By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
LEXINGTON,
KY— Met’s Hall trotted into a hot pace to take the top, maintaining and
expanding his lead while advancing to a 1:52.4 open-length performance in the
fourth of five divisions of the $300,000 Trixton International Stallion Stakes
(ISS), sponsored by Deo Volente Farms, on Thursday, October 5 at The Red Mile.
Sitting
second as Farsetti Hanover sprinted to the quarter in :26.4, Met’s Hall took
the front moving into the backstretch, setting a half of :54.4 and held control
at three-quarters in 1:24.1 before kicking away from pocket-sitter Farsetti
Hanover into the stretch. Dawson Springs, riding cover around the turn, closed
for third.
Owned
by Stroy Inc. and Andy Miller Stable Inc., Met’s Hall, by Cantab Hall out of
the Mutineer mare Met’s Inn, won his fifth race in eight starts this season,
compiling $127,135 in earnings. The $2.80 winner is conditioned by Julie Miller
and was driven by Andy Miller.
Following
a disqualification, Night Rhythm was placed first in the opening division of
the ISS, taking over the top spot from Shoshie Deo, who interfered with 6-5
favorite Wolfgang down the backstretch, causing him to lose stride.
Night
Rhythm launched for the top, grabbing the lead before trotting a quarter in
:28.1, with Shoshie Deo trotting in second. Into the backstretch, Seven Iron
tipped first over, advancing toward the leader with Wolfgang riding his cover
briefly, clearing the top before a :57 half.
Patent
Leather rushed first over after the half, taking the lead from Seven Iron
moving into the turn. Shoshie Deo, shuffled to third, tipped wide moving to
three-quarters, pressuring pacesetter Patent Leather in 1:26.1 before powering
to the lead in the stretch. Night Rhythm, shuffled to fourth, fanned off the
rail and trotted down the center of the track while Patent Leather faded at the
inside in third, with Shoshie Deo holding a length advantage on Night Rhythm at
the line, with Patent Leather third and Seven Iron fourth.
With
Shoshie Deo disqualified to sixth, Night Rhythm, by Muscle Hill out of the
Andover Hall mare Tail Of Night, won his second race in six starts, earning
$77,552 for owners Lindy Farms of Connecticut and Robert Rudolph. Trained by
Frank Antonacci and driven by Scott Zeron, he paid $26.80 to win.
Fourth
Dimension brushed to the front and coasted to a lifetime-best 1:52.4 win in the
second ISS division.
Sitting
third as Hat Trick Habit posted a :28.3 opening quarter, Brian Sears tipped
Fourth Dimension wide, rushing to take control before three-eighths. Leading
unchallenged through a :57 half and three-quarters in 1:25.2, Fourth Dimension
turned for home clear of Hat Trick Habit chasing from second, with Crystal
Fashion rallying off cover down the center of the track, grabbing second while
Hat Trick Habit settled for third.
By
Chapter Seven out of the Muscle Hill mare Corazon Blue Chip, Fourth Dimension,
owned by Courant Inc., won his fifth race in seven starts, earning $129,700.
Trained by Marcus Melander, he paid $5.40 to win.
Quality
Kemp sat the pocket and slingshot passed 3-2 favorite and tempo-setter Keystone
Apache to take the third ISS split in 1:54.3.
Matt
Kakaley sent Quality Kemp for the lead, trotting a quarter in :28.3 before
yielding to Keystone Apache after a :57.1 half. Sitting as Keystone Apache
trotted to three-quarters in 1:25.4, Quality Kemp remained at the rail until
pulling wide into the eighth pole, trotting one-and-three-quarter lengths clear
of My Lindy Winner rallying down the center of the track into second, while
Keystone Apache shortened in stride and held on for third.
Returning
$26.60 to win, Quality Kemp, by Muscle Hill from the Credit Winner mare
Impressive Kemp, broke his maiden in the tenth start of his career. The Ron
Burke trainee has earned $67,962 this season for owners Burke Racing Stable,
Silva, Purnell and Libby, Weaver Bruscemi, and Michelle Yanek.
Scoring
his fifth-consecutive win and besting Peter Haughton-winner You Know You Do,
Fashionwoodchopper took the final ISS division, winning in 1:53.
Can’t
Afford It took the early lead, going a quarter in :28.3 before
Fashionwoodchopper moved from the pocket to take the lead heading to the half.
Timed in :56.1, Fashionwoodchopper was unpressured moving into the far turn,
while You Know You Do, trotting fifth, began a first-over move towards the
leader.
You
Know You Do trotted up to Fashionwoodchopper’s wheel at three-quarters in
1:25.1, but stalled into the stretch. Fashionwoodchopper held a narrow lead
through the stretch, with Can’t Afford It attempting to shake out of the pocket
and Samo Different Day swooping into contention in the final strides.
Fashionwoodchopper held a half-length lead at the line, with Samo Different Day
second and Can’t Afford It third.
Winning
his fifth race in eight starts this season, Fashionwoodchopper, by Donato
Hanover from the Muscles Yankee mare Woodshopper, has earned $234,818 for owner
Fashion Farms LLC. Trained by Jim Campbell and driven by David Miller, he paid
$4.80 to win.
Grand
Circuit racing continues at The Red Mile on Friday, October 6 with five
divisions of the $289,000 Muscle Hill ISS Two-Year-Old Filly Trot, sponsored by
Southwind Farms. First-race post is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EDT.
