By Ken Weingartner, for
Breeders Crown
ANDERSON, Ind. – As co-owner
Marvin Katz made his way to the winner’s circle for another celebration with
Ariana G, the word he used to best describe the 3-year-old female trotter was
“fantastic.” He could have chosen others, including dominant.
Ariana G won Friday
night’s $500,000 Breeders Crown for 3-year-old female trotters by 5¼ lengths
over Ice Attraction in 1:54.3 over a sloppy track at Hoosier Park. Dream
Together finished third. Ariana G joined Shake It Cerry as the only trotting
fillies since 2002 to win the Breeders Crown at ages 2 and 3.
Shake It Cerry was trained
by Jimmy Takter, as is Ariana G. Takter extended his record for Breeders Crown
training wins to 32 with Ariana G’s victory.
Ariana G, driven by Yannick
Gingras, has won 12 of 15 races this year and earned $1.12 million. For her
career, she has won 21 of 26 races and earned $1.86 million.
Overdraft Volo led the field
to the opening quarter in :27.1, but was still parked outside Checkmate Time
when they hit the marker. Gingras moved three wide around the duo to take the
lead in a :55.3 half and never slowed from there.
“They tried to beat her,
they just can’t,” said Katz, who bred Ariana G with Al Libfeld and still owns
the filly with Libfeld. “I know she’s great. I know she’s a fantastic,
exceptional, one-of-a-kind type filly. I just wanted her to perform well. She’s
great. She’s fantastic.
