Breeders Crown: Sylvia Hanover wouldn't be denied in 3YO Filly Pace final

Odds-on favorite Sylvia Hanover persisted through a first-over siege to grab, lose, and retake the lead at the finish of a 1:49 2/5 mile to capture the $600,000 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Pace final on Saturday night at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

Driver Bob McClure landed in sixth while Twin B Joe Fresh forged forward through a shuffle on the lead to a 26 2/5 first quarter. Settling on the point, Twin B Joe Fresh soon faced a blitz from Sylvia Hanover as she rushed along the rim to match strides with the pace-setter up to a 54 4/5 half but stalled to the far turn.

Twin B Joe Fresh accelerated through the final turn to clock three-quarters in 1:21 2/5 as Sylvia Hanover began rallying again on the outside. Sylvia Hanover powered to the lead in the straightaway and held firm as Charleston kicked off her cover to dive through the inside and take a slight lead in the final yards. Sylvia Hanover reengaged to the outside and repelled Charleston's charge by a neck. Always B Naughty, a 69-1 shot, finished third and Beach Cowgirl, at 41-1, took fourth.

"That's one of the most impressive performances I've ever seen," McClure said. "That was a really, really tough trip and some great fillies, and I'm just really glad she's as tough as she is. She's a once-in-a-lifetime horse. I think I speak for myself, the trainer, and the owners that we're never going to see another Sylvia Hanover, so we'll just really enjoy her while she's here."

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

"Calm is from the furthest thing from what I'm feeling," co-owner Tony Infilise said. "I did not lose faith in her at all when she was on the outside. As we've seen before, she can gut it out. She's very gutsy (with) lots of heart and lots of talent. I think Charleston surprised her up the rail and got her head in front and as soon as she saw her, she popped her head back up and showed her class. And that field...there is not a weak filly in that field. It was a very competitive field."

Sylvia Hanover has now won 18 times from 22 starts and banked $1.44 million for owner Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. The victory gives Sylvia Hanover back-to-back Breeders Crown trophies, having won the 2022 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Pace. She became just the sixth pacing filly to win a Breeders Crown at 2 and 3, a feat last achieved in 2018 by Warrawee Ubeaut.

"It's like a dream come true," said co-owner Betty Infilise.

The father-son team of Mark and Shawn Steacy train Sylvia Hanover, a daughter of Always B Miki-Shyaway bred by Hanover Shoe Farms. The Steacy Stable has won five Breeders Crown trophies.

Sylvia Hanover paid $3.80 to win.