By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
LEXINGTON, KY— A
duo of divisions for the $146,600 Bluegrass Stakes was contested for
three-year-old filly pacers on Saturday, September 27 at The Red Mile.
After blazing
fractions established by Ali Blue, Gallie Bythe Beach traveled third over and
stormed by her rivals to win in 1:49.
Ali Blue sprinted
to the front, while Allstar Rating paced into second and Act Now into third.
Gallie Bythe Beach sat fourth through a :27 first quarter.
Under restraint,
Ali Blue remained on the motor through a :53.2 (:26.2) half and was to be
contested after a 1:21 (:27.3) third quarter.
Allstar Rating
led the charge to the front, but lacked late pace. Act Now tipped to her
outside and was soon the new leader. From third over, Gallie Bythe Beach began
to rally down the center of the course and edged by Act Now for victory. Beach
Gal closed for third and Ali Blue held onto fourth in 1:49 (:28).
With lifetime
earnings at $468,193, the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Galleria-Artsplace is
owned by Fashion Farms, trained by Jim Campbell and driven by Tim Tetrick. Her
1:49 mile is a lifetime best.
“My mare had to
earn it,” driver Tim Tetrick said. “Brian’s mare [Act Now] made the lead and
had a length on me at the old tunnel, but my mare fought back and got up for
the win.”
“I know how good
she is [Act Now],” Tetrick also said in regards to his past drives on Act Now.
“I know how bad she can pull up. I didn’t think I was going to catch her in the
last strides, but my mare kicked in late and I got up to get her.”
Gettingreadytoroll,
after getting away fifth, journeyed easily first over and powered by Beautiful
Lady to win the other Bluegrass division in 1:49.2.
The outer trio,
Sweetnsinful, Beautiful Lady, and It Was Fascination, barreled straight towards
the front. Beautiful Lady secured to the top, but It Was Fascination brushed by
through a :27.1 first quarter.
Beautiful Lady
popped to the outside and reclaimed the lead heading to the half.
Gettingreadytoroll was given her cue to close through a :55 (:27.4) half.
With Precocious
Beauty tracking her, Gettingreadytoroll applied pressure to Beautiful Lady at
three-quarters in 1:22.3 (:27.3). By the eighth-pole, Gettingreadytoroll
powered by Beautiful Lady, while Precocious Beauty fanned off cover and rallied
down the center. Regardless, Gettingreadytoroll was kept to her task and
progressed to victory in 1:49.2 (:26.4). Precocious Beauty finished second, and
It Was Fascination was third.
Owned by
Christina Takter and John and Jim Fielding, trained by Jimmy Takter, and driven
by Yannick Gingras, the daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Captain Holly-Cambest
traveled a lifetime-best mile. Paying $3.60 to win, she has earned $238,143
this season.
“She has
tremendous ability, but once she clears, her mind wanders a little and you got
to keep her to her task,” driver Yannick Gingras said. “She can go plenty, it’s
just a matter of in her head.”
“I thought she
was the best horse in the race,” Gingras also said. “The second best horse was
on my back [Precocious Beauty]; I was a little worried about that, but I wanted
to make sure I cleared as late as I could, so that way she keeps her mind on
business.”
Live racing
resumes on Sunday, September 28, with the $173,400 Bluegrass for three-year-old
filly trotters and the $187,200 Bluegrass for three-year-old colt trotters.
Post time is slated for 1:00pmEDT.
Race replays of
action from The Red Mile can be found on our YouTube channel:
Red Mile Harness.
