Breeders Crown: Seaside Ubeaut cruises in 2-Year-Old Filly Pace final

Seaside Ubeaut put in an extraordinarily game effort to take the $700,000 Grade 1 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace by three lengths in 1:50 1/5 with Dexter Dunn at the lines for trainer Andrew Harris on Friday night (Oct. 23) at Eldorado Scioto Downs.

Cowboy Candy (driven by Jason Bartlett) nabbed second-place honors while Cleveland Darby (Chris Page) was third.

Despite being parked to the 26 4/5 first quarter, the daughter of Downbytheseaside-Warrawee Ubeaut turned in her fifth win of the year in eight starts. The $500,000 buy from the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale is owned by the Punisher 11 Stable and upped her career earnings to $680,370 with this latest triumph.

"She's progressed really well throughout the year and always raced on the big track, but she has high speed, she won with really good authority,” said Dunn. “She absolutely has matured into her ability. She had to mature a bit and learn to be a racehorse, but she’s really at the top now. She was traveling so good in the last turn, and she accelerated so quickly in the last turn."

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Cleveland Darby left hard from the rail, with Cowboy Candy in close pursuit, and Too Pink To Pass (Lauren Tritton) battling for early position. After the first turn to the 26 4/5 quarter, Seaside Ubeaut was tipped out by Dunn, and raced hard to gain the lead, which she held through fractions of 55 3/5 and 1:23 1/5, before storming home in a race-best 27 seconds to easily hold off her rivals.

"She just got better and better all year long, and Dexter has taught her a lot," said winning trainer Harris. "She always had the talent, but Dexter took the time to teach her. She's got speed and I just leave it to Dex to get her to the wire. I can't thank everyone enough who has been supportive of this filly. We were blessed to have this moment and race here tonight."

The win gave Dunn his 24th Breeders Crown, good for sole position of seventh place among all drivers in the 43-year history of the event. It was the second for Harris, William Pollock, and Bruce Areman, who share ownership of Seaside Ubeaut as Punisher 11 Stable.

Seaside Ubeaut is out of the Sweet Lou mare Warrawee Ubeaut, a two-time Breeders Crown champion and Dan Patch Award winner. She was bred by Burke Racing & Crawford Farms.

Sent off as the 4-1 third choice, Seaside Ubeaut paid $10 to win.