Breeders Crown: Open Mare Pace elims to Darlinonthebeach, Nike Franco N

Darlinonthebeach upset defending champion Lady Shadow, while Nike Franco N scored as the favorite in the pair of $25,000 Breeders Crown Open Mare Pace eliminations on Friday evening at Hoosier Park.

Driven by Yannick Gingras, Lady Shadow chopped out fractions of 26, 54 4/5, and 1:22 4/5 in the first elimination, but Darlinonthebeach (Brett Miller) drafted in the pocket all the way, then slipped up the passing lane in the stretch to defeat her by a length and a quarter in 1:49 3/5. Windsun Glory (Trace Tetrick) was third at 30-1, followed by Pure Country (Mark MacDonald) and Blue Moon Stride (David Miller).

"We had a little trouble getting her going here in the beginning of the year," remarked Marcus Johansson, assistant trainer to his wife Nancy. "She had some sickness and went through some stuff, but she's been really sharp lately. I'm happy with her effort tonight."

A 4-year-old Somebeachsomewhere mare, Darlinonthebeach is trained by Johansson for owner/breeder White Birch Farm. This was her fourth win of 2017, her 16th career victory, and she has now earned $948,028. Sent off at 5-1, she paid $13.80 to win.

In the other elimination Call Me Queen Be (Scott Zeron), the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace winner last year, hit the opening quarter in 26 2/5, but Nike Franco N (Tim Tetrick) popped the pocket to take the top before the 55 3/5 half. A 1:24 three-quarters followed, and Nike Franco N was home in 27 2/5 to defeat a rallying Bedroomconfessions (Gingras) by 2 1/2 lengths in a 1:51 2/5 mile. L A Delight (Corey Callahan), Seventimesavirgin (John De Long), and Sassa Hanover (Matt Kakaley) rounded out the mares to make the final.

"She's a sweetheart. She does her job, whatever you want her to do - on the pace, off the pace," said Tim Tetrick. "She just takes her time up there. She floats around, and when she sees horses she gets in the harness. If they're not racing her and they let her go 1:24, she likes that too."

Jim King Jr. trains Nike Franco N, a 7-year-old McArdle mare, for owner Richard Poillucci. Nike Franco N, who made her seventh apperance in the winner's circle this season, is now a 28-time winner in her life, and she pushed her bankroll to $722,580. Nike Franco N, sent off as the 2-5 choice, returned $2.80 to win.

Here is how the field will line up for next Friday night's $250,000 final:

1-L A Delight
2-Pure Country
3-Nike Franco N
4-Darlinonthebeach
5-Windsun Glory
6-Bedroomconfessions
7-Sassa Hanover
8-Lady Shadow
9-Seventimesavirgin
10-Blue Moon Stride
AE1-Medusa
AE2-Wrangler Magic