By
Gerry Connors, for Breeders Crown
ANDERSON, Ind. – Despite not having raced for 32 days, the
Explosive Matter-Phaeton filly Phaetosive ($4.60 to win) set a Hoosier Park
track record for freshman filly trotters in winning the first of two Breeders
Crown eliminations Friday night, stopping the
timer in 1:53.3.
Basquiat, the even-money favorite, went to the lead despite
the outside post eight, and set fractions of :27.4 and :57.1 while Phaetosive
and trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer bided their time third. Phaetosive moved
out raw into the far turn, trotted up to Basquiat by the 1:25.4 three-quarters,
put that rival away quickly, and finished in :27.4 to win by three lengths in
hand. Seviyorum closed on the far outside to catch Jordan Blue Chip for second,
with Atlanta and Hey Blondie also earning their way into next
Friday’s final.
Phaetosive, owned by the Purple Haze Stables LLC and
another Hanover Shoe Farms-bred winner, now sports a career record of 6-4-2-0,
with her only two defeats coming to the undefeated Manchego, who won the
division’s other elimination in 1:54.1. That matchup next week could be
spectacular.
Smedshammer said he hadn’t been to Hoosier Park in 20 years: “And I even got lost coming here.”
Fortunately, there was no deviation of course with Phaetosive: “I got her into
striking position, because I knew Yannick (Gingras, with Basquiat, who would
finish sixth) would be leaving. I moved her out at the half, and she trotted up
strongly and went right on by.”
