The Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS) for three-year-old pacers and trotters get underway on Sunday night at The Red Mile. They'll have two preliminary legs leading up to $175,000 finals for all groups on Sunday, September 17.

The pacing fillies were the only division to split with thirteen declared and will race for a purse of $10,000 in races one and three.

James Averitt's In The Dark (PP #4) was last year's KYSS final winner and she's the morning line choice in the first. A seven-time winner in a dozen career starts, In The Dark has been sharpening up at the KY fairs but missed that final while sick. Trainer Jack Gray always has her ready for the money and Trace Tetrick is coming in to drive.

Al Mar Got A Fever (PP #3) is the 7-5 choice in the third race based on an impressive resume that includes a second in an elimination for the Fan Hanover Grand Circuit stake in June. She's got a wicked move and driver Chris Page is here to try and have it end in the winner's circle. Steve Carter trains the daughter of Third Straight for owners Chuck Grubbs, Neal Kresheck, Joe Whittaker and BRB Racing.

Trotting fillies come along in race five where a field of seven faces the Mike Moss starting gate for a purse of $15,000. Sheas Victory is the defending champ in this division and she's in good current form for trainer Russ Newman, having won five of eight including the fair final. Mickey Pryor is the top jock around the KY fairs and he's got the drive on Sheas Victory for owner Candra Foley of Winchester, KY.

Eight pacing colts were entered for the $15,000 first leg including last year's champ V Power and runner-up Mt Sterling Mafia.

V Power is the homebred pride and joy of Donna and Al Efferstein and won last year's big one with Al driving. They have chosen to employ Dave Palone for this year's edition and that move is only going to make it tougher on the competition.

The cleverly named Mt Sterling Mafia is owned by Red Mile race caller Gabe Prewitt, a native of nearby Mt. Sterling, KY, and trainer Kevin Thomas along with James Mc Laughlin. He prepped at Hoosier Park before getting one over the course in a KY fair in late July and looks like a contender for Chris Page.

Starlight AS has but a handful of starts in his career for trainer Anette Lorentzon but has made the most of them with his lone career win last year's KYSS final. Lorentzon gave him a qualifier prep here last week and he looks like all systems are go for this year's series. Elliott Deaton has the drive on Sunday for owners ACL Stuteri and Kjell Johansson.

It's a fifteen-race marathon that will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday.

(with files from KYSS)