LEXINGTON, KY–The Ake Svanstedt-trained Muscle Hill mare Ice Attraction reeled into a fast pace late in the mile and slid clear of competition in progress to a 1:50.1 harness racing world-record victory in the $72,000 Libfeld & Katz Breeding Partnership Allerage Farms Mare Trot, sponsored by Al Libfeld & Marvin Katz, on Sunday, Oct. 7 at The Red Mile.
Positioned sixth to the quarter, Ice Attraction sat off a :27.2 opening quarter set by Royal Witch asserting herself to the lead over Checkmate Time showing speed but settling into second. Broadway Donna, the 4-5 favorite, pulled from third entering the backstretch and circled to the top heading to a :55 half.
Caprice Hill, from fourth, tipped first over heading into the far turn carrying Dream Baby Dream second over and Charmed Life third over. Dream Baby Dream broke stride, placing Charmed Life second over and Ice Attraction, shuffled to last in the pack, had room to angle third over. Caprice Hill and Broadway Donna drew away from the field to three-quarters as they matched strides in 1:23.
Svanstedt fired Ice Attraction to the center of the track turning into the stretch. Caprice Hill continued to dig into Broadway Donna and inherited the lead midstretch when the favorite began to gallop. Ice Attraction continued to roll widest of all and swept to the front late in the mile to win. Caprice Hill held second from Charmed Life closing for third. Broadway Donna, finishing fourth, was disqualified to sixth for violating the breaking rule, placing Royal Witch fourth.
"Last year [winning the Kentucky Filly Futurity] was a real shock. This year was just a nice suprirse," co-owner Jeff Gural said. "She's been racing good but she's had bad luck–she's just been shuffled too far back. And of course with a seven-horse race and a horse breaking that makes it a lot easier."
Winning her second race in 13 starts this season and her 11th in 42 overall, Ice Attraction has accrued $613,500 for owners Ake Svanstedt, Douglas Sipple, Mal & Janet Burroughs and Little E LLC. She paid $22.80 to win.
The 1:50.1 mile lowers the previous world record for four-year-old trotting mares on a mile track of 1:50.2 set by Ariana G at the Meadowlands this year.
By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile