Breeders Crown: Pebble Beach brushes, crushes in 3YO Colt Pace final

Pebble Beach gave driver Todd McCarthy his first Breeders Crown victory, capturing Saturday's $675,000 event for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers by open lengths in 1:48 1/5 over the Woodbine Mohawk Park surface.

McCarthy left hard from post five for the front in the early stages but allowed Ponda Warrior and Greatest Ending leaving outside of him to take control into to the first turn, settling in third through the 25 4/5 opening quarter.

Sent off as the second choice at 7-5, Pebble Beach and McCarthy moved quickly on the backstretch but took his time clearing Ponda Warrior for the front, hitting the lead and the half simultaneously in 54 1/5. I Did It Myway and Todd's brother Andrew went on the attack at the half, with Birthday following second-over and even-money favorite and supplemental entry Bythemissal third-over.

Pebble Beach accelerated on the turn, not looking for any confrontation from the outer flow as Todd repeatedly looked behind to see if there was any advance with his horse sprinting a third quarter in 27 1/5 and gaining distance from pocket sitter Ponda Warrior.

In the homestretch the Noel Daley-trained colt shifted into overdrive, pacing smartly through the wire with a 27 4/5 final quarter to win easily. I Did It Myway followed in second, with Bythemissal along too late for the third spot. Greatest Ending squeezed between horses for fourth, with Ponda Warrior earning the final check.

A winner earlier this year of the richest 3-year-old pace, the North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Pebble Beach returned to the winner's circle for the eighth time in 15 starts this year, pushing his 2022 bank account above the $1.4 million mark.

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Owned by Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Country Club Acres and LAexpressfoderadeovolente, Pebble Beach returned $4.90 to win.

"He was certainly very impressive tonight," said Todd McCarthy following the victory. "It's been a dream come true."

Following his elimination victory in last week's Crown trials, trainer Daley elected to change shoes behind Pebble Beach for Saturday's final.

"It was the first time he went with four aluminums," Daley said.

Next for Pebble Beach will be the Matron and Progress Pace, both contested at Dover Downs.