With the 2017 Meadowlands Championship Meet complete, the Grand Circuit morphs into more of a travelling show, reminiscent of days gone by, with important races at many venues over the next few months.

One very important destination, the Red Mile, held qualifying races today (Thursday, August 10) on a perfect windless, muggy morning beginning at 11 a.m.

Interest is high for the Red Mile’s pre-Grand Circuit meet this year, as the Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) has included a mare residency clause to the conditions beginning with the foals of 2015, which has resulted in more focus on this season’s two-year-old stakes. As a result, several of the Grand Circuit stables are at the Red Mile earlier than usual, giving their eligible colts and fillies a once-over the track.

The first trotting qualifier was won in 1:56.2 by Ooh La La La, a four-year-old mare with a strong Indiana sophomore stakes resume. She was driven by Trevor Smith on Thursday morning and defeated last year’s KYSS two-year-old colt trot final winner Starlight AS, who is prepping for this year's sophomore division.

A couple of freshman that are pointing to next week’s KYSS first leg went along well in this one with American Moni (Muscle Hill - Moni Maker) showing speed with a comfortable third-place finish behind a pair of older rivals for Lindy Farms and Domenico Cecere. Godspell Hall also held his ground throughout and finished fourth for Tony Alagna.

A field of Standardbreds springs from the starting gate during Thursday, August 10 qualifiers at the Red Mile (Photo courtesy Nick Salvi)

Lindy Farms sent out an imposing Somebeachsomewhere homebred pacing filly from Think Pink named Belle who absolutely drug her driver Domenico Cecere through a 1:56.2 mile with a restrained :28-flat final quarter. Day Dreamer was second for Alagna and partner Riverview Racing. Both are eligible to the KYSS.

Hat Trick Habit (Donato Hanover - Habits Best) looked sensational for Cecere, as he staked a pretty accomplished older horse in Fusion Man and then rolled right on by in a :27.2 end to the 1:58 mile. He certainly has the look of a contender for the KYSS trots for owner Fred Monteleone and trainer Frank Antonacci.

Race 4 featured a field of older pacers. The race was won in 1:55 by Carnoustie (Darrell Moore), who got a little work in after a week off. The week off had followed a stretch in which the mare had taken part in five races in as many days at the Mississippi State Fair in late July. Legal Power was the lone freshman in this one and he went well for Alagna, passing several rivals late to be fourth.

The fifth and final race of the day saw Dawson Springs get up on the wire after having raced uncovered for the second half. The Tony Alagna trainee covered the mile in 1:59.3 with a :28.3 final quarter. He’s a Brittany-bred Cantab Hall colt from Hot Springs that is owned by the trainer and the breeder along with Robert LeBlanc.

Lindy trotters were in close attendance with Eurobound second and Lovely Lindy third. Jack Gray’s Yankee Glide colt Max is another KYSS eligible from this race.

The KYSS will kick off next Thursday (August 17) with freshman trotters. More information and race dates for all KYSS events may be found here.

(Red Mile)