Special Way captures $810,000 Breeders Crown in Canadian record

Special Way (Walner) broke the Canadian harness racing record for a two-year-old trotting filly as she grinded first-over to capture the division’s $810,000 Breeders Crown on Friday (Oct. 28) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Ake Svanstedt guided the filly into fourth position as Righteous Resolve (Paul MacDonell) cut the first quarter of :27.1. Svanstedt pulled the first-up trigger as the leader completed the half in :56, and Special Way went to work in a third quarter that ended in 1:24.1.

Righteous Resolve added to her cushion as they spun off the turn, but Special Way showed off her might as she steamrolled past that rival to win in 1:52.

Walner Payton (Dexter Dunn) lunged late and closed the gap to three-quarters of a length while taking second. Righteous Resolve held third.

The mile time shaved a fifth of a second off the Canadian and Woodbine Mohawk Park record of 1:52.1 for a two-year-old trotting filly. Mission Brief set the previous standard in her 2014 Peaceful Way elimination.

SPECIAL WAY REPLAY

Special Way has won seven races in a row, including the Kentucky Championship Series final. That streak accounts for all of her wins in her nine outings so far. She has compiled $806,850 in earnings. Svanstedt trains the homebred filly for Brittany Farms of Versailles, Marvin Katz of Toronto, and Al Libfeld of Pickering.

“I think she is the best filly I’ve had,” Svanstedt said in his post-race interview.

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

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink