On yet another blazing hot day in the Bluegrass on Monday, Aug. 18, It Could Be Worse could not have performed better in the $111,111 third leg of the Kentucky Sires Stakes Championship Series for freshman male trotters at The Red Mile in 1:53. 

The day’s events included $48,611 second leg divisions of the Kentucky Sires Stakes Series for older pacing males and mares, two $41,667 third round divisions of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, three $20,833 third leg divisions of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series and two $13,889 third round divisions of the Kentucky Wildcat Series. The older male and mare pacing series were the only stakes contests not for two-year-old male trotters.

It Could Be Worse Flies Home To Take Championship Series Leg

Scott Zeron placed It Could Be Worse (pictured above) in excellent position and the colt responded with an emphatic drive to the line to make his first winner’s circle visit in Lexington. Silverstein (David Miller) was the bridesmaid once again, while favoured Apex (Dexter Dunn) was third.

The son of Captain Corey-Emiliciousboomboom began trotting from post position three in the field of eight and settled in that position as longshot Chapel (Todd McCarthy) broke on the lead through a first quarter in :27.4. Silverstein inherited the lead and held it through the majority of the race with splits of :57.1 and 1:25.4.

It Could Be Worse followed that foe around the oval and when the horses reached the top of the stretch it was game on as Silverstein clung to the lead by a head. Zeron set his colt loose and he responded with a sizzling :26.4 final panel to stop the clock in a new lifetime best of 1:53.

Hailing from the shedrow of Linda Toscano, It Could Be Worse was an admirable second to Endurance, who has been dominate, last week. The colt is now 4-2-2-0 and has banked $101,282.

With this win, It Could Be Worse becomes the second leading foal based on record for first crop sire and Hambletonian victor Captain Corey. Ironically, Endurance is first based on money earned and record.

It Could Be Worse brought the gavel down for $62,500 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and went home to The Bay S Stable of Englewood, Colorado, Pat And Mark Huber of Columbus, Ohio, Bill Elliott of Woodstock, Ont., and Camelot Stable Inc. of Freehold, New Jersey.

The colt provided those who wagered on him $14.18 payout as the third choice.

Bath Bomb, Women Layer Win KYSS For Older Pacers

She had some work to do coming down the lane in the $48,611 Kentucky Sire Stakes division for older pacing mares, but Bath Bomb (Andrew McCarthy) closed from fourth to defeat Capytreach (Atlee Bender) by a head in 1:49.1 for trainer Per Engblom. Seeuontheotherside (Scott Zeron) was third.

The daughter of Lather Up-Sangaal won the $205,479 final for this division at Oak Grove on June 24. She improved her record to 26-11-5-4 and has amassed $531,815 in earnings.

Bred by Mark Smith, Bath Bomb is owned by Morrison Racing Stables. She paid $6.66 to win as the public’s second choice. The final time was a lifetime best for the four-year-old.

Women Layer won the male division, a non-betting race, for a repeat win in the series -- this one clocked in 1:49.4 off a pocket trip. 

Todd McCarthy drove the four-year-old Sweet Lou-Loreenas Ruffian gelding, who improved to 10-for-11 on the year, for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. and owners Let It Ride Stables Inc., Douglas Overhiser, Jeff Fought Racing and Larry Wills.

Women Layer's stablemate Lou Hill (Dexter Dunn) was the runner-up, three lengths behind after setting the pace, with Bet On Big Joe (Geremy Bobbitt) third in the four-horse affair.

Zephyr Kemp, Requiem Collect Second Career Wins In Commonwealth Series

Dexter Dunn guided Zephyr Kemp to a new lifetime standard of 1:54.3 for trainer Marcys Melander in the first division of this series. It was the colt’s second win from six career trips to the gate and boosted his bankroll to $69,992. Express Train (Todd McCarthy) was second and American Power (David Miller) snagged the show spot.

The son of Calgary Games-Southwind Adele was bred by Kemppi Stables and Suojalampi Stable. He is owned by his breeders, Pcw Racing and Sjoblom Racing.

Zephyr Kemp paid $6.84 to win.

Reguiem (David Miller) closed stoutly to best favoured Inexpressable (Scott Zeron) in 1:54.2. Exactly (Marvin Luna) was third. The time was a new mark for the Mathew Burkholder pupil.

The son of Muscle Hill-Ostrich Blue Chip now possesses a resume of 5-2-0-2 and has earned $57,775.

Owned by Dark Horse Farm, the colt was bred by John Schmucker, Sunset Stables and Whiskeyontherocksracing.

Requiem paid $24.20 to win at odds of 11-1.

Golden Rod And Wildcat Victors Complete The Card

Favourites Never Say Die (Dexter Dunn, $6.26) and Deuce Pop (Todd McCarthy, $3.14) won the first two divisions of the Golden Rod Series, with second choice Captain Naughty (Tim Tetrick, $6.30) taking the third.

Favourite Finn Mccool (Andy Miller, $4.64) and second choice Gabes Luck (Yannick Gingras, $7.92) had their pictures taken in the two divisions of the Wildcat Series.

Racing will continue through Sunday, Oct. 5, following a Sunday through Wednesday schedule. Fans and horsemen can look forward to 5:05 p.m. post times on Sundays and 1 p.m. post times on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the meet.

(With files from The Red Mile)