Strong Yankee. Lisa Photo.

$610,000 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Colt Trot

HN	HORSE	WIN	PLACE	SHOW
3	Strong Yankee	3.00	2.40	2.40
5	Vivid Photo		2.60	2.40
7	Sir Perseverance			4.20

STRONG YANKEE waited for the early speed to settle before brushing to command midway on the backstretch, rebuffed an immediate challenger, had another game challenger out of the two hole, and dug in gamely to hold on. VIVID PHOTO left hard to assume command, yielded readily to the favorites pressure on the backstretch, forced his way out of the pocket when the first-over challenge expired on the final turn, and could not get at the winner under an all-out drive. SIR PERSEVERANCE followed cover third-over on the final turn, got a live tow three-wide off the turn, and closed with a flourish to take the show. SELF PROFESSED followed cover second-over, launched a three-wide bid when that cover expired, and trotted well from a tough spot. MUSCLESEXTRODINAIR sat a four-hole trip behind the favorites, closed inside, and took the last check here. CLEARAWAY skimmed the cones fifth-in, and trotted evenly with no chance. MUSCLE MEMORY inherited the pocket when Vivid Photo angled out, and could do nothing with his good fortune. NORTHERN ENSIGN followed excess cover fourth-over, and flattened out. FARMER JONES made a suicide move, first-over hard into a determined favorite, was rebuffed midway on the final turn, and dropped anchor. SMOOTH MUSCLES left hard from the ten hole, was hopelessly parked out by Vivid Photo on the first turn, and broke stride while still parked out.

STRONG YANKEE is owned by Strong Yankee Stable of Port Perry, ON, trained by Trond Smedshammer, and driven by Brian Sears.

Fractions: 27-4/5 56-1/5 1.25-3/5 1.53-4/5