Two-year-olds invaded the Pennsylvania area with Breeders Crown aspirations on Friday night at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT
Three $25,000 eliminations; top three finishers advance to final

Canadian connections kicked off the Breeders Crown eliminations as the late-surging Champagne Jane collared race leader Special Honor (Andy Miller) at the end of a 1:55.4 mile in rein to Bob McClure for trainer/breeder Luc Blais and Quebec-based Determination stable. Favourite Whispering Oaks (Yannick Gingras) got around the tiring Conway Kellyanne, who was parked from the start, and finished third.

"That's a good way to start it off, I'd say," said McClure after winning his first Breeders Crown drive. "I just wanted to make sure she had a flat line, got away on the right foot. Short field, I wasn't too worried about being too far back. My main goal was to get her in the final, but she really kicked home."

The Holiday Road-Dicent No filly trailed the six-filly field early on before improving position up the inside and then closing outside for the maiden-breaking victory at odds of 8-1.

Undefeated two-year-old trotting filly Woodside Charm dominated her rivals with a 12-1/2 length romp in 1:53 for the Breeders Crown debuting horseman Verlin Yoder. Stella Jane (George Napolitano Jr.) edged out Miss You Kelly (Tim Tetrick) for the runner-up honours.

Sent postward as the 1-5 favourite, the Chapter Seven-Fireworks Hanover filly crossed to command from post five into a :27.2 quarter and strolled to the half unchallenged in :57.2 before beginning to extend her lead en route to three-quarters in 1:25. She was home-free at the top of the stretch and improved her record to six-for-six heading into the championship final.

When Dovescry landed the Allard brothers in the winner's circle after crossing to command from the outside post seven and leading confidently throughout the final filly trot elimination to post a 1:54 victory.

The Ice Dutchess (Yannick Gingras), the 1-2 favourite, tried to reel in the front-striding filly who was driven by Pocono's leading reinsman Simon Allard, but could get no closer than two lengths as she crossed the wire in second-place. Pocket-pursuer Cloud Nine Fashion (Tim Tetrick) held off the pylon-skimming Fate Smiled for third.

Rene Allard trains the lightly raced daughter of Breeders Crown champions Muscle Hill and Cedar Dove for Yves Sarrazin of La Presentation, Que., and U.S. partners Kapildeo Singh, Lawrence Dumain and Go Fast Stable.

Two-Year-Old Filly Trot
1. When Dovescry
2. Woodside Charm
3. Champagne Jane
4. Cloud Nine Fashion
5. Special Honor
6. Whispering Oaks
7. Miss You Kelly
8. The Ice Dutchess
9. Stella Jane

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING PACE
Three $25,000 eliminations; top three finishers advance to final

Making his debut from the Linda Toscano barn with a last-to-first effort, No Mas Amor and driver Matt Kakaley shot up the pylons to score the 1:50.3 half-length victory inside of pacesetter Air Force Hanover (David Miller). Mangogh (Andrew McCarthy) out-finished De Los Cielos Deo for the third spot.

Owned by Kenneth Jacobs, the Sweet Lou-No More Loving colt was sent postward at odds of 9-1 following a 1:49.1 maiden-breaking victory two weeks ago in the International Stallion Stakes at The Red Mile.

"I think he had a little sickness going through the summer," said Kakaley, who previously drove the colt in a pair of runner-up performances when trained by Ron Burke. "The last two weeks, the trips have worked out perfect for him and he's capitalized both times."

Diamond Creek Farm's homebred colt Proof blew by a field of seven in the stretch to win his elimination by a widening 2-1/2 lengths in 1:52.1 with David Miller in tow. Favourite Captain Crunch (Scott Zeron) came through between horses to secure the runner-up role just ahead of fellow late-closer Love Me Some Lou (Corey Callahan).

"We're into racing our homebreds and being by one of our stallions (A Rocknroll Dance) out of one of our mares (Ginger And Fred) is always extra special," said owner Adam Bowden.

"I think we're pretty happy (with stallion A Rocknroll Dance). He's got a couple of good three-year-olds and this colt is pretty special as well, so the future looks pretty bright."

Trained by Brian Brown, the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes champion Proof is now six-for-10.

Captain Trevor prevailed by a neck off a pocket trip in 1:52.3 in the final elimination of the night, defeating Blood Money (Yannick Gingras) and Lyons Johnnyjnr (Brian Sears), who both closed off cover to make the final ahead of pacesetter Sugar Factory.

The Captaintreacherous-It Was Fascination colt is campaigned by all-time Breeders Crown leading owner Brittany Farms LLC, along with Captain Trevor Racing, Marvin Katz of Toronto and Bradley Grant of Milton, Ont.

Driver Andrew McCarthy and trainer Tony Alagna teamed up for their second elimination win of the night after two-year-old filly pacer Tall Drink Hanover also turned in a top performance.

"He's a real laid back horse," said Alagna, referring to the slow (:30.1) pace in the second quarter. "Him and Tall Drink Hanover, neither of them even wear ear plugs. They're just very laid back horses, they don't have any problems as far as getting too aggressive. They're very easy to drive so when they were going reasonable fractions, I wasn't worried about that all.

"I thought that tonight 'Tall Drink' was very reminiscent of the sire. When 'The Captain' was here, he always seemed to do just enough. He was a very laid back horse and I see a lot of those characteristics in some of his offspring. They get the job done and we just couldn't be more excited about what he's done."

Two-Year-Old Colt Pace
1. Proof
2. No Mas Amor
3. Lyons Johnnyjnr
4. Captain Crunch
5. Captain Trevor
6. Air Force Hanover
7. Love Me Some Lou
8. Mangogh
9. Blood Money

TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING TROT
Two $25,000 eliminations; top four finishers plus the fifth-place finisher with highest seasonal earnings advance to final

Facing Grand Circuit competition for the first time, undefeated New York Sires Stakes champion Gimpanzee journeyed first-over to win his elimination in 1:54.4 with Brian Sears in the sulky.

"We know it was going to be a little tougher from the eight-hole of course, but I'm very confident in the horse," said Marcus Melander, who trains the Chapter Seven-Steamy Windows colt for SRF Stable and Courant Inc. "He's done it so easy on the New York circuit. I felt all along he's a very good horse that can compete against these Grand Circuit horses.

"Four weeks off, that was never any problem either... Everything went perfect today. It looked like he won pretty easy."

Chin Chin Hall (Peter Wrenn) came on for second-place, finishing 1-1/2 lengths behind the even-money favourite Gimpanzee, who took the lead turning for home in his quest for eight straight wins. Hudson River (Yannick Gingras) and Prospect Hill (Andy Miller) finished third and fourth, respectively, while the front-striding Union Forces (Scott Zeron) was fifth.

Bob McClure engineered another late-closing Breeders Crown elimination victory as he guided Smart As Hill to a 17-1 upset over the front-striding Green Manalishi S (Tim Tetrick). Super Schissel (Yannick Gingras) and Trix And Stones (Scott Zeron) followed in third and fourth. Kings County (Brian Sears) will also advance to the final as the highest fifth-place finisher of the eliminations.

"The only question was he'd been off a month but Mike Keeling and Paula Wellwood had him ready to go tonight," said McClure after the Muscle Hill-Smarty Pants colt posted his third and fastest career win in 1:53.4.

"They took their time with him and taught him and put a good foundation in him for sure. The credit goes to Mike Keeling and Paula Wellwood, they did a great job with him."

Smart As Hill is owned by Dreamville Stable of Cambridge, Ont., and Harbor Racing Stable LLC of Aurora, Ont.

Heavy favourite Cantab Fashion was a non-factor after breaking stride in the first turn and again mid-race.

Two-Year-Old Colt Trot
1. Hudson River
2. Chin Chin Hall
3. Prospect Hill
4. Smart As Hill
5. Gimpanzee
6. Super Schissel
7. Trix And Stones
8. Green Manalishi S
9. Kings County

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE
Two $25,000 eliminations; top four finishers plus the fifth-place finisher with highest seasonal earnings advance to final

St Somewhere made her winning move early on as she swept to the lead in front of the grandstand the first time and held off her rivals to score in 1:52.2 with Yannick Gingras in the sulky for trainer Ron Burke.

Annie Hill (Brian Sears) finished second off a ground-saving trip while a rough-gaited Queen Of The Pride (Tony Hall) still managed to make the final finishing third ahead of the quick-closing Prescient Beauty (Doug McNair). Treacherous Reign (Scott Zeron) rounded out the top five finish order.

St Somewhere was the 8-5 favourite following her career-best 1:50.4 victory in The Red Mile's International Stallion Stakes and now has five wins from 12 starts lifetime. The daughter of American Ideal out of Somstreetsomwhere is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Phillip Collura, Jandt Silva Purnel & Libb, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

Tall Drink Hanover extended her win streak to four with a gritty 1:51.3 performance rebuffing world champion Warrawee Ubeaut (Yannick Gingras) and then the pylon-skimming Zero Tolerance (David Miller).

Driver Andrew McCarthy put 6-5 favourite Tall Drink Hanover on the lead ahead of Zero Tolerance after a :26.4 first quarter then took a second quarter breather to the half in :56.2. Warrawee Ubeaut launched her attack from mid-pack and a battle ensued on top through three-quarters in 1:22.4. As Tall Drink Hanover shook off that rival turning for home, Zero Tolerance made her bid down the stretch but came up a head short. Beautyonthebeach (Doug McNair) came on for third ahead of Warrawee Ubeaut and Renaissance Lady K (Brian Sears) finished fifth.

"She felt really strong, I knew we were going fast but I didn't want to give up right then," said McCarthy of the backstretch racing action. "I thought they'd race a little bit and she held in tough.

"She's been terrific the last three, four starts. She's really been racing good. It's been a couple of weeks since she raced and I'm sure that'll do her a little good for next week."

Tall Drink Hanover has finished no worse than third in her 10 career starts, with the She's A Great Lady and International Stallion Stakes among her seven wins. The Captaintreacherous-Take Into Account filly is owned by Toronto's Marvin Katz along with Alagna Racing LLC and Riverview Racing LLC.

Two-Year-Old Filly Pace
1. Beautyonthebeach
2. St Somewhere
3. Tall Drink Hanover
4. Warrawee Ubeaut
5. Queen Of The Pride
6. Treacherous Reign
7. Zero Tolerance
8. Prescient Beauty
9. Annie Hill

Elimination winners drew for inside post positions one through five for the finals.

The remaining eliminations will be contested on Saturday, Oct. 20 at Pocono.

The $6 million Breeders Crown finals will be raced on Saturday, Oct. 27, which will feature an early post time of 5:30 p.m. (EDT)