Breeders Crown: Swedish sweep for Jiggy Jog, Joviality in 3YO Filly Trot elims

Jiggy Jog S and Joviality S were impressive winners in the two C$33,750 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with the former establishing a new track and Canadian record with her 1:51 2/5 performance.

Her division was reduced by one with the scratch of Lilbitalexis. That race saw Doug McNair send Baby Longstocking straight to the front from post nine, but she was quickly passed by Fashion Schooner well before the 28 second first quarter.

Tim Tetrick had Fashion Schooner by the half in 56 3/5 and the three-quarters in 1:23 4/5. He tried to open up a few lengths on the competition, but it wasn't enough to hold off favourite Jiggy Jog S and Dexter Dunn, who were first at the wire reached in 1:51 2/5. Fashion Schooner held for second. Also qualifying for next week's final were Raised By Lindy, Bare My Soul and Venerable.

The time represents a new track record at the Campbellville, Ontario, oval, as well as a Canadian record for 3-year-old trotting fillies on a seven-eighths mile track, shaving a tick off the previous standard set two years ago by Sorella.

"We got away in a good spot following Yannick's horse (Raised By Lindy). We weren't too far off them and coming to the three-quarters we had a good helmet to follow. Timmy did get away on us, but she's so sharp right now. Her win in the [Kentucky] Filly Futurity was massive. As soon as I tipped her off cover she accelerated quick," explained Dunn.

Heading into next week's final he noted: "It's a great bunch, obviously Joviality is an amazing filly; it will be a good race for sure. My filly won on the front at Lexington, and she came from behind tonight; she's very versatile. We'll see how it goes."

As for the track record he said: "She was doing it pretty easy; she definitely had a lot more left tonight. It's exciting going into next week."

Ake Svanstedt trains the winner for owner Jorgen Sparredal of Florida. Tonight's effort improved her summary to 7-3-0 in 12 outings this year.

It was Tetrick on top early in the first elimination as well with Misswalner Fashion, who trotted by the opening quarter in 26 4/5. She was covered up by last weekend's Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final winner Mischievous Rose well before the 55 2/5 half, and she hit the third quarter in 1:24 3/5 for Louis-Philippe Roy.

As they entered the lane it appeared to be a three-way race between Mischevious Rose, Misswalner Fashion and Pure Countess but never count out a favorite with Brian Sears in the bike.

Joviality S never saw the rail throughout the race after getting away in eighth in the early going and picking up some cover in the outer lane on the backside. As the field raced towards the finish, Joviality S was four- or five-wide and closing hard, causing announcer Ken Middleton to declare: "This filly is flat out flying." She flew by her competition to win in 1:52 1/5.

It was a close finish for the remaining qualifying spots in the final earned, in order, by Misswalner Fashion, Pure Countess, Warrawee Xenia and Mischievous Rose.

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A daughter of Chapter Seven owned by Courant Inc. of Florida, Joviality S is trained by Marcus Melander, who admitted he wasn't too confident when he saw the trip she was getting.

"In the last turn I thought this will be tough. I thought she was going to make the final, but it's so important to win to draw one through five. She's had such bad luck drawing bad, even tonight she had the nine-hole and she overcame it. We will get a good draw for next week."

For the winner it was her 11th win in 14 trips this year and ups her 2022 bankroll over one million. The Breeders Crown winner during her freshman season, Joviality S now has C$1.9 million earned in her impressive career to date.

"She's racing great the whole season. She started out in May and we're here in October and she's still in form. She's just a great horse," praised Melander.

Here's how the talented field of ten will line up behind the gate for next Saturday's final:

1-Bare My Soul
2-Jiggy Jog S
3-Mischevious Rose
4-Joviality S
5-Misswalner Fashion
6-Fashion Schooner
7-Warrawee Xenia
8-Raised By Lindy
9-Pure Countess
10-Venerable

--press release (Woodbine Mohawk Park/Hambletonian Society)--