Kentucky-sired sophomores took to the track on Sunday, August 30 at the Red Mile for the third and final preliminary leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes before next Sunday

night’s $2.4 million ‘Night of Champions.’

Three-year-old trotting colts and geldings were the only sex and gait requiring multiple races, as 13 dropped in the box and were split into two $15,000 divisions.

The first division went according to plan, as 1-2 favourite Kibbutz Dream (driven by Jean Dubois) used a pocket trip to dart by down the lane and easily hold off its rivals with a two-length score in 1:57.1, a lifetime best. The gelded son of Like A Prayer--Fill Josselyn is trained by Marie Ortolan Bar for the Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme Stables. Kibbutz Dream now has a first, second, and third in the opening legs of the KYSS, heading into next week’s $300,000 final. Like A Hush (Rick Farrington) was able to secure second, while Alliance Hall (Peter Wrenn) was third.

The second $15,000 KYSS division looked like it could go much the same, as Up Front Prayer (Dan Noble) was looking for a three-leg sweep as the prohibitive 1-5 favourite. However, it turned into a wide open affair down the stretch after King Solomon (Dan Shetler) set the opening fractions and faltered in the stretch, setting up a scintillating stretch drive as four horses finished within a length and a half on the wire. Touchdown Franco (Brad Hanners) emerged victorious on the outside, as it unleashed a furious four-wide rally, ripping off a 28-second final quarter to nail Civil Cause (Trace Tetrick) by a short nose. Up Front Prayer was only three-quarters of a length back in third. Touchdown Franco, a son of Like A Prayer--Atouchtomuch, is trained by Jeff Smith for Terry and Cynthia Kinsley. Touchdown Franco added the win to its resume after back-to-back second-place efforts in the opening legs of the KYSS.

The $25,000 third leg of the KYSS for three-year-old trotting fillies saw a familiar face in the winner’s circle in last year’s champion, Dancing Filly (Trace Tetrick). The daughter of Like A Prayer--Aspenglow was tucked in third through an opening half of :59.1, but was quickly rushed up to take advantage as the field entered the final turn. Dancing Filly led the field through three-quarters in 1:28.3 before using a :28.4 final quarter to put away the field and cruise to a three-quarter-length victory in 1:57.2. The filly is trained by Kevin Thomas for Bulletproof Enterprises and has now won two out of the three KYSS legs, as it looks to be one of the favourites in next week’s $300,000 final. The filly's main rival, B Nicki (Brad Hanners), rallied on the far outside to be second, while Mystical Heiress (Matt Kakaley) used a smooth ground-saving journey to take the show spot.

The $25,000 third leg of the KYSS for three-year old filly pacers looked eerily similar to last week, as Warrawee Kay (Chris Page) once again parlayed a perfect pocket trip into a very narrow head victory over Apricot Brandy (Luke McCarthy), which set the very moderate fractions of :30.2, :59.3, and 1:27.4. Defending champion Shanghai Lil (Peter Wrenn) was second over, but could only manage to be third off of the unbelievably slow pace, a length and a half behind the winner. Warrawee Kay, a daughter of Real Desire--Armbro Wisdom, now has won two consecutive legs of the KYSS for trainer Mike Roth and owner Alan Keith. The filly used an impressive :26.2 final quarter to get its head in front on the wire in 1:54.2.

The three-year-old pacing colts and geldings also had a familiar tune, as Sheer Desire (Matt Kakaley) once again ranged up first-over on the outside around the final turn and once again put its rivals away down the stretch to make it a clean sweep of the preliminary legs of the KYSS. The son of Real Desire--Carolache is trained by Ron Burke for the Burke Racing Stable, R Ringer, JJK Stables, and L Karr. Last year’s champion, Carnivore (Luke McCarthy), was on the front as expected through three-quarters in 1:24.4. Sheer Desire would go on to out-sprint its rival with a sizzling :26.1 final quarter for a neck victory in 1:51 under minimal urging. Real Image (Chris Page) finished third.

The Red Mile will be back in action Monday night with a 15-race card. Sunday, September 6 will be the annual $2.4 million ‘Night of Champions’ for Kentucky-sired horses. Both cards will have a first-race post time of 6:30 p.m.

(With files from the Red Mile)