Dancinwiththestarz continued her winning ways, while Springtime Volo, Offbroadway De Vie, Flex The Muscle and Western Thorn were also victorious in $10,000 Kindergarten Classic preliminary races for two-year-olds on Saturday night at Vernon Downs

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With James Stevens sitting in for trainer John Stark, Jr. in the KC filly pace, Dancinwiththestarz took the measure of her eight rivals before taking control of the fourth race shortly before the half and continuing on to a 3-1/2 length triumph in 1:54.3. It was the third win in succession and the seventh score in 10 starts for the bay daughter of Four Starzzz Shark-So Western, who has won more than $192,000 for owners Shannon Brott and the W Springtime Racing Stable. Her previous tally was in a $200,000 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes contest.

Springtime Volo started the KC series off with a 1:58.3 victory in Saturday’s first race, a division of the filly trot. Greg Merton, who earned a double during the program, did the teaming for trainer Jan Johnson as the bay daughter of Classic Photo-Silver Springs rallied from third at the half to secure a one-length score, her second of the season. Jorgen Jahre, Jr. and the Kentuckiana Racing Stable own the lifetime winner of $26,767.

Offbroadway De Vie captured the third race, the other KC female trotting flight, with a personal best 1:58.1 mile. Howard Parker drove for trainer Oyvind Hegdal as the bay daughter of Broadway Hall-Pauls Wink led from start to finish and won by two lengths. It was the second tally in a row for the career winner of $20,231, who is owned by the Joie De Vie Farm and Peter Barbato.

Flex The Muscle, the fifth race winner in 1:59.2, advanced from sixth in the early going to gain the lead entering the homestretch and then drew off by nearly seven lengths in the KC male trotting test. Gareth Dowse did the steering for trainer Ray Schnittker, who owns the brown son of Muscles Yankee-Alix Hall along with Jerry Silva and the Arden Homestead Stable. It was the fifth win in 11 outings for the winner of $71,583.

Western Thorn was urged out of the pocket entering the stretch in Saturday’s sixth session and drew off in the final furlong to record a five-length victory in the KC male pace. The 1:53.2 performance resulted in the “maiden” triumph for the bay son of Western Terror-Rosie Rosie Rosie, who is trained by Tracy Brainard and owned by the Bulletproof Enterprises. She’s currently a winner of $101,072.

The KC series will offer another preliminary round next weekend before the finals are held at Vernon on Saturday, October 31.

(Vernon Downs)