Canadian Yannick Gingras drives Sippinonsearoc to dramatic Crown victory

Sippinonsearoc, a 9-2 pick, earned a seventh victory in 15 races this year and 13th in 26 career events.

“I shouldn’t say he’s come a long way because he’s been good all along,” Gingras said. “I’m just happy for the connections and to get to the winner’s circle, finally.”

Dandy Ideal, with driver Jason Barlett, finished second ahead of Captain Optimistic, driven by Scott Zeron, of Oakville, Ont.

Louprint, which had an 11-race win streak snapped by Dandy Ideal in last week’s elimination race, was the 3-5 favourite. Louprint was second with a quarter of a mile remaining but missed cracking the top-four finishers in the 10-horse field.

This marked the second night of the Breeders Crown with eight championship events for three-year-olds and older horses. The four two-year-old finals were held Friday night.

Earlier, it was a triumphant end to a dominant season for Yo Tillie and Australian Todd McCarthy.

McCarthy drove Yo Tillie to victory in the $910,365 three-year-old fillies trot final. It was Yo Tillie’s 11th win in 12 starts this year, with the other result being a second-place finish.

McCarthy had the 6/5 slight second choice third after a quarter-mile before taking the lead just before the halfway mark.

“She’s so talented off the gate there, she’s able to kind of make her luck,” McCarthy said. “That was just a great way to cap off the year … that was pretty awesome.”

Yo Tillie remained in front coming down the stretch, fending off four horses at the end to secure the victory in 1:51.3.

“She probably makes me more worried than anything because she doesn’t mind it when a horse gets close to her,” McCarthy said. “She kind of likes to fight them off.

“It makes me a little nervous but I just have so much faith in her.”

Stormont Beautiful, driven by Bob McClure, of Rockwood, Ont., was second just ahead of Monalishi and James MacDonald, of Guelph, Ont. Delaney Hanover, the 6/5 favourite driven by Zeron, was fourth.

Ervin Hanover and driver Dexter Dunn\emphatically capped the night in the $822,000 open pace final. After taking the lead at about the halfway point, Ervin Hanover ran away with the victory in 1:46.2, a track, Canadian and stakes record.

The win was Ervin Hanover’s 10th in 16 races this season.

Bartlet and Coaches Corner, was second ahead of Ken Hanover and American Dave Miller.

Other races Saturday included:

— Warrawee Michelle, the 8-5 favourite driven and trained by Ake Svanstedt, came on strong on the outside to nip Elista Hanover at the finish of the $548,000 open mares trot. Warrawee Michell earned the win in 1:50.2, a stakes record that also tied the track mark. Nelsonbriteagle NO, driven by MacDonald, was third as defending champion Call Me Goo was a late scratch.

— American Austin Hanners drove Always B Naughty, the 8-5 second choice, to a dominant victory in the $548,000 open mares pace final in a stakes record time of 1:48.1. Kobes Gigi, driven by Gingras, was second ahead of Tells On A Roll and driver Travis Cullen. Sylvia Hanover, the 4-5 favourite driven by American Tim Tetrick, was fourth. The field was reduced to six horses after defending champion Twin B Joe Fresh was scratched.

— It was a dead heat in the in $822,000 three-year-old fillies pace. Doug McNair, of Guelph, Ont., drove The Last Martini, a 68-1 longshot, to a late surge to cross the finish line with Miki And Minnie, the 1-5 favourite driven by Dunn. Miki And Minnie came in having won 11-of-13 starts this year (second in the others). The close win was still a sweet one for Dunn, who was slated to drive Twin B Joe Fresh earlier. Skywalker Sea, with driver Hanners was third.

— Meshuggah, a 62-1 longshot driven by Zeron, came on strong on the inside to earn the upset win in the $822,000 three-year-old colt and gelding trot. Meshuggah rallied past Super Chapter, with Dunn driving, in a stakes-record time of 1:50.1 for a third win in 13 races this season. Super Chapter was second ahead of Go Dog Go, with McCarthy driving.

— French Wine, a 5-1 pick, and Barlett captured the $822,000 open trot final in a stakes-record time of 1:50.1 It marked a second straight Crown victory for trainer Nancy Takter. Periculum, with Zeron driving, was second ahead of Lexus Kody, the 4-5 favourite that driven by Gingras.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2025.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

by The Canadian Press

Canadian Yannick Gingras drives Sippinonsearoc to dramatic Crown victory

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