Yo Tillie caps dominant 2025 campaign with Breeders Crown victory

By Canadian Press on October 25, 2025.

MILTON — It was a triumphant end to a dominant season for Yo Tillie and driver Todd McCarthy.

McCarthy drove Yo Tillie to victory in the $910,365 three-year-old fillies trot final Saturday at the $10.1-million Breeders Crown on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The victory was Yo Tillie’s 11th in 12 starts this year, with the other result being a second-place finish. McCarthy, a native Australian, had the 6/5 slight second choice third after a quarter-mile before surging to 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.

“She has been so good all 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.

“I don’t necessarily like that so much, it makes me a little nervous but I just have so much faith in her. I just keep talking to her down by the wire and she just keeps digging.”

Yo Tillie’s impressive ’25 campaign came after posting eight wins, a second- and third-place finish in 12 races as a two-year-old.

“She was so talented at two as well,” McCarthy said. “She just had a little bit more to mature.

“Just the way we’ve been able to race her this year and protect her a little bit, it’s definitely helped for the season.”

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 Scott Zeron, of Oakville, Ont., was fourth.

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

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. It was also the fastest trotting mile in Crown history. Nelsonbriteagle NO, driven by MacDonald, was third as defending champion Call Me Goo was a late scratch.

— Austin Hanners of the U.S. 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. Yannick Gingras, of Sorel, Que., was second with Kobes Gigi while Tells On A Roll, driven by Travis Cullen took third. Sylvia Hanover, the 4-5 favourite driven by American Tim Tetrick, finished fourth. The field was reduced to six horses after defending champion Twin B Joe Fresh, the early 1-5 favourite, 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 Dexter 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 driver Jason 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