Trotting fillies handle sloppy track in Breeders Crown elims

Buy A Round, a daughter of Walner, got up in the late going to take the first of three $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 2-year-old filly harness racing trotters over a sloppy Harrah’s Hoosier Park racing surface, stopping the clock in 1:55.2 by a nose over 19-1 longshot Chapalonia and driver David Miller.

Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Buy A Round is trained by Noel Daley for owner-breeder Frederick W. Hertrich III, of Seaford, DE, and was driven by Andy McCarthy to her sixth win of the season in eight tries. The victory pushed her career earnings to $280,000. Buy A Round is the first foal out of the unraced Cantab Hall mare On Your Tab.

“The footing is good enough, just a little sloppy, so with the long, slow steady rain, it’s hard to keep it up,” said winning driver McCarthy. “Worst case scenario my filly had to come first up, but I knew she could handle it. Noel is an unbelievable trainer—this filly is not easy—she’s a Walner and he’s done an amazing job keeping her calm and getting her to finish the way she does.”

R Meilina, the eventual fifth-place finisher, took the lead for driver Tim Tetrick, taking the field through fractions of :28.1, :58.1, and 1:27, before tiring as her six rivals surrounded her in late stretch. Buy A Round used a strong late kick to prevail, with Chapalonia a whisker behind, Sierra Girl third at 5-1 for Ake Svanstedt.

BUY A ROUND REPLAY

As expected, Drawn Impression, a Muscle Hill lass and 4-5 choice, easily bested her rivals in 1:57 in the second $25,000 Breeders Crown elimination for 2-year-old trotting fillies. Louis Roy piloted the filly to her fourth career win in five starts for trainer Luc Blais and owners and breeders Determination of Montreal, Canada.

Getting up for second was 7-1 Senorita Palema for Tim Tetrick, with Sugar Instead holding on at 3-1 for Ronnie Gillespie.  The victory pushed Drawn Impression’s career earnings to $194,625.

“I was a little more off the gate than I wanted to be, but I am so confident in this filly,” said winning driver Roy. “Luc (trainer Blais) knows how to manage a horse and even if they’re off for a little while you know he’ll have them sharp.”

Sugar Instead was hustled out of the gate early, takin the field to a :27 first quarter and leisurely :58.1 half, before 3-1 Pizzelle (David Miller) came first up to challenge to the 1:28.3 three-quarter marker. Drawn Impression, who had been stalking the leaders behind Pizzelle, came charging at the wire to secure the triumph for her connections.

Drawn Impression is the first foal out of the top mare Emoticon Hanover, a daughter of Kadabra who earned $1,778,033 and recorded a 4-year-old record of 1:50.2f.

DRAWN IMPRESSION REPLAY

Driven by her trainer, Ake Svanstedt, Warrawee Michelle, is co-owned by Svanstedt, Santandrea Inc., and Young Guns. The win was her third of the season in eight starts and pushed her career earnings to $128,125. She also has a pair of second place finishes and one third to her credit this year.

Chaparmbro (Dexter Dunn), the 3-1 choice, led the field to the :28.3 first quarter, with Warrawee Michelle in close pursuit and 4-1 Date Night Hanover (Brian Sears) right on her heels to the :57.4 half and 1:26.2 three-quarter marker. From there, it was an easy stroll home for Warrawee Michelle, who barely needed any urging from her trainer-driver to take down her five rivals.

WARRAWEE MICHELLE REPLAY

Warrawee Michelle was a $200,000 purchase at the 2022 Lexington Select Yearling Sale and is the third foal out of her Yankee Glide broodmare Sound Check, 2, 1:58.2f ($23,832), making her a full sister to both Testing Testing 3, 1:52 ($128,115) and Warrawee Yes 3, 1:54.4s ($128,110).

The winners from each of the eliminations and Soiree Hanover—who won the $400,000 Jim Doherty, Jr., Memorial at Hoosier Park on Sept. 15—will draw for post positions one through five, and all others, will go into an open draw which will take place at a later time to be determined. Below are the contestants for the $700,000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot Final.

Soiree Hanover
Buy A Round
Chapalonia
Sierra Girl
Drawn Impression
Senorita Palema
Sugar Instead
Warrawee Michelle
Chaparmbro
Date Night Hanover

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Kimberly Rinker, for Harnesslink