Breeders Crown: Atlanta reigns in Open Mare Trot elimination

World champion Atlanta, in search of her first career Breeders Crown victory, secured an inside position for next Saturday's (Oct. 30) $300,000 Mare Trot final with a powerful 1:52 1/5 victory in the lone $25,000 divisional elimination, held Saturday afternoon (Oct. 23) at the Meadowlands.

Atlanta, the 2018 Hambletonian champion, won for the 31st time in her storied career, holding her ground amid a bevy of late challengers by a determined three-quarter length margin.

Leaving from the pole position, regular pilot Yannick Gingras had Atlanta away smoothly, yielding just to the speedy early sprint of Felicityshagwell S into the first turn. After Felicityshagwell S and Ake Svanstedt led the way through the opening quarter of 27 3/5, Gingras moved Atlanta on the backstretch ahead of When Dovescry to get the front-end. Atlanta waltzed to the half in 56 4/5 as When Dovescry and her driver, David Miller, accepted the first-over grind through the final half-mile.

Atlanta cruised to three-quarters in 1:24 3/5 with When Dovescry on her flank and Felicityshagwell S positioned behind her in the pocket. She then hit high gear in the homestretch, leaving those two battling for minor spoils. A 27 3/5 final quarter secured victory for the 6-year-old daughter of Chapter Seven, trained by Ron Burke.

Atlanta, sent off as the 2-5 choice in the field of 10, returned $2.80 to win. When Dovescry held bravely for second, with Refined closing sharply late for third. Following the top three into next week's final were Felicityshagwell S, Ramona Hill, Sorella, Next Level Stuff, and Thankful NO. Hypnotic AM and Weslynn Quest, whose respective connections accepted byes on their behalf, will complete the 10-mare field.

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Owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Bradley Grant, and Howard Taylor, Atlanta will look to surpass $3 million in career earnings in the Breeders Crown final.

"She wasn't nearly on her game today," said Gingras following the victory. "But she's a champion."

This is how the draw shook out for next Saturday's $300,000 final:

1-Refined
2-Atlanta
3-Thankful NO
4-Sorella
5-Ramona Hill
6-Felicityshagwell S
7-When Dovescry
8-Hypnotic AM
9-Weslynn Quest
10-Next Level Stuff