This Thursday evening (September 7) at the Red Mile, the Kentucky Sires Stakes for two-year-old trotters will return for Leg 3, the last of the preliminary races. A total of 24 fillies and 19 colts set to get it on.

Ladies first.

The females have been split evenly into a trio of eight-filly divisions which have been carded as Races 2, 3 and 4.

Lily Stride, who skipped Leg 1 and dominated her rivals in the second leg, is set to return. She will start from Post 1 in Race 3 and has been installed as the morning line choice. The gifted daughter of Muscle Hill from Sterling Volo cost her Australian owners Emilio and Maria Rosati the hefty sum of $220,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale last fall and has already shown a considerable return on investment.

Lily Stride has earned nearly $90,000 thus far in 2017. She has won three races from five starts. She finished second in her elimination and third in the final of the prestigious Jim Doherty Memorial. Lily Stride set a personal speed record of 1:55.2 in her effortless KYSS Leg 2 score. Mark Harder trains the filly and Jeff Gregory will be back in town for the drive on Thursday.

The colts have been split into a pair of divisions, and the seventh race came up loaded, as no fewer than four previous KYSS leg winners along with impressive Indiana invader All On Black all drew into the split.

Hat Trick Habit and Wolfgang are among the very best of the lot and have drawn into the same division every time. The upcoming third leg will serve as the duo’s personal rubber match.

Hat Trick Habit sat a tight pocket to Wolfgang for Dave Palone and edged past the stubborn rival on the wire after a stretch-long fight for the 1:55.2 win. Hat Trick Habitat is owned by Fred Monteleone and is trained by Frank Antonacci.

Wolfgang has the fastest time of the series thus far, via his 1:54.2 opening-leg victory for trainer/driver Jimmy Takter. Wolfgang is fast and consistent and will be in play again on Thursday for owners Brixton Medical, Goran Falk, Hatfield Stable and Fair Island Farm.

Both Cordoba Hall and Haveitalltogether also have a KYSS win on their resume and will contest the issue in Race 7 as well.

The juvenile pacers will contest the last leg of their KYSS prelims on Saturday (September 9), as they will be jockeying for a spot on the gate in the $250,000 finals, which will be contested on September 17.

Post time on Thursday is 7:00 p.m.

(With files from the Red Mile)