By Ken Weingartner, for
Breeders Crown
ANDERSON, Ind. – Manchego
became the first undefeated 2-year-old female trotter to win a Breeders Crown,
capturing Friday night’s $600,000 final by 4¼ lengths over Seviyorum
in 1:54.4 over a sloppy track at Hoosier Park. Phaetosive finished third.
Manchego improved to
12-for-12 with the victory for trainer Jimmy Takter, who increased his record
for Breeders Crown wins to 31. Takter has won this race five of the last six
years.
Yannick Gingras, Manchego’s
driver, has won 17 Breeders Crown finals.
S M S Princess, Manchego and
Phaetosive battled three wide through the first turn, with S M S Princess
holding the early lead before yielding to Manchego as they reached the first
quarter in :27.2. Manchengo kept Phaetosive to her outside up the backstretch
before Phaetosive took the lead in a :55.4 half.
On the final turn, Manchego
made her move to claim the lead for good and powered past Phaetosive near the
top of the stretch on her way to her historic win.
Manchego is owned by Barry
Guariglia’s Black Horse Racing, John Fielding and Herb Liverman. Fielding has
won 13 Breeders Crown trophies while Liverman has won six and Guariglia two.
A daughter of Muscle Hill
out of the mare Secret Magic, Manchego has earned $873,948 this year. She was
bred by Brittany Farms.
Manchego paid $3.00 to win
as the 1-2 favorite.
