7-2 second choice Burning Point equaled the stakes record of 1:49 2/5 in capturing the $331,500 Breeders Crown Mare Pace. The six-year-old daughter of Camluck equaled the mark of Always Cam set in 2004. Burning Point, who won the Breeders Crown for three-year-old pacing fillies in 2003, finished 3/4 of a length ahead of 19-1 longshot Born Storyteller who edged out 7-10 favorite Easton Alliance N in third. Hall of Fame driver Ron Pierce, who won the Breeders Crown Mare Trot with Mystical Sunshine in the eighth race, was back in the winner's circle with the Steve Elliott trainee who is owned by the Cuzzins Stable of Delray Beach, Florida. It was Pierce's 17th Breeders Crown trophy.
Burning Point posted her fourth win with four seconds and 10 thirds from 19 starts this year. Lifetime, she has 42 wins, 22 seconds and 22 thirds from 113 starts. Her career bankroll now tops $2.5 million. "I would have sat there if they moved right along but as soon as they started coming back to me, the mare felt so good, I just tipped her out, and went for the lead," said Pierce. "I didn't want to be coming first up and have Eastern Alliance on my back, that would have worked right into her favor. So I decided to go for the lead. The mare was super. Steve did a great job getting her ready. I just kind of sat there. Those mares smoke, they're the best mares in the world. A 27 4/5-quarter is about average, I guess. Tonight, she was as good as I've ever seen her. That's for sure."
"She makes me look good, doesn't she?" Elliott said. "She's just a pleasure to have in the barn, a treat. I think as long as she races like she's racing and is competitive, they'll keep her racing, I hope anyway. It's fun, we're having a lot of fun."
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