Lexington KY – The
Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS) for 3-year-old pacers and trotters got underway
with the first preliminary leg on Sunday night at The Red Mile.
Filly pacers opened the
card with one of two $10,000 splits and last year’s final winner In The Dark
was a neck winner over the heavily favored Straightontherocks in 1:54. Trace
Tetrick send In The Dark out for the early lead, yielded to the favorite as they
passed the half in :57.3 then ripped the Cambest filly from the pocket early
stretch, gradually wearing down the leader in a 27 flat final quarter. Amdiamo
Zowie was third.
It was the fourth win in
five tries this season for In The Dark who is owned by Jim Averitt and trained
by Jack Gray, Jr. both of Lebanon, KY.
Al-Mar-Got A Fever
absolutely smoked the second division in a career best 1:52.2 for driver Chris
Page. Reserved off the moderate pace set by Surfing Sally who went to the half
in 57, Al-Mar-Got A Fever took charge past that station with an extended brush
through a 1:25.4 three panels before getting a nudge from Page then took off
through a 26.3 close under wraps for the score at 3-5. Second choice Absolutely
Best passed the rest in the stretch to be an easy second and Bestfriendforever
took third.
The winner is a Walnut
Hall bred daughter of Third Straight trained by Steve Carter for Chuck Grubbs,
Neal Kresheck, Joe Whittaker and BRB Racing.
Almondy AS took the
$15,000 first leg of sophomore filly trot for driver Elliott Deaton, outdueling
defending champ Sheas Victory in an extended stretch duel in 1:58.4. Breaking
maiden with the win, Almondy As is a homebred All Star Hall raised and raced by
ACL Stuteri and trained by Anette Lorentzon. Auntie Jae was third.
Defending colt pacing
champ V Power was a 1:53.3 winner with Dave Palone catch driving for owner,
breeder and trainer Donna Gilson Efferstein. Palone let the dust settle as
first Kirsch then Mt Sterling Mafia traded leads then moved V Power to the
front a half in :55.2. A 29.4 third quarter breather was all the Prince Chablis
gelding needed as a 28.2 end to the mile held Mt Sterling Mafia at bay. Kirsch
stuck around for third.
Trotting colts wrapped
up the stakes for the evening and last year's final winner Starlight AS got
lucky when Beer Dad lost interest while well in front and went offstride,
leaving the door to victory lane ajar and Elliott Deaton drove Starlight
AS right through it. The final time of 1:57.2 was a career best for the
All Star Hall colt by nearly five seconds. That win completed the
trotting double for owner/breeder ACL Stuteri, trainer Anette Lorentzon
and Deaton. Hidden Creek trotted up to be second and Stanford third.
Racing returns to The
Red Mile on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. The KYSS 2-year-olds come back with the
trotters next Saturday and the pacers on Sunday.
