LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Whiteland Janice took over in the final 70 yards to win the 99th Kentucky Futurity, thus gaining a piece of trotting's Triple Crown.
The filly, driven by Mike Lachance, came on strong over the final 70 yards Friday to beat out Somatic in a raceoff.
Whiteland Janice, which became the 35th filly to win the Futurity, won the first heat in a time of 1:55 2-5.
Somatic finished two lengths back and favored Giant Victory was third.
Somatic took heat number two in 1:54 3-5, with Giant Victory a neck back and a head in front of Whiteland Janice.
In the race-off, Somatic took the lead quickly, but driver Tommy Haughton could never stretch it beyond two lengths. Somatic turned back one challenge early in the stretch before succumbing over the final 200 feet. The winning time was 2:00 4-5.
Giant Victory had won the Hambletonian, the middle leg of trotting's triple crown. The win was worth $67,514 to Whiteland Janice's owner, Fred V. Schubert of Exton, Pa. Charles Sylvester trained the filly, which has won seven of 17 starts this year for over $227,000.
