By
Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile
LEXINGTON,
KY—Off a decisive victory in her Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS) division last
week, Ms Savannah Belle returned to The Red Mile with a pocket-rocket mile of
1:53.3 to take the first of three $30,000 third-preliminary KYSS divisions for
two-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday, Aug. 31.
Crucial
protected position from the pylons while Ms Savannah Belle ducked for the
pocket heading to a :28.4 opening quarter. Bange Bi raced wide from third and
progressed towards the pacesetter nearing a :57.1 half but failed to clear.
Crucial kept Bange Bi parked past three-quarters in 1:26.2 before the
first-over challenger dropped anchor and opened room for Ms Savannah Belle to
pounce. Driver Jimmy Takter sent the Muscle Hill filly after Crucial at the
head of the stretch and kicked clear to a four-and-three-quarter length victory
over Heaven. Crucial held third.
A
homebred for Al Libfeld, Ms Savannah Belle won her second race from five
starts, earning $54,658. Per Engblom trains the $2.80 winner.
Driver
Chris Page circled 3-2 favorite Violet Stride to the front past the quarter and
held firm on the lead in progress to a 1:55.2 victory in the second KYSS filly
split.
Page
positioned the Trixton filly third behind early duelers Do You Wanna Dance and
Julia C heading to a :28.3 first quarter. He then sent the Mark Harder trainee
after Do You Wanna Dance and took control before a :57.4 half. From there she
withstood minor first-over pressure from Julia C passing three-quarters in
1:27.1 while holding off that challenger by two-and-three-quarter lengths at
the finish. Sequin rallied from a pylon trip for third.
Bred
by Kentuckiana Farms LLC and Jorgen Jahre Jr., Violet Stride won her second
race from six starts, earning $34,250. Emilio & Maria Rosati own the $5.00
winner.
Page
also steered Cover Girl to a 1:56.3 victory in the final filly division of
KYSS.
Even-money
favorite Caviart Eva cleared the front moving to a :29.3 opening quarter while
Page had Cover Girl placed fourth. He soon pulled the Paul Kelley trainee first
over past a :59 half and rushed to the helm circling the final turn. Cover Girl
led Caviart Eva passed three-quarters in 1:28.2 and strode clear to a
two-and-a-half length victory. Miss Kendra D, off a pylon trip, took second
while Caviart Eva settled for third.
Winning
her first race from three starts, Cover Girl has earned $25,500 for owners Paul
Kelley Racing Stable, T L P Stable, S R F Stable and Lawrence Thomases. The
Muscle Hill filly—bred by Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld and Sam Goldband—paid $4.80
to win.
Expectations
topped the two KYSS colt dashes with a wire-to-wire victory as the 1-5
favorite.
Driver
Mattias Melander had the Marcus Melander trainee on the lead while Hit Show
tracked from the pocket approaching a :28.4 opening quarter. The Muscle Hill
colt endured no challenge from there, trotting a half in :58.3 and
three-quarters in 1:27.3 in progress to a three-length victory in 1:55.3. Hit
Show held second while Mcmatters rallied from off cover for third.
Owned
by Vicky Trotting Inc. and bred by Dunroven Stud LLC, Expectations won his
second race from six starts, earning $76,899. He paid $2.60 to win.
Ready
For Moni ranged to the front from the outermost post in the other KYSS colt
division and coasted clear of his rivals to win by five-and-a-quarter lengths
in 1:57.3.
Driver
Jimmy Takter floated the Ready Cash colt towards the front when racing in the
center of the course nearing the first turn. Ready For Moni crossed to the lead
past a :30.4 opening quarter and slowly widened his lead through a 1:00.3 half
and past three-quarters in 1:29.4. Ontopofthehill rallied from a pylon trip to
chase the Per Engblom trainee for second while Legion Of Honor, pulling first
over around the final turn, took third.
Collecting
his third victory from four starts, Ready For Moni has banked $36,500 for
owners John Fielding, Herb Liverman, Bud Hatfield and Lindy Farms Of
Connecticut. The Moni Maker Stable bred the colt who paid $3.20 to win.
