By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
LEXINGTON, KY— A
trio of Kindergarten divisions highlighted the latter part of the Thursday
night card at The Red Mile, with round three of the freshmen trotting series
attracting 29 colts.
Indiana-native
Airman Batten bested series-leader French Laundry as the 1-2 favorite in
1:57.1.
Driver Lewayne
Miller protected the pylons with Airman Batten as French Laundry was in pursuit
of the front. After tucking into the pocket, Airman Batten passed the quarter
in :30. Slowing the tempo to the half, Boots N Chains brushed to the lead from
sixth. Airman Batten yielded to the 22-1 shot in 1:01.2 (:31.2).
Airman
Batten was patient around the far turn, pulling out of the pocket once passed
three-quarters, which was timed in 1:30.2 (:29). Airman Batten slowly made his
way passed Boots N Chains, who was drifting far off the pylons. French Laundry
attempted to close at the inside, but settled for third as Airman Batten was a
length winner over Boots N Chains in 1:57.1 (:26.4).
A
colt by Swan For All, out of the mare Ladylike Volo by Yankee Glide, Airman
Batten is owned by Paymaq Racing, Harvey Eisman and Greg Gillis and is trained
by Erv Miller.
He paid $3.00 to win.
Wicker
Hanover sat patiently in the mid-pack and swept by his competition in the
stretch to win in 1:57.
P
Mac Attack took command, with True Blue Stride tucking into the pocket and
Ferragamo progressing first over. Past a quarter in :28.2, Ferragamo went on to
take control. P Mac Attack sat behind as Ferragamo passed the half in :57.4
(:29.2).
Into
the far turn, True Blue Stride broke from third as P Mac Attack angled to the
outside with Wicker Hanover on his tail. Ferragamo was starting to lose his
stride at three-quarters in 1:27.3 (:29.4).
P
Mac Attack inherited the front upon Ferragamo’s break in the stretch. Wicker
Hanover fanned three wide and trotted by for driver Andrew McCarthy and won by
2 lengths at the finish over Cinnabar Hall, Ss Poseidon, and P Mac Attack in
1:57 (:29.2).
Wicker
Hanover is by Explosive Matter, out of the Conway Hall mare Won An Done. Owned
by Christer Haggstrom Racing Stable Inc. and trained by Noel Daley, he paid
$9.40 to win. This was the first win of his career.
In
the final division, Musical Rhythm sat at the pylons for the whole mile and
found room in the final eighth to score in 1:56.4.
First-time
starter Iron showed speed, with Bighandsbiggloves getting away second and
Musical Rhythm in third. Iron passed the quarter in :28.4. He was uncontested
up to the half, timed in :59 (:30.1).
Suit
And Tie pulled first over from fourth around the far turn and was
stride-for-stride with Iron heading to three-quarters. Iron had a slight
advantage through three-quarters in 1:28.4 (:29.4).
Suit
And Tie had a nose in front at the top of the lane, while Iron fought on
towards the inside. Musical Rhythm slowly eased his way up the inside and took
control approaching the finish. He won by 2 ¼ lengths in 1:56.4 (:28) over Suit
And Tie, Iron and Bighandsbiggloves.
Musical
Rhythm is by Cantab Hall, out of the Valley Victory mare Musical Victory.
Owned
by Mystical Marker Farms, In The Gym Parnters, Joe Sbrocco and T. Massey,
trained by Tony Alagna and driven by Scott Zeron, he paid $13.80 to win. The
1:56.4 mile is a lifetime mark for Musical Rhythm.
French
Laundry remains on top of the standings with 112 points, while Wheels Ah Smokin
maintains second at 58 points and P Mac Attack is third with 55 points. Airman
Batten, making his Kindergarten debut, is tied for fifth between Suit And Tie
and Habitat at 50 points.
The
fourth preliminary of the Kindergarten series has been moved from Friday,
September 19 to Thursday, September 18. Declaration time is at 10:00 A.M. on
Monday, September 15.
