Breeders Crown: Melander, Dunn break out the brooms in 2YO Filly Trot elims

Marcus Melander-trained and Dexter Dunn-driven Blue Ranger and Two Day Hangover were victorious in the pair of $25,000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot eliminations on Friday night at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

Blue Ranger drove on two-wide to take the lead away from stablemate Fleur Delacour (Todd McCarthy) beyond the 27 1/5 quarter in the first elimination, then yielded to Nevis Peak (Yannick Gingras) on the way to the 55 4/5 half. Nevis Peak went on to hit three-quarters in 1:24 2/5, but Blue Ranger rallied past her in the lane and scored by a length in 1:53 1/5, equaling her own track record. Nevis Peak was second, while Orinoco (Ake Svanstedt) crossed the wire in third but was off-stride while doing so. After an inquiry, Orinoco was demoted to sixth, elevating Putitondad'stab (Scott Zeron) to third and Kissme Ifyoucan (Austin Hanners) to fourth.

"We had to do a bit early. That first half was hot enough," Dunn said. "She was traveling good coming off the turn. Once Tim Tetrick's horse (City Of Light from first-over) made a break and we could come out, she peeled off the helmet and did her work strong."

The victorious daughter of In Range was bred by Spring Haven Farm and is owned by Bender Sweden Inc. She has a summary of 3-0-3 from seven starts, has earned $251,480 and paid $6.20 to win.

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Two Day Hangover got away in the third spot in the second elimination, then wheeled out past the 28 second quarter and hit the front as they went to the half in 56 seconds. From there, Two Day Hangover reached three-quarters in 1:24 3/5 before she closed in 28 4/5 to defeat Climatic Hanover (Gingras) by a length and a half in 1:53 2/5. Dandelion Wine (Svanstedt) rallied for third, and Shes A Home Run (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) was placed fourth after the judges found that Rio De Janeiro (Joe Bongiorno), who had finished in that spot, had raced inside pylons past the half and was lapped-on at the finish. As a result, Rio De Janeiro was moved back to fifth.

"She's a really nice filly, and she really likes the five-eighths-mile track," noted Melander. "She showed that in Pennsylvania earlier this year. She'll get a good draw here and she'll have an easy week until then. It'll be exciting next week."

A filly by Captain Corey, Two Day Hangover competes for Brittany Farms and Marvin Katz. She has four wins, one second and two thirds from nine appearances, has pocketed $246,450 and returned $4.40 to win.

Here is the draw for next Friday's Grade 1 $700,000 final. The top four finishers from each elimination joined Melander trainee Birr Castle, who advanced automatically by virtue of her victory in the "Win and You're In" Jim Doherty Memorial at Harrah's Hoosier Park last month. The two elimination winners, plus Birr Castle, drew for post positions from one through six for the final.

1-Nevis Peak
2-Birr Castle
3-Blue Ranger
4-Two Day Hangover
5-She's A Home Run
6-Climatic Hanover
7-Putitondad'stab
8-Dandelion Wine
9-Kissme Ifyoucan