By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
LEXINGTON,
KY— Freshmen filly trotters gathered for four divisions of the Kindergarten
Classic Series at The Red Mile on Thursday, September 18. The fourth
preliminary of the series attracted 38 contestants for purses totaling to
$40,000.
Allerage
Star, despite galloping at the start, recovered nearly 13 lengths to weave past
rivals and get a nose in front of Saturday Mornings and Cocoacabana in 1:56.2.
Cocoacabana
was the pacesetter with Sweet Thing and Fly Angel Fly sitting behind. She set
fractions of :29.1 and :57.4 (:28.3). Challenged around the far turn by Sweet
Thing, Cocoacabana remained in control as the backfield approached. Fanning
three wide came Fly Angel Fly, with Lady Winona four wide and Saturday Mornings
five wide.
After
a 1:27.3 (:29.4) third-quarter, Saturday Mornings rallied down the center of
the course, while Allerage Star strolled onto the scene from in-between horses.
Cocoacabana battled Allerage Star and Saturday Mornings up to the finish, where
Allerage Star got a nose in front, going a mile in 1:56.2 (:28.4).
Returning
$3.20 to win, the daughter of Angus Hall-Starry Eyed-Muscles Yankee is owned by
Little E LLC, Jason Settlemoir, A. Geiger and D. Stolz, trained by Jessica
Okusko and Corey Callahan was aboard.
Lilu
Hanover rebounded after failing as the favorite in last week’s prelim with a
1:55.3 victory over 24-1 Annaliina.
Scott
Zeron piloted Lilu Hanover to the front, while Aarena Hanover gunned for the
pocket from post 10. Lilu Hanover set a opening quarter of :27.4. She remained
uncontested through a :57.3 (:29.4) half.
Rules
Of The Road was flushed first over entering the far turn, with Annaliina
drafting 2 ¾ lengths off the lead. Rules Of The Road remained at Lilu Hanover’s
throat through a 1:27 (:28.2) third-quarter.
Kicking
to a 2-length lead into the stretch, Lilu Hanover kept to her task as Annaliina
gradually progressed towards the leader. Starting her bid a few yards too late,
Lilu Hanover had a neck advantage at the wire over Annaliina, with Waiting Room
and Lady Clarabella rounding out the top four respectively.
Owned
by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, the daughter of Andover Hall-Lady Luck
Hanover-Donerail paid $5.00 to win.
Sarcy,
upon brushing to the top after the first quarter, led the field to the finish
in 1:55.3.
Bright
Baby Blues swept across the track to claim command around the first turn, while
Josie’s Joy sat the pocket and Sarcy trotted third. After a :28.2 quarter,
Jimmy Takter pulled Sarcy two wide to claim command before three-eighths. She
was uncontested at the half, timed in :57.1 (:28.4).
Sarcy
remained unchallenged around the far turn. Bright Baby Blues, stalking from the
pocket, tipped first over at three-quarters, with Josie’s Joy and Armatrading
tracking her move. Timed in 1:26.1 (:29), Sarcy remained in control.
Despite
bids from Bright Baby Blues, Josie’s Joy, Armatrading and Fashion Lover in the
late stages of the mile, Sarcy held command and sailed to a 1:55.3 (:29.2)
victory; Fashion Lover finished second, Armatrading was third and Josie’s Joy
was fourth.
Sarcy,
sent off the second choice, is owned by Christina Takter and John and Jim
Fielding and trained by Jimmy Takter. The Donato Hanover-Southwind
Allaire-Valley Victory daughter paid $7.20 to win.
Bee
The Queen, entering off a 30-1 upset in the Kindergarten last week, was
victorious at odds of 1/5 in 1:56.1.
Catherine’s
Melody showed early speed, while Bee The Queen floated towards the front, and
Bright Eyes sat behind in third. The opening quarter was timed in :29.3.
Bee
The Queen made her move before the half, trying to sweep around Catherine’s
Melody as Bright Eyes, Flirting Filly and Shafina Hanover began their bids. Bee
The Queen had a head in front through a :58.3 (:29) half. Although Flirting
Filly broke traveling first over, Shafina Hanover made her way to Bee The Queen’s
wheel through a 1:26.1 (:27.3) third-quarter.
Corey
Callahan pulled the plugs on Bee The Queen and she kicked 3 lengths clear of
Shafina Hanover, Bright Eyes and Catherine’s Melody, and eventually winning by
3 ½ lengths in 1:56.1 (:30).
A
daughter of Donato Hanover-Bee Line-Self Possessed, Bee The Queen is owned by
Alfred Ross and is trained by George Ducharme. She returned $2.60 to win.
Bee
The Queen extended her lead on the Kindergarten leaderboard with 158 points,
with Allerage Star second with 125 points and Lady Clarabella in third with 111
points.
Live
racing resumes at The Red Mile on Thursday, September 25, with the Grand
Circuit meeting, commencing with the $300,000 Bluegrass for two-year-old filly
trotters. Declaration time is 9:30 A.M. on Monday, September 22.
