The Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS) for three-year-old pacers and trotters got underway with the first preliminary leg on Sunday night (August 20) at The Red Mile.

Filly pacers opened the card with one of two $10,000 splits and last year’s final winner In The Dark was a neck winner over the heavily favoured Straightontherocks in 1:54. Trace Tetrick sent In The Dark out for the early lead, yielded to the favourite as they passed the half in :57.3 then ripped the Cambest filly from the pocket early stretch, gradually wearing down the leader in a :27 flat final quarter. Amdiamo Zowie was third.

The win was fourth in five tries this season for In The Dark, who is owned by Jim Averitt and trained by Jack Gray Jr., both of Lebanon, Kentucky.

Al Mar Got A Fever absolutely smoked the second division in a career-best 1:52.2 for driver Chris Page. Reserved off the moderate pace set by Surfing Sally, who went to the half in :57, Al Mar Got A Fever took charge past that station with an extended brush through a 1:25.4 three panels before getting a nudge from Page then took off through a :26.3 close under wraps for the score at 3-5. Second choice Absolutely Best passed the rest in the stretch to be an easy second and Bestfriendforever took third.

The winner is a Walnut Hall-bred daughter of Third Straight trained by Steve Carter for Chuck Grubbs, Neal Kresheck, Joe Whittaker and BRB Racing.

Almondy AS took the $15,000 first leg of sophomore filly trot for driver Elliott Deaton, out-dueling defending champ Sheas Victory in an extended stretch battle in 1:58.4. Breaking maiden with the win, Almondy As is a homebred All Star Hall raised and raced by ACL Stuteri and trained by Anette Lorentzon. Auntie Jae was third.

Defending colt pacing champ V Power was a 1:53.3 winner with Dave Palone catch-driving for owner, breeder and trainer Donna Gilson Efferstein. Palone let the dust settle as first Kirsch then Mt Sterling Mafia traded leads then moved V Power to the front a half in :55.2. A :29.4 third quarter breather was all the Prince Chablis gelding needed as a :28.2 end to the mile held Mt Sterling Mafia at bay. Kirsch stuck around for third.

Trotting colts wrapped up the stakes for the evening and last year's final winner Starlight AS got lucky when Beer Dad lost interest while well in front and went off stride, leaving the door to victory lane ajar and Elliott Deaton drove Starlight AS right through it. The final time of 1:57.2 was a career-best for the All Star Hall colt by nearly five seconds. That win completed the trotting double for owner/breeder ACL Stuteri, trainer Anette Lorentzon and Deaton. Hidden Creek trotted up to be second and Stanford third.

Racing returns to The Red Mile on Thursday at 7 p.m. The KYSS two-year-olds come back with the trotters next Saturday and the pacers on Sunday.

(With files from The Red Mile)