Breeders Crown: Percy Bluechip trips-out to beat a gutsy Kissin In The Sand

Fans watching the $500,000 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono received a special treat as the action was non-stop from start to finish.

Favorites Youaremycandygirl and Kissin In The Sand hooked up from the word go as Alexa’s Power watched in the pocket. The opening quarter was a sizzling 25 4/5 with Youaremycandygirl and Yannick Gingras refusing to yield any ground to the parked-out Kissin In The Sand.

The pair of fillies raced as a team over the sloppy track and moved by the half in a daunting 53 3/5 as Percy Bluechip set up shop second-over behind Kissin In The Sand. The war would continue at the 1:22 2/5 three-quarter marker and everyone had to expect the leaders to back through the field.

Youaremycandygirl finally felt the effects of the tough trip at the head of the stretch, but Kissin In The Sand showed her heart by finding more. Unfortunately, heart couldn’t get her home first as Percy Bluechip used her cover to perfection and charged home in the final yards to win going away late in 1:51 1/5, a new lifetime mark.

Dance Blue, stablemate of the Nancy Johansson-trained Kissin In The Sand, was third. Baron Remy (Chris Page) and Strong Opinion (George Brennan) completed the top five.

The victory was the first Breeders Crown triumph in the career of driver Matt Kakaley, who handled Percy Bluechip for trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stb, Weaver Bruscemi and Purnel&Libby.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” said Kakaley. “The only way I could win was if they duked it out like that. I actually dropped my whip at the top of the stretch, but I guess she didn’t need it.”

For Johansson, she had nothing but praise for Kissin In The Sand, who may race in the Matron and is expected to return to the track in 2019.

“There is nothing I can say negatively about her,” said Johansson. “It’s the end of the season and she was great. We get to come back next year and try again. She’s getting better because last year she didn’t even make the final of the Breeders Crown. We’re getting there. Third time’s a charm.

“I felt bad for (Youaremycandygirl) getting to the half in :53,” said Burke, who trains both the winner and Youaremycandygirl. “She’s done it before that way and it worked and I could see what Yannick was trying to do. It just didn’t work out for her, but it ended up working out for (Percy Bluechip).”

For Percy Bluechip, who paid a healthy $106 to win, the victory was her fifth in 15 starts this year. The daughter of Shadow Play, bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock, more than doubled her yearly earnings total to $459,891 with the Crown victory.

"It's been a great night," said Blue Chip Farms' owner Tom Grossman, who saw his stallion Chapter Seven win both 2-year-old trot races. "We have a Roll With Joe brother to Percy Bluechip in the Harrisburg sale, so we are happy about that."