Breeders Crown: Hope Hill, Sangria Summer impress in 3YO Filly Pace eliminations

Hope Hill jogged to victory in the first of two $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday (Oct. 17) at Eldorado Scioto Downs. The daughter of Papi Rob Hanover was guided by Dexter Dunn for trainer Petter Engblom to her eighth triumph of the season and her third straight victory, stopping the timer in 1:50 as the 1-2 betting choice.

Whoomp, who endured a first-up journey, held on to be a game second for John DeLong at 9-2, with 12-1 Darlin's Angel (Lauren Tritton) garnering third-place honors, and 14-1 A Clean Deal (Doug McNair) grabbing fourth.

Darlin's Angel grabbed the lead as the wings of the gate folded, but Dunn hustled Hope Hill quickly out of the pocket to take command going to the 26 4/5 opening panel. Whoomp then came first-up heading into the second turn with a 28 2/5 second panel that stopped the half-mile timer in 55 1/5, while Darlin's Angel continued to save ground on the rail in third. Around the final turn positions remained unchanged as the field passed the 1:23 1/5 three-quarters, with Hope Hill easily holding off her rivals by one length at the wire.

Tom Hill owns the homebred bay filly who upped her career earnings to $517,932 and her seasonal earnings to $408,742. She came into this elimination fresh off victories in the $212,000 Garnsey Memorial and $76,000 Bluegrass at Lexington, and now has 11 victories in 23 career starts, with four seconds and five thirds.

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Sangria Summer posted a new track record of 1:49 3/5 en route to winning the second Breeders Crown elimination for driver James MacDonald and trainer Luc Blais. Determination of Montreal, Quebec, owns the daughter by Captaintreacherous, who is out of the Shadow Play mare Shower Play.

"What she showed at 2, we thought she'd be a good sires stakes filly, and she's better than we originally thought," said winning trainer Blais. "She's healthy and an easy keeper who looks out for herself and is very professional."

After 56-1 longshot Topville Lucky (Todd McCarthy) took the field to the 27 1/5 opening panel, Sangria Summer hustled to the front and led through fractions of 55 2/5 and 1:22 4/5 basically unchallenged. She easily held off She's A Bulldog (Yannick Gingras), with Miss Jum Jabber (Andrew McCarthy) third, and Topville Lucky holding on for fourth. Say Goodnight (Tyler Buter) also got a spot in the final by being the fifth-place finisher from the two eliminations with the higher seasonal earnings.

Sangria Summer notched her ninth career victory in 25 starts and her eighth of the season, pushing her career earnings to $516,435. She came into this elimination fresh off her triumph in the $150,000 Courageous Lady at Northfield Park in Cleveland.

Post positions were drawn for the $664,500 Grade 1 final, which will be held Oct. 24, following the elims. Elimination winners drew for posts one through six.

$664,500 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace Final (G1)

PP-Horse Name-Driver-Trainer

1-Sangria Summer-James MacDonald-Luc Blais
2-Whoomp-John DeLong-Roger Welch
3-Hope Hill-Dexter Dunner-Petter Engblom
4-Say Goodnight-Tyler Buter-Nicholas Devita
5-A Clean Deal-Doug McNair-Robert Fellows
6-Darlin's Angel-Lauren Tritton-Juan Cano
7-She's A Bulldog-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke
8-Miss Jum Jabber-Andrew McCarthy-Brett Pelling
9-Topville Lucky-Todd McCarthy-Andrew Harris