Harrah's Hoosier Park: Max Contract, Kobe's Gigi prevail in Breeders Crown Mare Pace elims

An off-the-pace effort from Max Contract and a down-the-road mission by Kobe's Gigi planted them in the winner's circle of their respective $25,000 eliminations for the Breeders Crown Mare Pace on Saturday night (Oct. 21) at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

Max Contract burst off the pegs and down the center of the track to win going away in the first elimination for the Mare Pace with a 1:50 3/5 effort.

Silver Label, the 7-5 favorite, pushed from the pylon post for the lead to a 26 4/5 first quarter while Max Contract settled into fourth. Mikala, positioned third, launched for the front up the backstretch and swooped to the lead through a 55 3/5 half. To the far turn, Mikala coasted unfettered through three-quarters in 1:23 3/5 and spun the mostly single-file field for home. Max Contract broke rank out of fourth and barreled to grab the lead in mid-stretch, spurting clear by 2 1/4 lengths over Mikala. Drama Act closed for third with Silver Label leveling off in fourth and Marloe Hanover rounding the top five.

"She loves the long stretch here and loves to close," winning driver Andy Miller said. "It's just a shame we were not able to race her in Lexington on a big day. She got sick on us. She raced here in Indiana and then got sick on us for two weeks. We were fighting that and seems back to being healthy now."

A 4-year-old mare by Huntsville, Max Contract has now won 14 races from 25 starts and earned $435,305 for owners Andy Miller Stable Inc. and Jean Goehlen. Steve Jones bred the mare who paid $6.80 to win.

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Kobe's Gigi circled for the lead after the quarter and slipped clear of her competition in progress to a 1:50 1/5 victory in the second elimination.

Valar Dohaeris fired from post five (moving in one slot after the late scratch of Prohibition Legal) for the lead through a 25 4/5 quarter with Kobe's Gigi yielding control to sit second. As Valar Dohaeris settled on the point into the backstretch, driver Dexter Dunn swung Kobe's Gigi from the pocket to retake the lead before a 55 2/5 half. Kobe's Gigi charged through the final turn on an expanding lead that grew wider after she clicked past three-quarters in 1:23. Through the lane, Kobe's Gigi kicked away to a decisive victory under wraps by 2 3/4 lengths over Valar Dohaeris. Boudoir Hanover finished third with 1-5 favorite Grace Hill, trying to close from last, in fourth. Dabarndawgswatchin completed the finalists.

"We put blinders on her and she was sharp," Dunn said of the mare's victory.

Missy Essig trains Kobe's Gigi, a 5-year-old mare by JK Endofanera bred by Harvey Fry, for owners Leander Schwartz and Black &White Stable. She won for the 14th time from 50 starts and has now earned $554,891. Off the 7-2 second choice, Kobe's Gigi paid $9.20 to win.

The field of 10 elite pacing mares for the $400,000 final from the rail out are:

1-Max Contract
2-Silver Label
3-Dabarndawgswatchin
4-Marloe Hanover
5-Kobe's Gigi
6-Drama Act
7-Boudoir Hanover
8-Grace Hill
9-Valar Dohaeris
10-Mikala