Ontario-sired Peaky Sneaky posted the minor 7-1 upset over the previously undefeated Party Girl Hill and held off a hard-closing Lyons Sentinel to win the $500,000 Breeders Crown Final for three-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday (Oct. 31) at Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing & Casino.
Driver Yannick Gingras settled into second early from post four as the third choice on the board as Rocknificent (Scott Zeron) fronted the field through a sharp :26.2 first quarter. Not content with the pocket, Gingras pocket-popped to take command before coming under siege from favoured Party Girl Hill (Dexter Dunn). Party Girl Hill cleared just past the :54 half and kept an honest pace through three-quarters of 1:21.3 with Lyons Sentinel approaching first over.
Heading into the lane, Lyons Sentinel (Tim Tetrick) appeared to be gaining on Party Girl Hill on the outside. Gingras ducked to the inside with clearance up the rail and as the three fillies dug deep to find the wire Peaky Sneaky got there first in stakes record time of 1:49. Lyons Sentinel finished second with Party Girl Hill completing the top three, just back of the winner.
The Three-Year-Old Filly Pace is available around the 3:46:00 mark
"When she went to Lexington, she was always a little sore when she'd start out and after a little while she'd warm up out of it," noted Gingras. "But Lexington did her a world of good, now she's sound as a dollar, super sharp. She raced great there but I thought she put in a tremendous performance last week. I think that was the first time all year that Party Girl Hill was a little stretched out. I really thought I had a shot at her, I really did, and I figured if I had a good spot [tonight] she'd get the job done."
Trained by Nancy Takter for Pennsylvania's Howard & Judith and Order By Stable of Sweden, Peaky Sneaky (Bettors Delight - World Of Rock) picked up her sixth win of the season and eighth lifetime. Easily the biggest purse win of her career, Peaky Sneaky now sports $587,719 in earnings.
The Three-Year-Old Filly Pace was just one of the Breeders Crown Finals contested on Saturday's card. Visit the Breeders Crown News Centre for the rest of the recaps.