TORONTO, ON – Heading into the first US $20,000 division of the Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Filly Trot Friday night at Woodbine Racetrack, Haughty and Broadway Donna had yet to lose a race. Well, when the race ended, Haughty kept her harness racing unbeaten streak intact, while Broadway Donna suffered defeat after breaking stride and failing to advance to the final.
Haughty, trained by Jimmy Takter for owners Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband, was a perfect six-for-six going into the race. And of the eight starters in the race – Ultimate Shopper was scratched – Haughty had the least amount of starts.
But the late-developing daughter of Donato Hanover has done everything right.
"She was really late to get ready," Takter said. "She's got a long way to go still, but one thing about her is she has the right desire. She likes to win and she's got good lungs. It's terrible weather here – it's cold and windy – but she knows how to do it. This to me on paper was a very deep and good class field. She's going to be all right. I think she has a heck of a shot for the final."
Two horses broke stride early, which led to 30-1 shot Kathy Parker, starting furthest out, gaining the lead after an opening quarter of 28 3/5 and a half in 58 1/5. Broadway Donna pulled and was full of trot to gain the lead after a three quarters in 1:26 4/5, but then she broke stride and Kathy Parker inherited the lead.
Haughty had been as far back as fifth by 11 lengths after the opening quarter and trailed by 6¾ lengths after three quarters, but she advanced strongly under the deft steering of Dave Palone and was second by three quarters of a length going into the stretch. She won by a comfortable three lengths in 1:59.
Magical Wonder, the longest shot on the board at more than 70-1, placed second, followed by Kathy Parker. Womans Will and Emoticon Hanover rounded out the top five which advance to the final.
Haughty, second in the wagering at just under 3-1, paid $7.80, $4.90, $4.90. Magical Wonder paid $40.20, $17.50. Kathy Parker paid $7.10 to show.
The exacta paid a juicy $339.70 and the trifecta a whopping $2,449.00.
Haughty
Perry Lefko for Breeders Crown