Moon Stride (Andrew McCarthy) was second and Penpal (Pat Lachance) was third.
Lindwood Beachgirl (Yannick Gingras) had the lead early at the :29 first quarter, only to be overtaken by Penpal and then Blue Moon Stride by the :56.4 half. Blue Moon Stride held the lead to the 1:25.2 three-quarters, Wishy Washy Girl (Brian Sears) was moving to challenge for the lead at that point.
In the final turn, Newborn Sassy edged three wide to make a try for the lead, pacing down the middle of the track to pass the leaders a few strides from the wire.
“I thought she was going to be really good in this field,” said trainer Looney-King. “We got in late and I thought she was a winner from the time we got here tonight. That’s going to be a tough one (final), we’re up against Pure Country. There are just so many, they’re just such good fillies. She’s up for it and we’re going to have her as good as we can get her and I hope we can be real competitive and maybe beat those horses next week. There’s no reason at all why I can’t win a Breeders Crown and that’s what I want to do.”
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Walner and Tim Tetrick were the unchallenged winners by three lengths in 1:53.3 in the first $20,000 elimination for the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old colt and gelding trot on Saturday (Oct. 22) at The Meadowlands.
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After settling in the mid-division from his outside post, Huntsville ($2.40) sustained first-over gains to wear down pacesetter Odds On Delray and draw clear by 2-1/4 lengths in his $20,000 Breeders Crown elimination for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday (Oct. 22) at The Meadowlands, carded as the evening’s second event.
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Brett Miller drove Roaring To Go to an aggressive final half-mile to win the first $20,000 Breeders Crown elimination for the 2-year-old filly pacers at The Meadowlands on Saturday (Oct. 22).
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All The Time (Yannick Gingras) trotted down the middle of the track in the final eighth to take the lead and win in 1:55.1 by a half-length in her $25,000 elimination race for the $500,000 Breeders Crown 3-year-old filly trot on Saturday (Oct. 22) at the Meadowlands.
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Pace made the race in the first $25,000 Breeders Crow elimination event for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, as Check Six ($12.40) had plenty left after rating a :56.2 first half-mile to parry a trio of late challengers in the evening’s sixth event at The Meadowlands
- Sutton is an upset winner; Bar Hopping is odds-on victor in Breeders Crown eliminations (Saturday, October 22, 2016)
Trained by Julie Miller, Sutton (Donato Hanover-I Wanted Wings) sat in the pocket before edging up the pylons to win at 6-1 in the first of two $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt and gelding trot on Saturday (Oct. 22) at the Meadowlands in 1:54.2.
- McIntosh and Campbell look for more Breeders Crown magic (Thursday, October 27, 2016)
Forget about holiday protocol, Bob McIntosh is jumping right over Halloween and American Thanksgiving. “It will be a little bit of Christmas if we get the right trip,” said McIntosh, referring to his horse L A Delight in Saturday’s (Oct. 29) $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old female pacers at the Meadowlands.