Breeders Crown: Warrawee Michelle marches to 2-Year-Old Filly Trot title

Trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt wound Warrawee Michelle off the pegs in the straightaway to collar her tempo-setting stablemate and hold off a swarm of late pursuers to win the $700,000 Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Friday night (Oct. 27) in 1:53 4/5.

Starting from post four, Svanstedt settled Warrawee Michelle into a gap from third while her stablemate Senorita Palema raced keenly on the point to a 27 3/5 first quarter with Sugar Instead sitting the pocket. Senorita Palema managed to slow the tempo to a 57 2/5 half and the field began to bunch to the far turn, prompting Svanstedt to make his attack.

Warrawee Michelle motored first-over through the final turn and loomed to match strides with Senorita Palema past three-quarters in 1:25 2/5. Senorita Palema folded into the eighth pole, leaving Warrawee Michelle to the lead as late bursts of speed came from Soiree Hanover and Buy A Round down the center of the track. The pair kept gaining to the beam, but Warrawee Michelle maintained the advantage to the finish by a head. Soiree Hanover finished second with Buy A Round taking third and Drawn Impression in fourth.

"She loves to fight, and she doesn't give up until I tell her we're done, then she's done," Svanstedt said. "I had a good position, and the speed was OK in the race, but she's a great horse and can leave fast. She's strong both mentally and physically."

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Collecting her fourth win from nine starts, Warrawee Michelle has now banked $478,125 for owners Ake Svanstedt Inc., Santandrea Inc., and Young Guns. Warrawee Farm bred the daughter of Walner-Sound Check, a $200,000 yearling purchase from the 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Off the 3-2 favorite, she paid $5 to win.

The victory by Warrawee Michelle gave trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt back-to-back victories in the 2-Year-Old Filly Trot, which he won last year with eventual Dan Patch divisional winner Special Way. He is the first trainer to win this event in back-to-back years since Jimmy Takter's three-peat in 2015 through 2017 and the first driver to win in back-to-back years since Yannick Gingras's four straight wins from 2014 through 2017.