Breeders Crown: Ella Christina, Overdraft Volo upset in 3-year-old filly elims

A pair of nine-horse Breeders Crown eliminations for fillies on both gaits were on contested on Friday night at Hoosier Park. Ella Christina and Overdraft Volo pulled off upsets to earn a berth in the Finals next week and an inside post.

There was plenty of action in the filly pace as Caviart Ally two-moved to secure the front from Idyllic Beach after a 26 2/5 opening quarter. Driver Andrew McCarthy, aboard Caviart Ally, would refuse to give way to a strong first-over attack from Blazin Britches as the pair battled past the half in 55 2/5 and three-quarters in 1:23.

With the leaders a bit weary from the duel, the long stretch at Hoosier began to take its toll. The field fanned out, with Tim Tetrick somehow finding a seam off the cones to get Ella Christina clearance in plenty of time to secure the win in 1:51. Idyllic Beach dug in for second ahead of Agent Q, who was somewhat flat despite a clean trip.

Ella Christina ($72.00 to win), trained and co-owned by Nick Surick along with J L Benson Stables and W. Daggett Jr, was coming off a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Courageous Lady at Northfield Park last week but made amends.

“We shipped five hours to get there and she tied up,” said Surick, about the race at Northfield. “She is a small filly. They were at her throat the whole mile, and she just wasn’t having it that day.”

Eight of the nine fillies to race advanced to the final next Friday to face Tequila Monday and Obvious Blue Chip. Terrortina was eliminated by finishing last.

In the filly trot, Overdraft Volo sat a golden pocket trip as Fine Tuned Lady set fractions of 27 2/5, 57 1/5 and 1:25 3/5 with heavy third quarter pressure from the first-over Checkmate Time.

When Checkmate Time broke at the third call, driver Andy Miller angled Overdraft Volo off the cones and easily pulled clear from Fine Tuned Lady while holding off a late charge from Ice Attraction in the 1:53 3/5 mile.

“She raced really good and I got the trip I wanted,” said Miller, who drove for his wife, trainer Julie Miller, and Pinske and Kentuckiana Stables. “When I pulled in the stretch she just pulled away.”

Overdraft Volo paid $11.00 to win and will join the top eight from the race (Southwind Avanti finished ninth and was eliminated) in the final next week along with Ariana G and That’s All Moni who accepted byes.