by Ken Weingartner for the Breeders Crown

TORONTO – David Miller guided longshot Susie’s Magic between favorite Passionate Glide and Pure Ivory in the final strides before the wire to win the $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old filly trotters by a neck in 1:55.4 at Woodbine Racetrack.

Once-beaten Passionate Glide was sent off at 1-5 odds and followed Pure Ivory’s cover down the backstretch to take the lead. Bee Line applied pressure on the outside and Pure Ivory joined the challenge in the stretch.

Miller tried to find racing room outside before finding a gap between horses late in the stretch. Susie’s Magic, who was 20-1 in the odds, has won four of 15 starts this year.

“She had trot along the last turn,” Miller said. “I turned for home and she felt real well. I tried to angle to the outside and had no room. I got some space, popped her plugs and went right on. I was very surprised.”

Susie’s Magic finished second to Pure Ivory in her Crown elim last week, taking Miller to a seven-length lead in the early stages of the race before losing by 1-¼ lengths in 1:54.

“I was just happy she was relaxed,” trainer Tony O’Sullivan said. “Halfway through the lane, she looked like she was traveling as good as anybody. I thought she went a huge mile last week; I thought if we could get her a little quieter she might have a chance.”

Passionate Glide lost for just the second time in 15 races this season.

“I think she flipped her palate,” driver Ron Pierce said. “She definitely wasn’t herself tonight. I had to chase her to the top, and when I asked her for some in the stretch she didn’t respond. I saw the others coming on the outside and said ‘Uh-oh;’ there was nothing she could do.”

Susie’s Magic is owned by L and L DeVisser and William Jones.