Milton, ON — Brian Sears guided favorite Winndevie to a late charging win in the C$655,000 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot final at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (Oct. 26). The winning mile went in 1:53.
Bet down early, Sears was in no hurry to leave quickly with Winndevie as Only Take Cash and When Dovescry sped to line up first and second with The Ice Dutchess following. Only Take Cash cut the first quarter in :26.2 as Asiago broke on the outside.
Only Take Cash was overtaken by When Dovescry, who herself was passed in the shuffle by The Ice Dutchess as the half went in :56.3.
Taking to the outside, the Joie De Vie LLC-bred Winndevie began to make up serious ground, going strongly after The Ice Dutchess to three-quarters in 1:25.3. From there, Winndevie, who is trained by Trond Smedshammer, was urged on by Sears and got to the wire first in full command of the field. When Dovescry took second and The Ice Dutchess held on for third.
“It set up similar to what I thought,” Allard said of Hambletonian Oaks winner When Dovescry. “I wish it would have taken a little less out of my mare, the first turn. If I saved a little bit there maybe I could have won. I wasn’t put in the spot I wanted to be, I wanted to cut it. She is so much better on the front end than in the two hole. It just didn’t work the way I really wanted. Second is still good, I guess. I’m happy but we always want to win.”
Winndevie is owned by Purple Haze Stables. The Credit Winner—Vida De Vie was a top performer in the New York Sire Stakes for the last two seasons.
With this win, the filly has earned more than C$865,000.
Replay is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=im3LatGlMr4 (Race 4)