Woodbine Mohawk Park: Winndevie rallies to Breeders Crown score

Winndevie was making her Grand Circuit debut in the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot after two successful campaigns in New York. After a rallying third in her elimination a week ago, she was sent off as the favorite in Saturday night's C$655,000 final at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and she would emerge victorious in a 1:53 mile.

While Winndevie and driver Brian Sears got away in seventh there was plenty of early action in the race as Only Take Cash (Trevor Henry) pressed on to the lead at the 26 2/5 opening quarter around When Dovescry (Simon Allard), but Allard removed the Hambletonian Oaks champion to the front, then was immediately attacked by The Ice Dutchess (Yannick Gingras), who came to the outside from third. The Ice Dutchess, an elimination winner, would grab control of the race before the half, which went up in just 56 3/5 into the wind.

Sears had guided Winndevie to the outside in the second quarter, and she wasn't able to flush cover, putting her in an extended first-up grind. Despite the tough journey, she advanced into third at the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters, though she still had more than three lengths to make up on The Ice Dutchess off a slow middle-half.

The Ice Dutchess turned for home first, but Sears popped the earplugs on Winndevie in upper stretch, and after he did that, she hit her best gear, rolling by The Ice Dutchess inside the final eighth. When Dovescry advanced up the inside as well, but Winndevie had the best momentum and kick, winning by three-parts of a length. The Ice Dutchess wound up third, with Only Take Cash and Sweet Chapter (Matt Kakaley) rounding out the top five.

"There was a lot to like about her last week. She came flying home. I really didn't race her too hard, but I was really happy with the way she raced," said Sears. "We drew a decent post, and I liked the way things were setting up early in the race, so it worked out. She's an honest filly. She came home big last week, and she did the same tonight.

"They're always tough to get, but I'm really grateful that I got off to a good start, anyway."

Trond Smedshammer trains Winndevie, a daughter of Credit Winner, for Wanda Polisseni's Purple Haze Stables LLC. This was Winndevie's 12th career victory, and she has now earned C$867,529. She was the 3-2 choice and paid $5.00 to win.

"I had eight (Breeders Crowns) before here, and it's been a few years ago, but I'm so happy for Wanda. She deserves it more than anybody," remarked Smedshammer. "It's a little bit unreal. We thought we had a chance. We knew we had a great filly, and she had a great campaign in New York, but to pull it off on a night like this, it's special."