Maven and Gingras team for 1:54 Crown score

Maven gave driver Yannick Gingras back-to-back Breeders Crown victories with a powerful uncovered victory in the $500,000 Crown for sophomore trotting fillies.

The always alert driver had Maven, a daughter of Glidemaster, on the bit from the start and aggressively pushed to get a spot fourth right between favorite Check Me Out and second choice Win Missy B as the field sped into the first turn.

Check Me Out, the 4-5 favorite in the field of 11, pushed the pace forcing a :26 4/5 opening quarter before giving way to Maven’s stablemate Dorsay. No sooner had Dorsay gained the front before Cowgirl Hall and driver Jim Morrill pushed hard to secure the front. Cowgirl Hall had the top and kept the pace hot until Check Me Out made a second move before the halfway point.

Once Check Me Out had the top, Gingras came to the outside and moved Maven aggressively. With the half in :55 3/5 Check Me Out kept control of the race with Maven driving alongside her flank on the final turn. Win Missy B, the Kentucky Futurity filly winner, was following in close pursuit of Maven curling into the stretch. The three quarters of 1:24 2/5 appeared comfortable for the division leader and pacesetter.

In midstretch Maven just overpowered her rival and opened up a significant lead. Check Me Out weakened and Win Missy B rallied for the place spot while no serious threat to the winner.

Maven completed the mile in 1:54, her seventh win in 14 starts this year. This was her second win over Check Me Out. The two fillies battled in similar fashion in the Hambletonian Oaks with both going offstride in that race.

Winning trainer Jonas Czernyson was surprised with the outcome. "She raced very big tonight. When she went first up I thought it wasn’t going to work,” he said.

But for Czernyson and winning owner W. Donovan, the trip couldn’t have been any better.

For Czernyson, this was his first Breeders Crown victory. His Dorsay also finished fourth in this division. (Breeders Crown)

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