Armbro Affair, driven by Ron Pierce, made two early moves to assure command, shrugged off pressure on the final turn, and hung in gamely to score an upset at 13-1 in the $250,000 Breeders Crown Mare Trot. Lost Lady One was flushed out first over before the half, and offered a serious challenge to the winner but couldn’t get by.

USTA Photo

Trainer Bob McIntosh (holding trophy) and the connections of Armbro Affair celebrate after winning the Breeders Crown Mare Trot.

"I had a real good feeling tonight," trainer Bob McIntosh said. "With these trotting mares, you've just got to aim them at certain events and sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn't. But tonight it worked out. Ron gave her a great drive and the mare was sharp. Everything worked out right. I just had a strange suspicion she would come up with a big effort."

Gypsy Balance was comfortable in the three-hole, got shuffled a bit when the pocket-sitter gapped badly, weaved through traffic late, and closed with a flourish to finish third. Sunday Yankee was fourth.

Stroke Play was third-over with cover, but didn’t fire at 1-5.

"I liked where I was at, but they didn't come home any," said Brian Sears, who drove Stroke Play. "She had trouble keeping up on the last turn, so I didn't like my chances in there."

Armbro Affair is owned by the R. McIntosh Stables Inc., CSX Stables, and M.P. Kohler.