Grand Circuit racing resumes on
Thursday afternoon at The Red Mile with the $323,200 International Stallion
Stakes (INSS) for two-year-old filly trotters. Thirty three freshman lasses
were declared, resulting in four divisions of the stake.
The marquee player in the
division thus far, co-world record holder Mission Brief has been entered and
will leave from post three in the day’s fourth race. The Muscle Hill filly from
Southwind Serena has been sensational if slightly erratic in her young career.
Her blazing speed has carried her
to five wins by wide margins in fast times, including the Merrie Annabelle and
NJSS finals in stakes record time and a Peaceful Way elimination in the record
mile of 1:52.1 (equaled last Thursday by Jolene Jolene at The Red Mile). The
only blemishes on her eight race slate are by her own hand, going off-stride in
all three and losing all chance.
The Grand Circuit’s leading
combination handles Mission Brief, with Ron Burke doing the conditioning for
his own Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Our Horse Cents Stable and
J&T Silva Stable while Yannick Gingras will try to keep her on her best
behavior. The way the track has been playing thus far, with her talent that
record may be further reduced on Thursday.
The Burke stable will also send out
contenders in two of the other divisions, with Kirsi Hanover a key player in
race two and Gatka Hanover to be dealt with in race eight.
In between, Alfred Ross’ emerging
star debutante Bee The Queen will look to complete the Lexington Grand Circuit
double by winning both weeks as she seeks her fifth consecutive win for trainer
George Ducharme in race five. The Donato Hanover x Bee Line filly was a late
comer, but she has surely found her best form here in Kentucky. Brian Sears has
the drive.
Competition for the “Queen” will be
led by Livininthefastlane from the rail for driver Tim Tetrick. She’s also a
Donato Hanover (Nicole’s Promise) owned by the potent partnership of Marvin
Katz, Al Libfeld & Sam Goldband and trained by Julie Miller. Livininthefastlane
comes in off a convincing win in the Kentuckiana Farms trot at Hoosier Park and
has amassed more than $165,000 on the season.
Ten races comprise the Thursday Red
Mile card with a post time of 1:00pm, which shall continue through the meet’s
end on Kentucky Futurity Day, October 5. You can find more pertinent info at The Red Mile website and if you missed any of last
week’s action visit the youtube page for all video
replays of the races.
The start of the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale is Tuesday at
7:00pm and continues through Saturday with the cream of the Standardbred
yearling crop available for your inspection and purchase.
