Endurance made it look effortless as he stopped the clock in a lifetime-best-equalling 1:52.3 in the $111,111 fourth round of the Kentucky Championship Series for rookie trotting males at The Red Mile on Wednesday, Aug. 27 for his fifth consecutive victory. 

Andrew McCarthy and Endurance left the gate from post six and landed on the front before giving way to It Could Be Worse (Scott Zeron) at the quarter in :28.4. It Could Be Worse led with Endurance in the pocket through the half in :56.4, but Endurance swung out to attack approaching three-quarters in 1:25.3. By the three-quarter pole, Endurance was nose-to-nose with the pacesetter, and he drew away as they came off the last turn, coming home in :27 to win by 1-3/4 lengths. Silverstein (Dave Miller) closed from fourth with a last quarter panel in :26.4 to be second. Neighver Punt (Dexter Dunn) was overtaken by Silverstein in the lane but held for third.

Trained by Chris Beaver, Endurance is a son of Captain Corey-Love Session. He has banked $265,811 and has won five of six career outings, with his only loss a fourth-place finish in his debut at Oak Grove Racing. The colt was bred by Steve Stewart and Martti Ala-Seppala. He is the third foal out of his dam, a half-sibling to world champions Triumphant Caviar and Centurion Atm, and by far her most prolific. Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming, and Mark Moger own the colt, who went for $19,444 at last year's Harrisburg sale. Endurance paid $4.15 as the favourite.

The 13-race card also included two $41,667 divisions of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, three $20,833 divisions of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series and two $13,889 divisions of the Kentucky Wildcat Series for freshman male trotters.

Lethal Legacy and Todd McCarthy captured the first Commonwealth division in 1:54.3 with Be Green (Andy Miller) in second and Gorilla Sighting (Atlee Bender) third. Trained by Carter Pinske, the son of Muscle Hill-Lady Lakewood broke his maiden in his sixth attempt and bumped his earnings up to $54,626. The gelding, bred by James Wilhite, is owned by Pinske Stables and Hazy Holdings LLC. He paid $25.26 at odds of 11-1.

Favoured Zephyr Kemp (Dunn) won his second consecutive race in a lifetime-best 1:53.4 by a nose over second-choice Requiem (Dave Miller) in the second split. Express Train (Todd McCarthy) got up for third. The winning son of Calgary Games-Southwind Adele improved to 7-3-0-0 and grew his bank account to $89,826. The colt was bred by Kemppi Stables Oy and Suojalampi Stable Inc. Zephyr Kemp’s breeders share ownership with PCW Racing LLC and Sjoblom Racing Inc. The colt’s price at the windows was $4.44.

Caraxes (Dave Miller, $6.96) had his picture taken in the first Golden Rod division with a 1:55.1 victory. Dunn guided Never Say Die ($15.62, 1:55.3) and Jeffrey Neil ($7.66, 1:55.3) to the wins in the following legs.

Tim Tetrick and Lucchese ($8.28) took the first division of the Wildcat Series, with Dunn in the bike behind Caviart War Room ($2.56) in the second.

Dunn had four consecutive wins on the day in Races 6-9.

(The Red Mile)