Vernon,
NY - The fifth and last preliminary leg of the
Kindergarten Classic series goes Friday night at Vernon Downs with two
divisions each of trotting colts and fillies.
With eleven colts
declared, they split five and six with the second race quintet loaded with
talent. Maven's Way, Celebrity Express, Taco Tuesday and Brownie Hanover all
emerge from the Red Mile Grand Circuit stakes-tested with sub-1:55 miles
under their belts.
Maven's Way did much of the
work in Southwind Frank's world record and was timed in 1:53.3 while hanging
tough for third. The Muscle Hill colt, currently third in the series
standings, will be reunited with Oskar Florhed who drove him to a
Kindergarten win in Kentucky last month. Maven's Way races for the interest of
trainer Ake Svanstedt, Mal & Janet Burroughs and the TLP Stables.
Divison two for the
colts is the tenth race where Dog Gone Lucky boasts the best current form. The
homebred Lucky Chucky colt was fourth in the NYSS final then dropped a tough
photo after battling eventual winner Brooklyn Hill tooth and nail in 1:53.1 at
Lexington. Tim Tetrick is listed to drive for trainer Chuck Sylvester and
owners Amy Stoltzfus and Charles Stansley.
The fourteen fillies
entered split nicely into a competitive pair of sevens as races six
and eight.
Twice Is Right won a
Kindergarten leg in 1:56.1 way back in July at The Meadowlands and has been
chasing Grand Circuit types lately. She has drawn the outside post in the sixth
Friday for owner Brittany Farms, trainer Jimmy Takter and driver Jim Morrill,
Jr.
No fewer than three leg
winners square off in the eighth race. I'm Volo, Sweet Ashley T and Hollywood
Hill have Kindergarten wins on their résumé.
Hollywood Hill is the
most accomplished of the three, having amassed nearly $70,000 and a second
place finish in the International Stallion Stakes in her most recent outing.
She also hails from the Takter barn with Christina Takter and Goran Falk
sharing ownership and Morrill listed.
The top colts and
fillies will return along with others residing at or near the top of the series
standings for the Kindergarten finals next Saturday night at Vernon.
Post time on Friday is
6:45pm.
