Lexington, KY – The
Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS) saw rookie pacers jockeying for a position in
the upcoming $250,000 in the third and last preliminary leg of the series on
Saturday night at The Red Mile.
Band Stand
completed her sweep of the preliminary legs with a 1:53.1 triumph for
driver Joe Bongiorno. Reserved in fourth through moderate early fractions, she
took the uncovered route to victory, chasing down pacesetter and eventual third
place finisher Let’s Fall In Love in the stretch. Hurrikane Empress raced
closed well, angled wide after a pocket trip for the place.
Band Stand is from the
first crop of A Rocknroll Dance, was bred by Hunterton Farms and is trained by
Tony Alagna for Brad Grant.
Fillies opened the card
and Pure Paradise continued her ascent toward the top of the list with a
comfortable 1:53 win. Tyler Smith took the favorite back to seventh and last
through the early fractions as Newsday set a solid pace. Past the half Pure
Paradise was activated into a first over move, engaged the leader by the last
turn and sailed on by on her own. Dance Blue drafted behind the winner’s cover
and arrived second with Pleasant Beauty third.
Brian Brown trains Pure
Paradise for Mark Robinson, Bob Mondillo, RBH Ventures Joe Sbrocco.
Alagna and Bongiorno
came back to repeat with Key Advisor in the first of two colt divisions as he
won for the second time in the KYSS, this one in 1:52. Bongiorno settled his
charge in third off the break then moved the 3-5 fave to the lead passing the
three-eighths marker. A comfortable 56.1 half followed by a 28.2 third panel
with no one at his throat left Key Advisor with enough to sprint off early
stretch then hold sway over the very impressive first time starter Lost In
Time who endured a long uncovered trip and was still coming at the end. Decoy
was third.
Key Advisor is a
Somebeachsomewhere colt owned by Brittany Farm and Key Advisor Racing and was
bred by Courant AB.
The second colt division
was taken by Grand Teton, a Diamond Creek homebred and another by A Rocknroll
Dance. Mark MacDonald let the dust settle early then moved the 1-9 favorite to
the top at the 56.2 half, faced no pressure around the bend then took off in a
26.2 end to the 1:52 mile. Longshot Trajectory closed for second and Who’s
Better third. Jimmy Takter trains the winner.
Next Sunday, September
17 The Red Mile will host the KYSS Super Night where all eight finals
showcasing both two and three-year-olds will race for $1.75 million. The
clubhouse dining room will be open for the evening, reservations may be made
calling 859-255-0752.
