Jugette winner returns for Breeders Crown victory

Treacherous Dragon (Captaintreacherous) – unraced since her Jugette victory in September – split harness racing horses late to capture the $810,000 Breeders Crown three-year-old filly pace on Saturday (Oct. 29) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Scott Zeron pushed the filly forward and trekked wide through the opening turn to strike the front at the quarter in :26. Odds-on favourite Niki Hill (Dexter Dunn) then executed a second-quarter brush and took over just before the half in :54.1.

Treacherous Dragon maintained her pocket spot as Ohioan challenger Sea Silk (Chris Page) attacked first-over to three-quarters in 1:22. Niki Hill held all at bay until mid-stretch with Zeron working hard behind Treacherous Dragon into the final eighth of a mile. Boudoir Hanover (Todd McCarthy) surged on the outside but left room for Treacherous Dragon, who exploded by her and Niki Hill in the final strides to snag the trophy in 1:49.

Niki Hill fell a neck short but held the place spot over Boudoir Hanover.

TREACHEROUS DRAGON REPLAY

Treacherous Dragon had not raced sing winning the Jugette on Sep. 21. Trainer Nancy Takter, however, said she had improved since then despite the lack of starts and thought she was the one to beat entering the contest. Hot Lead Farm of Allentown owns the filly, who is now 13-for-24 with $1,164,828 in earnings. The win made her harness racing’s newest millionaire – the third of the evening to join that club.

The mile time of 1:49 equaled the stakes record laid down by Peaky Sneaky – another Nancy Takter trainee – in 2020.

To read all the coverage of the 2022 Breeders Crown, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink