Friday morning started out with heavy rains and wind which delayed the first post by one hour, but it turned out to be a perfect day for Seaside and her connections, as she took the $378,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity in straight heats

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Twenty-one three-year-old trotting fillies were entered in the Kentucky Filly Futurity and they were split into three $65,520 eliminations, with the top three in each and one fourth place finisher returning for the second heat worth a combined $181,440.

The first elimination was taken by Ok To Play (Daniel Dube), as the filly moved to the lead just past the opening quarter and never looked back, cruising through fractions of :57.4, 1:26, before drawing clear by four open lengths in 1:53.4. Erv Miller trains the daughter of Yankee Glide-Olympic Light for Daniel Plouffe and Jean Claude Dessureault. Littlemscantbwrong (Jody Jamieson) rallied from sixth to take the place spot, while Wedding Dress (John Campbell) grabbed the last spot in the final after finishing third, 8-1/4 lengths behind the winner.

The second elimination was widely considered to be the toughest with heavyweights Windsong Soprano (David Miller) and Broadway Schooner (Brian Sears) also hooking up with last year’s two-year-old phenom, Honorable Daughter (John Campbell), along with the ultra-consistent Raising Rachel (Jack Moiseyev). The fillies did not disappoint as the two favourites hooked up around the final turn and passed three-quarters stride for stride in 1:25. Broadway Schooner was dead game along the inside, but Windsong Soprano was there every step of the way on the outside as well, with the Hambletonian Oaks Champion, Broadway Schooner, eventually hitting the wire a half-length ahead in 1:53.3. The win was the fifth in her last six starts for the daughter of Broadway Hall-Pine Schooner, who is trained by Jim Campbell and owned by her breeders, Arlene and Jules Seigel.

The 37-1 longshot, Sea Raven (Tim Tetrick), used a rail ride to get up in time for third, with Honorable Daughter being the lone fourth-place finisher in the three eliminations to qualify for the final.

The third and final elimination went to Seaside (David Miller), as she turned in a dominating gate-to-wire score after leaving from the outside Post 7 and cruising through fractions of :28.1, :56.3, 1:26, before hitting the wire 1-1/4 lengths the best in 1:53.3. The daughter of Yankee Glide-Blue Skys Again is trained by Jonas Czernyson for Thomas Dillon.

The 9-5 favourite, Yursa Hanover (Daniel Dube), used a second-over trip to finish second, while Margarita Momma (Ron Pierce) was 2-1/2 lengths behind the winner in third after coming first-over.

Those three eliminations set up a nine-horse final after Wedding Dress came up as a judges scratch.

Seaside (David Miller) flashed early speed from Post 3 and led the field through an opening quarter of :28.2, before yielding to Ok To Play (Daniel Dube) as the field straightened out up the backstretch. Ok To Play would continue to lead the field through a half in :56.3, but began to tire as her lead had nearly disintegrated as the field hit three-quarters in 1:25.3. Yursa Hanover (Tim Tetrick) was the first-over challenger on the outside and briefly took over command as the field turned for home, but Seaside ultimately found room along the pylons and charged up the inside to secure a length victory over Yursa Hanover in 1:54. Littlemscantbwrong (Jody Jamieson) closed from seventh at the head of the lane to take third, 1-1/4 lengths behind the winner.

For Seaside, it was her fifth seasonal win and the winner’s share of the purse put her career earnings to over $435,000.

"It worked out perfect," said winning driver David Miller of the trip. "I left and got the lead. But I thought the one [OK To Play] was the one to follow. That's how it worked out, and I had plenty of horse."

Sophomore Pacing Fillies Battle In Bluegrass Series

The first $101,500 Bluegrass division for three-year-old filly pacers featured a prohibitive 1-10 favourite in Showherthemoney (Jim Morrill, Jr.), coming off four consecutive victories that included wins in the $252,700 Nadia Lobell on September 14 at The Red Mile, and also in the $224,000 Jugette on September 23 in Delaware, Ohio.

The daughter of Cams Card Shark-Stienams Place did not disappoint her huge contingency of backers as she tucked away fifth in the early going and used a vicious stretch rally with a :27.1 final quarter under minimal urging to get up in time to score a 1-3/4 length victory in 1:51.3.

Showherthemoney has now won all five starts since moving over to trainer Tracy Brainard’s barn and is owned by the Bulletproof Enterprises. Friday afternoon’s victory pushed her career earnings to over $547,000.

Up Front Kellie Jo (George Brennan) used a pocket trip to maintain the place spot, with Indulge Me (Mike Lachance) also riding the cones the entire way to finish third.

The second $101,500 Bluegrass split saw a furious stretch rally as well, this time with Shanghai Lil (Mike Lachance) coming from last early on and closing with a :27.2 final quarter to nail home a two length win in 1:51.2, which equaled her lifetime best. The daughter of Jennas Beach Boy-Wonderbolt was coming off a 10-1/2 length romp in the John Simpson Stakes contested on September 24 at The Red Mile, and is trained by Pete Foley for All Star Racing Inc. The win was her fourth of the year and pushed her earnings to over $444,000.

West of L A (Ron Pierce) was the early leader and held well for second, and 49-1 longshot Thats The Plan (Jody Jamieson) used a pocket ride to finish 2-1/2 lengths behind the winner in third.

Racing action continues on Saturday afternoon at The Red Mile with a first post of 12:30 p.m. for the stakes-filled card that includes the $600,000 117th running of the Kentucky Futurity, third leg of the trotting triple crown, as well as the $251,000 Bluegrass Series for three-year-old colt pacers and the $419,400 Bluegrass Series for two-year-old colt pacers.

(The Red Mile)