stakes recap

By Ken Weingartner
​Media Relations Manager, U.S. Trotting Association

Todd McCarthy guided Yo Tillie to the lead on the backstretch and remained on top the rest of the way on their way to a one-length win over Stormont Beautiful in 1:51.3 in Saturday’s $664,500 (USD) Grade 1 Breeders Crown final for 3-year-old trotting fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Monalishi nipped Delaney Hanover for third.

The triumph was the second in a Breeders Crown final for McCarthy and first for trainer Andrew Harris, who shares ownership of Yo Tillie with Bill Pollock and Bruce Areman. The daughter of Tactical Landing-Consolidator was bred by GBW Breeding Farms and Black Creek Farm.

"It's just amazing to have a filly like this and to have her be almost perfect all season and never ever disappoint me,” Harris said. “I'm just blessed to have a filly like this, and just thanks to Bill and Billy and Karen and Bruce for supporting me with a filly like this, because it's amazing.

“You know, they've been a huge support for me, and obviously they've been buying me really nice horses, so it's nice to be able to deliver on the big stage for them and get it done."

Said Areman, “It's special. We started this about three years ago with Abuckabett Hanover and, you know, went into the babies a little bit, and there's ups and downs, and we're learning along the way. But getting this filly right here was just unbelievable for us, and we love her so much. You don't know, it's a good group, strong group, so you hope for the best. Todd gave her just a beautiful trip, and she hung on. She had a lot of guts. So, it was fun to watch.

"I think it's the start of something big. We have big ambitions for where we want to go in this industry. And I think this is the start of it, in a lot of ways.”

Walspea and driver Doug McNair took the lead in a :26.4 opening quarter, with Yo Tillie trotting in third. R Dutchess and driver Tim Tetrick moved to the lead from second, but her time in front was short-lived as McCarthy guided Yo Tillie to the front on the way to a :56.2 half. She reached three-quarters in 1:24 and held off Stormont Beautiful, a $72,000 (USD) supplement driven by Bob McClure, as she tried to rally from the back of the field.

"I just wanted to kind of get away close with her,” McCarthy said. “She's so talented off the gate, she's able to kind of make her own luck there. That was just a great way to cap off the year for her. She's been so good all year, and full credit to Andrew, the job he's done managing her here. That was pretty awesome. 

"She doesn't mind it when a horse gets close to her. She kind of likes to fight them off, but I don't necessarily like that so much. It makes me a little nervous, but I just have so much faith in her, and I just keep talking to her down by the wire there, and she just keeps digging."

Yo Tillie has 11 wins and a second in 12 races this year. For her career, she has 19 victories in 24 starts, with $1.2 million (USD) in purses.

Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, Yo Tillie paid $4.40 to win.