Eliminations are not necessary for the $600,000 Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Filly Pace, to be raced at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday, October 29. Therefore, that meant some of the continent's top juvenile distaffers were keeping tight with qualifying miles Friday morning at Mohawk Racetrack.
A pair of Crown-bound lasses put in work during the Friday session, as Sweetheart winner Pirouette Hanover and Whenuwishuponastar victress Shelliscape took to the track for the second race on the seven-dash docket. The track was rated 'good' and a one-second track variant was assessed by the presiding ORC judges.
Pirouette Hanover, with driver Jody Jamieson in the bike for trainer Ed Hart, started from Post 4 and crossed over to the lead early. The O'Brien Award winning driver had the daughter of Western Ideal up two lengths on their rivals as they clicked off the opening quarter in :29.3. The lead was three lengths by the time the duo paced past the half-mile marker in :59.2.
It was along the final turn when Randy Waples angled his Bob McIntosh-trained Artiscape filly Shelliscape out from third for a first-over advance. The pair was overland in second by three and a half lengths when Pirouette Hanover and Jamieson spun off three quarters in 1:27.2.
Waples and Shelliscape gained ground in the final quarter, but it wasn't enough to collar Jamieson and Pirouette Hanover, who came home with a :28.1 final panel for the 1:55.3 victory, the fastest of the session. Shelliscape closed with :27.4 final-quarter speed, but finished one and a quarter lengths in arrears.
Breeders Crown elimination action will kick off this weekend at Woodbine Racetrack in suburban Toronto.