DRAWN IMPRESSION AND ALLEGIANT SCOOP TOP SPOTS IN BREEDERS CROWN FILLY TROT ELIMS

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- October 19, 2024 -- Drawn Impression and Allegiant delivered victories in a pair of $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday night (Oct. 19) at The Meadowlands.

In the first division elim aiming for berths in next week's Breeders Crown final, the wide-open field of trotters left the gate and were six wide looking for good early spots. Drawn Impression, with Louis Roy in the bike, sat fourth as some nifty shuffling began after the first panel in :27. Buy A Round sprung to the top with a big brush. Once she cleared, Roy kicked Drawn Impression around her in pursuit of the early leavers. Roy's filly was full of muscle at the :55.3 half, where she faced a major bid from Date Night Hanover.

The Luc Blais-trained filly chased Date Night Hanover through three-quarters in 1:23.1 with Elista Hanover best of the rest while heading for the wire. With decisive strides, Drawn Impression thrusted by Date Night Hanover and crossed the line first by a length in 1:51.1. She paid $4.20 to win.

Also making the final were Elista Hanover in third, Willys Home Run in fourth, and Sugar Instead in fifth.

The mile is a lifetime best for Drawn Impression, a daughter of Muscle Hill out of the Kadabra mare Emoticon Hanover. She made her first start on Lasix, but Roy said after the race he saw not difference in how she performed. "She was racing good lately, but tonight she raced really good. When I tipped her to beat the other one, she really put in the extra effort." 

Going into the final, Drawn Impression has earned $475,297 lifetime. The elim was the fourth win in nine sophomore starts for the Determination homebred and the eighth win from 15 starts in her career. 

The second elim was dominated the first three-quarters of the trip by prohibitive favorite R Melina until Scott Zeron fired his charge Allegiant in the stretch to edge the public choice by a neck in 1:51.3.

At 8-1, Allegiant got a call fifth leaving the gate as the rest of the fillies lined up and R Melina sliced panels of :27.4, :56.1 and 1:24.2. Zeron made a move with Allegiant after R Melina in the final turn and kept digging to the beam. She downed the favorite late for the victory. 

Crossing the wire in 1:51.3 was a new mark for the Linda Toscano-trained daughter of Tactical Landing, out of the Yankee Glide mare Too Good For You. She increased her bankroll heading into the final to $633,197 with her ninth win in a pair of racing seasons. The prize for win backers was $18.40.

Bred by Atlantic Trot Inc. and Steve H. Stewart, Allegiant is owned by Ryan Smith.

"Her last effort [at The Red Mile] was not her best," Zeron said after the race, “but here she did exactly what she is capable of doing." He also voiced his admiration for the filly. "She's ready made, happy and healthy." while adding it was "a little surprising getting past R Melina," considering the trip.

Also capturing spots in next week's final were R Melina in second, Sadbirdstillsing in third, Warrawee Michelle in fourth and Soiree Hanover in fifth.

By winning their Breeders Crown eliminations, Drawn Impression and Allegiant earned draw protection between posts 1 through 6 in the final next Saturday (Oct. 26).