In any other year, Rainbow Blue would be a mortal lock for Horse of the Year, after winning 17 of 18 starts this year by taking the $762,500 Three-Year-Old Filly Pace. However, she will face a battle with Hambletonian winner and trotting's Triple Crown champion Windsong's Legacy in season-end balloting. Rainbow Blue, the 1-5 choice, flew up to pacesetter Invitro just before the half to take command, then came home in a Crown record-equaling 1:51. Invitro, wound up 1 1/4 lengths back in second, with L Dees Val a further 1/4 length behind in third. "It was a good drive," said trainer and co-owner George Teague. "He's been doing it all season."
Western Terror proved just that in the $693,750 Three-Year-Old Colt Pace, scorching his last 1/4 after being parked for most of the trip to win by 3/4 of a length over favored Quik Pulse Mindale, with pacesetter Geartogear fading late to third, in 1:50 2/5. "He's just got stronger, he's got confidence," said trainer Brett Pelling. Tonight, the bay colt came first over and gritted out the victory down the lane, collaring Geartogear, then holding Quik Pulse Mindale safe on the outside.
Village Jolt, driven by Ron Pierce, rocketed from post 9 and proceeded to wire his rivals in the richest Crown event of the evening, the $829,000 Two-Year-Old Colt Pace, a romping 4 1/4 length winner in 1:51 1/5, pushing his seasonal account to $1,077,637. Favored Allamerican Inca loomed up to challenge Village Jolt off the far turn, but the leader just widened down the lane, while Allamerican Inca was able to outbattle Shanghai Phil for the place end.
Ken Warkentin, 1-9 on the toteboard, sewed up divisional honors winning the $657,375 Two-Year-Old Colt Trot. The Jimmy Takter trainee withstood an assault from Southfork through the stretch to win by a length in 1:57 1/5. It was the eighth win in nine starts for the bay, co-owned by Takter's wife Christina, as well as Toronto Maple Leafs winger Tie Domi. Takter said, "He's a heckuva horse. He's been an extremely good horse all year. He's just a phenomenal animal."
Fashioning a stakes and track record of 1:53 3/5, Housethatruthbuilt won her seventh in a row, taking the $625,000 Three-Year-Old Filly Trot by one length over Bramasole, with In The Shell third. Housethatruthbuilt has won 11th in 15 starts this year and her performance no doubt locked up divisional honors. She also became another harness racing millionaire, as the $312,500 winner's share pushed her career bankroll to $1,066,156.
Restive Hanover, with driver Andy Miller celebrating his first Crown win, pulled off an upset in the $721,000 Two-Year-Old Filly Pace, blowing by the leaders in mid-stretch and widening to win by an imposing 3 3/4 lengths, in 1:52 4/5 The victory was her seventh in 11 outings as she overcame the 10-hole to post an impressive score over Fast Ruffles and Savannah Sky, while favorite Cabrini Hanover faded to fifth in the stretch.
The biggest surprise of the night came in the $625,000 Three-Year-old Colt Trot, as 39-1 shot Yankee Slide collared pacesetter Cincinnati Kid near the wire for a 1 1/4 length win in 1:54 4/5. Fsvorite Cantab Hall had a difficult trip, overcoming traffic, pulling five-wide into the stretch before closing belatedly for third, 2 1/2 lengths back.
In the $698,625 Two-Year-Old Filly Trot, trainer Jim Takter finished one-two, although it was the 9-5 second choice, Flirtin Miss, who crossed the wire first in a track record 1:56 1/5, edging her 3-5 stablemate Solveig by 3/4 of a length. Driven by John Campbell, Flirtin Miss opened several lengths turning for home, then held off a belated bid by Solveig. "She felt really strong the whole mile, very good on her gait and pretty professional" said Campbell.
Eternal Camnation, the outstanding daughter of Cam Fella out of Cool World, was retired Saturday evening at Woodbine in a special trackside ceremony. A three-time Breeders Crown champion, "Cammie" was joined by driver Eric Ledford and trainer/co-owner Jeff Miller. A 47-time winner with career earnings in excess of $4.1 million, Eternal Camnation is the richest pacing mare in history. Miller said, "She’s been a great racehorse and now we want her to be a great mom."
