Lexington, KY – Freshman pacers return to The Red Mile on
Saturday with the third and last preliminary leg of the Kentucky Sires Stakes
(KYSS). Two divisions each of fillies and colts populate the first four races
of the evening.
The filly races will
comprise the Early Double with a pair of sevens. Pure Paradise and Band Stand
are the solid morning line choices in the first and second respectively.
Pure Paradise has
blossomed quickly over the red clay for trainer Brian Brown with a rallying
third in leg one and a first-over 1:53.1 win in the second. The Buckeye-bred
lass has been driven in each by Tyler Smith who has the lines on Saturday for
owners Mark Robinson, Bob Mondillio, RBH Ventures and Joe Sbrocco.
Band Stand is unbeaten
in her three career outings including the fastest mile of the series to date
with her 1:51.4 win in the first leg. She has looked stronger with each race
and starts from post four this week for her regular driver Joe Bongiorno,
trainer Tony Alagna and owner Brad Grant.
It’s a competitive group
of colts that will assemble for the third race where Key Advisor is favored for
the Alagna – Bongiorno duo. He’s the fastest of the KYSS group to date by
virtue of his 1:51.3 leg two victory. Brittany Farms and Key Advisor Racing
signed the ticket for $200,000 to secure the son of Somebeachsomewhere at the
Lexington Selected Yearling Sale last fall.
There is an interesting
new prospect in that first split as Jim Mulinix brings Lost In Time to
Lexington for his stakes debut. He comes in off an eye-catching qualifier and
is owned by the group that raced his sire A Rocknroll Dance who was also a
Mulinix trainee. Don Harmon drives.
The road to the winner’s
circle in division two goes through Grand Teton who’s been first and second in
his two KYSS outings. He’ll start from post four for Mark MacDonald, in to
drive trainer Jimmy Takter’s stock on Saturday. Diamond Creek Racing bred and
owns the A Rocknroll Dance colt.
Post time is 7:00 p.m.
