Breeders Crown: JK She'salady stays perfect with impressive victory

JK She’salady made it a perfect dozen capturing the $500,000 Breeders Crown for juvenile filly pacers in gritty and record-setting fashion. The daughter of Art Major, sent off as the 1-9 betting favorite, endured a hard-challenge by second choice Sassa Hanover on the final turn and was driven out to a 1:50 2/5 mark by Tim Tetrick.

Tetrick got away in good order from post three and made a sharp move to the lead on the backstretch after Bettor Be Steppin had set the opening panel in :26 3/5. JK She’salady blitzed to the front before the half in :54 4/5 and that was the first time in her season that she had assumed control so early in the race.

Yannick Gingras, J K She’salady’s former pilot, wanted to test her with Sassa Hanover and the pair engaged the leader in a head-to-head battle during the third quarter. The three quarters was reached in 1:22 4/5 with J K She’salady still holding a slight advantage but once in the homestretch that edge widened out as the pride of the 3 Brothers Stable drew clear to score by one and three-quarters lengths with Sassa Hanover second and Bettor Be Steppin holding on to the third spot.

“I protected myself early then went to the front,” said Tetrick, “It’s an honor to drive a great filly like this.”

Trainer Nancy Johansson, the daughter of Breeders Crown all time winning trainer Jimmy Takter, captured her first title and was ecstatic in the winner’s circle.

“I told my dad in February that if he had any good two-year-old fillies he could leave them in the barn,” said Johansson, referring to how she felt about J K She’salady while the filly was training down.

“She’s going to get six weeks off in North Carolina. She deserves that and then start back to train for her three-year-old season,” said Johansson.

With the victory J K She’salady may have locked up not only divisional honors but could become the first two-year-old filly to earn the overall Horse of the Year title.

J K She’salady is a homebred of the 3 Brothers Stable (Alan, Ronald and Steven Katz).

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