Breeders Crown: Drawn Impression, Allegiant shine in 3YO Filly Trot elims

Drawn Impression and Allegiant delivered victories in a pair of $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday night (Oct. 19) at the Meadowlands.

In the first elimination, the wide-open field of trotters left the gate and were six-wide looking for good early spots. Drawn Impression, with Louis Roy in the bike, sat fourth as some shuffling began after the first panel in 27 seconds. Buy A Round sprung to the top with a big brush, but once she cleared, Roy kicked Drawn Impression around her in pursuit of the early leavers. Roy's filly cleared after the 55 3/5 half, and she immediately faced a major bid from Date Night Hanover.

The Luc Blais-trained Drawn Impression yielded and then chased Date Night Hanover through three-quarters in 1:23 1/5 with Elista Hanover, who was two-wide throughout and then left first-over after Date Night Hanover took command, trying to reel them in. In the lane Roy swung Drawn Impression back off the pylons to go after Date Night Hanover, and, with decisive strides, Drawn Impression surged by Date Night Hanover and crossed the line first by a length in 1:51 1/5. She paid $4.20 to win.

Also making the final were Elista Hanover in third, Willys Home Run in fourth, and Sugar Instead in fifth.

The mile is a lifetime-best for Drawn Impression, a daughter of Muscle Hill out of the Kadabra mare Emoticon Hanover, a two-time Breeders Crown champion. She made her first start on Lasix, but Roy said after the race he saw not difference in how she performed.

"She was racing good lately, but tonight she raced really good. When I tipped her to beat the other one, she really put in the extra effort," he said.

Going into the final, Drawn Impression has earned $475,297 lifetime. The elim was the fourth win in nine sophomore starts for the Determination homebred and the eighth win from 15 starts in her career.

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The second elim was dominated the first three-quarters of the trip by prohibitive favorite R Melina, but driver Scott Zeron and Allegiant, who went first-up past the half, got up in the stretch to edge the public choice by a neck in 1:51 3/5.

At 8-1, Allegiant got a call fifth leaving the gate as the rest of the fillies lined up and R Melina sliced panels of 27 4/5, 56 1/5 and 1:24 2/5. However, Allegiant made steady progress while uncovered and was up late for the victory.

It was a new mark for the Linda Toscano-trained daughter of Tactical Landing, out of the Yankee Glide mare Too Good For You. She increased her bankroll heading into the final to $633,197 with her ninth win in a pair of racing seasons. The prize for win backers was $18.40.

Bred by Atlantic Trot Inc. and Steve H. Stewart, Allegiant is owned by Ryan Smith.

"Her last effort [at The Red Mile] was not her best," Zeron said after the race, “but here she did exactly what she is capable of doing." He also voiced his admiration for the filly. "She's ready-made, happy and healthy." while adding it was "a little surprising getting past R Melina," considering the trip.

Also capturing spots in next week's final were R Melina in second, Sadbirdstillsing in third, Warrawee Michelle in fourth and Soiree Hanover in fifth.

By winning their Breeders Crown eliminations, Drawn Impression and Allegiant earned draw protection between posts one through six in the final next Saturday (Oct. 26), and then an open draw was held for the rest of the field.

1-Willys Home Run
2-Drawn Impression
3-Sugar Instead
4-Soiree Hanover
5-Allegiant
6-Elista Hanover
7-Date Night Hanover
8-R Melina
9-Sadbirdstillsing
10-Warrawee Michelle

--edited press release (Meadowlands)--