EAST
RUTHERFORD, N.J. _ Mission Brief and JK She’salady, a pair of flashy
2-year-old fillies, posted impressive victories on Friday night in the Breeders
Crown eliminations at Meadowlands Racing & Entertainment.
A
cold snap gripped the metropolitan area but the action was red hot for opening
night of the harness meet.
The
features were the $25,000 eliminations for a trio of the Breeders Crown finals
here next weekend. In each instance, the top five finishers advanced to the
season-ending championships. The elimination winners will draw for posts 1
through 5.
Mission
Brief and JK She’salady were both heavily favored, and delivered standout
performances.
ELIMINATIONS
FOR THE $500,000 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT
Mission
Brief was on her best behavior, and that spelled bad news for her six rivals.
The
fastest 2-year-old trotter of either sex, Mission Brief improved to 8 for 12 with
a wrapped-up victory in 1:54 2/5 as the 3-10 favorite.
She
won by three lengths over Danielle Hall with Smexi in third.
Lilu
Hanover and Hot Start also advanced to the final.
Mission
Brief is trained by Ron Burke, a member of the ownership group with Our Horse
Cents Stable, J & T Silva Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.
Mission
Brief can be her own worst enemy. Her four losses were the result of breaks.
Mindful
of that history, Yannick Gingras took his time putting Mission Brief behind the
gate, timing the start perfectly.
Mission
Brief took charge approaching the opening quarter, and the race was over.
“When
she’s like this, she really is tough to beat,” Gingras said. “I had to trot a
little bit to catch the starting gate but I don’t think it makes a difference
to her.”
Gingras
also won the other elim with Wild Honey, a petite filly who has won 10 in a
row. The 3-10 favorite trained by Jimmy Takter beat Livinthefastlane by 1 1/2
lengths in 1:55 3/5.
“She’s
just been an unbelievable girl,” Takter said. “She’s not very big, but she’s
got a big heart.”
Wild
Honey, now 10 for 11, is owned by Christina Takter, John & Jim Fielding and
Herb Liverman.
Wiclet
Hanover, Stubborn Belle and Love Me Madly also gained spots in the final
ELIMINATIONS
FOR THE $500,000 2-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE
JK
She’salady continued her dream season, improving to 11 for 11 with a game win
for new pilot Tim Tetrick.
Gingras
vacated the seat behind the 2-5 favorite, opting to drive Sassa Hanover
instead.
Trainer
Nancy Johansson tapped Tetrick who landed in the golden spot with the favorite
for next week’s final
“There’s
a reason she’s undefeated,” Tetrick said. “She’s a beautiful filly and she
knows how to get things done. She’s special.”
This
was her stiffest test, facing Sassa Hanover for the first time.
Sassa
Hanover, starting from post 7, made the first move as she worked her way to the
front down the backstretch.
JK
She’salady then did it the hard way, with a prolonged first-over grind. The two
favorites briefly hooked turning for home before JK She’salady powered clear in
the final stages.
And
Tetrick never popped the ear plugs. JK She’salady confidently beat Sassa
Hanover by 2 3/4 lengths in 1:51 1/5.
JK
She’salady is a homebred for the 3 Brothers Stables.
Bettor
Be Steppin was third. Bettor N Better and Heavenly Bride also gained spots in
the final from that elim.
The
other elimination was a chaotic event with a double disqualification that
knocked both Ideal Nuggets and Happiness out of the final.
Ideal
Nuggets was first under the wire in 1:52 1/5. She was placed sixth for knocking
Well Hello
There off stride at the top of the lane.
Happiness
was dropped from fifth to seventh for a pylon violation.
After
it was all sorted, Heart Major was elevated into the victory at 10-1. Ron
Pierce drove for trainer Joe Pavia, Jr. and Dijo Racing, Pavia Stables, Vincent
Barbera and Steven Held.
Divine
Caroline, Happy Becky, Southwind Roulette and Well Hello There also made the
final.
ELIMINATIONS
FOR THE $593,750 3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE
Color’s
A Virgin extended her winning streak to seven with a 1:51 victory. The Jugette
winner is coming into the final in top form following a first-over victory with
Trace Tetrick in the sulky for trainer Brian Brown and the Emerald Highlands
Farm.
“She
showed up like she has all summer,” Tetrick said. The 9-10 favorite beat
Precocious Beauty by 1 1/2 lengths.
All
Star Rating, Uffizi Hanover and Beach Story also made the final.
In
the other elimination, Gallie Bythe Beach parlayed a perfect second-over trip
into a 9-1 upset, her third win in 17 starts this season.
In
a race will with plenty of early action, Gallie Bythe Beach tracked Major
Dancer into the lane before surging past that rival by two lengths.
Tetrick
was at the lines for the Fashion Farm homebred trained by Jim Campbell.
Campbell
said Gallie Bythe Beach first showed this kind of closing kick in her Jugette
elimination win.
“She
can go the other way if she needs to,” Campbell said. “She just happened to go
some better races off the pace.
Beach
Gal was third with Gettingreadytoroll and Sayitall BB also making the final.
The
time was 1:50 4/5.
