The first colt division
was the evening’s fourth race and Grand Teton lived up to his advance billing
by steamrolling the field in the stretch for the Takter - Brett Miller combo to
win going away in 1:52.4. Away mid-pack, Miller followed up third over with the
1-9 favorite as You Said It took the field into the final bend where Trajectory
loomed up to challenge as they passed the three quarters in 1:25.4. When shown
racetrack, Grand Teton found a faster gear and was by the field in a blink. Gone
Again (Tyler Smith) rallied for second and Whos Better (Don Harmon) was a good
third. The winner is a Diamond Creek homebred by first crop sire A Rocknroll
Dance from their prolific producer Western Montana.
Fillies came up next in
the fifth and Santa Rosa converted a ground saving trip by Brett Miller (his
third consecutive win), closing up the inside for the win in 1:52.4. Post time
favorite Let’s Fall In Love set the fractions with token pressure from the
parked out Angelou past a 56 half and 1:25.1 three panels before giving way to
the closing wave. Fine Art (Tyler Smith) followed in second and Tipp City Hugh
Beatty) rallied for third. Santa Rosa is a Brittany Farms homebred on both
sides by Western Ideal from Art’s Vintage and was winning for the first time in
her fourth try. She is also a product of the Takter barn.
Brett Miller made it
four and Takter three consecutive wins with heavy favorite Decoy lasting over
the furious late rally of Key Advisor (Joe Bongiorno) in 1:52.4. Miller settled
Decoy in fourth early as Key Advisor left to the top from post 7 then brushed
the colt up to take over as they passed the half in 55.4. A 29.4 third quarter
breather under token pressure was just what Decoy needed as he opened up three
quick lengths off the turn and held safe to the wire. Tiffany Marie (Dan
Shetler) was third. The winner is a son of top sire Somebeachsomewhere and was
a $110,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase by Brixton Medical, RAW
Equine and Joe Sbrocco.
Band Stand was a 1:51.4
winner in the final of the evening’s stakes for driver Joe Bongiorno who was
making his first foray to the Bluegrass. Joe pulled the filly first over
against Dance Blue who took over going to the half in an attempt to complete
the KYSS sweep for the Takter/Miller duo and Band Stand gradually ground that
rival into submission through a testing 1:23.2 three quarters. Moving to a
clear lead in the stretch Band Stand held safe right to the wire for the speedy
record. Shakewhatmamagaveu (Tharps) was second just holding off the close of
Pure Paradise and Tyler Smith. The winner is trained by Tony Alagna for owner
Brad Grant who gave $40,000 for the A Rocknroll Dance filly in Lexington last
fall.
Live racing resumes at
The Red Mile on Sunday at 7:00 p.m. with the Kentucky Sires Stakes for
3-year-olds.
