Percy Bluechip parlayed a ground-saving trip into a 50-1 upset in the $500,000 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Filly Pace for driver Matt Kakaley, who owes drivers Yannick Gingras and Scott Zeron a dinner date on him.
After all, it was Gingras and Zeron who battled through insane fractions to set the table for Kakaley and O’Brien Award winner Percy Bluechip.
Percy Bluechip tucked into the pocket while Youaremycandygirl motored to the lead and supplied a vicious opening quarter clocked in :25.3. She continued to lead the way, but pressure came from the parked out Kissin In The Sand. Those two battled tooth and nail through wild middle fractions of :53.3 and 1:22.2 before being overhauled in the lane by the rallying Percy Bluechip. She kicked home to win in 1:51.1 over a dead game Kissin In The Sand. Taking home the show dough was Dance Blue.
Ron Burke trains the late-season acquisition for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Purnel And Libby LLC and Donald Emond. It was the fifth win of the year – and the 10th to date – for the career winner of $960,829.
The Three-Year-Old Filly Pace was one of 12 lucrative finals on a star-studded 2018 Breeders Crown night at Pocono featuring most of harness racing's top participants. Read about the rest of the stakes action in the 2018 Breeders Crown News Centre.