Delaney Hanover and Yo Tillie brilliant in Breeders Crown Eliminations

October 18, 2025

MILTON, October 18, 2025 – If the eliminations for the Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old trotting fillies are a sign of what is to come in next week’s final, it should be a stirring sophomore showdown at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A pair of $34,250 CAD eliminations featuring top-tier trotting fillies yielded two impressive performances – specifically, stellar scores by Delaney Hanover and Yo Tillie, who went one-two, respectively, in a heavyweight clash in a division of the $294,200 USD Bluegrass 3-Year-Old Filly Trot in late September.

In the first tilt, Delaney Hanover, with Scott Zeron at the controls, kept her red-hot form rolling.

It was the duo of Walspea and Deja Blu who got away sharply from the outside with the former leading the field into the first turn, as Delaney Hanover, riding a three-race win streak, tucked into sixth.

Walspea called the shots through an opening quarter in :27.2, but Dexter Dunn had Stash Some Cash on the march and on top through a half in :55.1, while Zeron and Delaney Hanover remained sixth.

As the field rounded the turn for home, Stash Some Cash, after three-quarters in a brisk 1:22.2, looked to pull away on her procession of pursuers. Delaney Hanover, with plenty of work left to do, floated to the far outside and looked to reel in the freewheeling pacesetter.

Delaney Hanover, the 4-5 choice, hit her best stride in the final yards and crossed the wire a 1 ½-length winner. A game Stash Some Cash held on to second, followed by Walspea, Monalishi and Lasting Dream.

The final time of 1:51.0 was a track record for the daughter of Muscle Hill out of the Cantab Hall mare Danielle Hanover, who was a hard-charging third in the Hambletonian Oaks this August.

“She didn't get off the gate that well, and that that kind of dictated where I was going to get away,” said Zeron, who has piloted the bay for all four consecutive victories. “The tempo was really good. They were moving along quite well. So, I didn't have to use her until the end.”

It was the latest primetime performance from the Lucas Wallin trainee, who now sports a record of 7-3-2 from 17 starts.

Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Delaney Hanover was a $160,000 purchase (Hip #109) at the 2023 Lexington Select Sale. She made her debut a winning one, taking a leg of the Kindergarten Classic Series at The Meadowlands on August 2, 2024.

“She's unbelievable,” said Andrew Steinberg, who co-owns the filly through Shermay Stables, along with Wiesman Farms and Wallin Racing Stable. “I am so lucky and blessed to have her as a 2-year-old. She started out great, and she got sick, but this year, this is our year, this is unbelievable.”

She arrived at her Breeders Crown elimination off a 1:50.1 triumph in the 60th renewal of the $416,667 USD Kentucky Filly Futurity, a Grade 1 stakes, on Sunday, October 5, at The Red Mile.

Delaney Hanover paid $3.60 for her Breeders Crown elimination victory.

Three races later, in the sixth dash of the evening, it was Yo Tillie’s time to shine.

After having her 12-race win streak broken last time out, the millionaire miss was back in a big way – and back in the winner’s circle – courtesy of a dominant display.

Royal Mission blasted off the wings from post eight and secured early bragging rights, as Stormont Beautiful settled into second, with Yo Tillie finding a seat in third.

It was Royal Mission, at 101-1, who led the way through an opening panel in :26.4, but that lead would be short-lived when Todd McCarthy gave Yo Tillie her cue and the Andrew Harris trainee responded with a confident brush to trike front just before a half in :56.0.

The daughter of Tactical Landing out of the Triumphant Caviar mare Consolidator was in full control navigating the turn for home, stretching her lead through three quarters and straightening for the wire with plenty left in the tank.

Mid-way down the lane it was only a question of what the margin of victory would be. The answer came in the form of an 2 ¼-length score in 1:51.1. Stormont Beautiful was second, Royal Mission third, Miss Belmar finished fourth and was followed by R Dutchess.

“She likes to have a horse there she can fight off,” said McCarthy. “So, when she's out on the lead there, sometimes she's kind of looking around waiting for one but when I asked her at the top of the stretch there, she shifted gears and took right off for me.”

Owned by William Pollock, Bruce Areman and Andrew Harri, the bay filly, bred by Gbw Breeding Farms Inc. and Black Creek Farm, Yo Tillie has been a force throughout her 2025 campaign. Sporting a mark of 10-1-0 from 11 starts on the year, she is 18-2-1 from 23 lifetime dashes, accompanied by over $1.3 million in career purse earnings.

McCarthy, who came into the card with 1,355 wins, was thrilled to see the $25,000 purchase (Hip #819) at the 2023 Lexington Select Sale back in winning form.

“She wasn't quite herself there that last start, but she's had such a phenomenal year, and Andrew (trainer, Harris) has done a great job managing this filly. So. that was good to get her back to the winner's circle again tonight, and she was pretty strong finishing there. I was very happy with her.”

A multiple stakes winner, Yo Tillie launched her career with five consecutive victories.

After the evening’s sixth race, Woodbine Mohawk Park conducted the post-position draw for the $600,000 Grade 1 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot. The two elimination winners earned draw protection from posts 1 through 6.

$600,000 (USD) Grade 1 Breeders Crown 3-Year-Old Filly Trot Final

PP – Horse – Trainer

1 – Stash Some Cash – Domenico Cecere

2 – Delaney Hanover – Lucas Wallin

3 – Lasting Dream – Luc Blais

4 – Yo Tillie – Andrew Harris

5 – Monalishi – Blake MacIntosh

6 – R Dutchess – John Butenschoen

7 – Walspea – Trond Smedshammer

8 – Stormont Beautiful – Kevin Benn

9 – Royal Mission – Marcus Melander

10 – Miss Belmar – Noel Daley