Breeders Crown: Altar, Bella Bellini impress in 3YO Filly Trot elims

Three-year-old filly trotters battled in two $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations on Saturday afternoon at the Meadowlands, and when the dust settled, it was Altar and Bella Bellini who emerged triumphant.

Amazone Duharas (James MacDonald) was on top at the 27 1/5 opening quarter in the first elimination, but Altar (Yannick Gingras) moved up two-wide to take over the lead after that point. From there, it was all Altar, as she sailed through a 55 4/5 half and a 1:23 2/5 three-quarters on her way to a 3 3/4 length victory in 1:51 2/5. Iteration (Brian Sears) turned a three-hole trip into a second-place finish, and Splash Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) saved ground on the rail and got up for third. Anoka Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) overcame being two-wide throughout to get fourth, and Amazone Duharas held on to get fifth.

"We knew we weren't getting in on earnings to the Filly Futurity, so we decided to take our chances in the Allerage. We tried earlier in the year to take on the boys in the Canadian Trotting Classic, but we didn't have enough earnings," Adam Bowden, whose Diamond Creek Farm bred and own Altar, said of her schedule. "[Trainer] Nancy Takter believed in her and thought racing in the [Kentucky Commonwealth Series] was the best spot for her. She needed to gain some confidence, and it ended up working out for us.

"There was a recall [in the Allerage], and that probably affected her. She isn't the strongest mentally, but she is awfully fast as you saw today."

Altar, a 3-year-old daughter of Muscle Hill, now has eight career wins, and she has earned $219,373. She returned $4.40 to win as the favorite.

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Bella Bellini (Dexter Dunn) returned to the scene of her Hambletonian Oaks triumph in the second elimination and got away in the sixth spot. Meanwhile, the lead changed hands between Adirondack (Scott Zeron), Herculisa (Brett Miller), and You Ato Dream (Jeff Gregory) through opening-half stations of 27 4/5 and 56. On the far turn, it appeared Bella Bellini might be in some trouble as she wound up second-over behind a struggling Donna Soprano (Bob McClure), allowing the leaders to get some separation on her. However, once Dunn cut Bella Bellini loose three-wide before the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters, she quickly advanced and loomed in third turning for home.

Herculisa managed to wrestle a narrow advantage from You Ato Dream in mid-stretch, but Dunn had Bella Bellini in top gear three-wide at the same time, and Bella Bellini kicked past Herculisa before she drew off to tally by a length and a quarter in 1:52 4/5. Chablis (Gingras) checked in third at 124-1, and she was followed by You Ato Dream and Shirley Goodness (David Miller), who overcame a miscue behind the gate to make the final.

"She likes to have a little bit of cover even if it's not that great," offered winning trainer Nifty Norman. "It was a little bit like her Hambletonian Oaks run today - enough cover to sprint home."

A daughter of Bar Hopping, Bella Bellini was bred and is owned by David McDuffee. This was her ninth victory from 23 lifetime starts, she has now banked $696,463, and she paid $3.20 to win.

"I was a little worried there. Donna Soprano didn't look like she was handling the turns very good there. It was scary for a minute," stated McDuffee. "She looked good. Hopefully we can carry that forward to next week."

By virtue of their elimination wins, Altar and Bella Belini drew for post positions between one and five before the rest of the field took part in an open draw for the remaining posts.

The complete field, with post positions, nominated drivers, and trainers, is as follows:

$650,000 Breeders Crown - 3-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
1. Amazone Duharas (James MacDonald, Denis Gueriel)
2. Shirley Goodness (David Miller, Melanie Wrenn)
3. Bella Bellini (Dexter Dunn, Nifty Norman)
4. Chablis (Yannick Gingras, Jonas Czernyson)
5. Altar (Yannick Gingras, Nancy Takter)
6. Anoka Hanover (Andy McCarthy, Noel Daley)
7. Splash Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt)
8. Iteration (Brian Sears, Marcus Melander)
9. You Ato Dream (Jeff Gregory, Jeff Gregory)
10. Herculisa (Brett Miller, Virgil Morgan Jr.)
AE1. Donna Soprano (Bob McClure, Luc Blais)
AE2. May Karp (Tim Tetrick, Lucas Wallin)

The Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot final will take place at the Meadowlands on Saturday, Oct. 30.