Breeders Crown: Stretch surge propels Max Contract in Mare Pace final

Max Contract rallied in the late going to win Saturday's $400,000 Breeders Crown Mares Pace in 1:50 2/5, with Andy Miller driving for trainer Julie Miller at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

When the gate wings folded, 6-5 favorite Grace Hill wasted no time taking command, leading the field to the 25 4/5 first quarter and 54 4/5 half. Kobe's Gigi popped the pocket on the final bend and forged her way by Grace Hill after the 1:23.3 three-quarter marker, but Max Contract followed Kobe's Gigi down the stretch, then moved outside and powered to victory.

Max Contract, a 4-year-old mare, notched career win 15 and seasonal victory eight for Team Miller, upping her career earnings to $635,305. Max Contract, sent off as the 3-2 second choice, finished one length ahead of 20-1 longshot Silver Label and third-place Kobe's Gigi.

"I just didn't want to rush her early," Andy Miller said. "They got out of there pretty good. I really didn't want to get away fourth, but it was OK. I just bided my time and then I moved her. (Kobe's Gigi) came out of the two-hole, so she carried me a little ways. Then I moved her over and she took off."

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Bred by Steve Jones, the daughter of Huntsville-Big Mcdeal, is owned by Andy Miller Stable and Jean Goehlen.

"It's tough to transition (from age 3 to 4) but she's a really fast mare and we kind of spaced her races out," Miller said. "We didn't race her a whole lot. We were kind of shooting for this."

The win gave Andy Miller his sixth Breeders Crown and Julie Miller her second. The Millers won together with Lucky Jim in the 2009 Open Trot.

Max Contract paid $5 to win.