Solar Sister takes Breeders Crown elimination

In a wide-open and competitive event Solar Sister was sent off as the 7-2 second choice and McNair left enough in the early stages to get a three-hole as first The Show Returns blasted to the front and then was passed by Southwind Roulette with driver Yannick Gingras.

Southwind Roulette took the field to the quarter in :27 1/5 and virtually walked to the half in :57 flat as the outside flow was slow to materialize.

Bettor Be Steppin, the lukewarm favorite in the field of nine pulled but awaited cover and once past the half Solar Sister was taken to the outside by McNair and the race began. Tracking second over cover was the undefeated Frost Damage Blues with Bettor Be Steppin third over.

Solar Sister reached even terms with the pacesetting Southwind Roulette as the third quarter was blitzed in :27 3/5. The well-bred daughter of Mach Three hit high gear for McNair in the homestretch and sprinted away from the leaders winning comfortably in 1:52 1/5.

Frost Damage Blues lost for the first time in her brief career but was a solid second earning a trip to the final. Southwind Roulette held on for third with The Show Returns finding space between horses to get fourth with Bettor Be Steppin narrowly nosing Wicked Little Minx from a spot in the rich final.

McNair, who guided Solar Sister for his dad, trainer Greg McNair, and owners David Wilmot and Clay Horner was quite happy with the way the trip worked out for the filly.

"I was able to sit with her for five-eighths of a mile. She's actually very good coming from off the pace," McNair said.

 

The victory was the eighth of the season in 15 starts for Solar Sister, a homebred.