Madam Cheval, coming out of a defeat in the Grade 1 Hambletonian Oaks, ripped from off the speed for a 1:51 upset in the $111,111 Kentucky Championship Series second preliminary for three-year-old trotting fillies. Sea Bistro Hanover torched the track earlier in the card with a 1:47.1 mile in the $111,111 second preliminary dash for sophomore pacing males.

Leaving from post 10 in the 12-horse contest, Madam Cheval (Tim Tetrick) took back to 10th while Heart For Two (Marvin Luna) brushed briefly to lead through a shuffle to a :27.4 first quarter. Jailbird Jog (Yannick Gingras) followed and soon took the top before 7-5 favourite Carve (Andy McCarthy), making her first start since finishing runner-up in the Hambletonian Oaks, swept for the front. Madam Cheval meanwhile trotted steadily off the speed through a :55.3 half and caught cover to race fourth-over into the far turn. Carve endured pressure from first-up Ygritte (Dexter Dunn) passing three-quarters in 1:24 as Tetrick lifted Madam Cheval three-wide and gathered steam into the stretch. Madam Cheval chugged through the lane to reel in her rivals and slide away for a length win over Ygritte while Carve held third.

Nancy Takter trains Madam Cheval, a daughter of Walner out 2014 Dan Patch Trotter of the Year Shake It Cerry, for owner M. Biasuzzi Stable Inc. The filly won her fourth race from nine starts this season and her fifth race from 21 starts in her career, banking $440,630. She paid $46.94 to win.

Sea Bistro Hanover (Todd McCarthy) soared from a second-over trip earlier in the card with a :25.4 kicker to score in the Kentucky Championship Series second preliminary for sophomore pacing males. The gelding sat off of :26.1 and :53.2 speed uncorked by Sneaky Squeaky (Joe Bongiorno) before catching cover from Bookie J (Dexter Dunn) on the march to three-quarters in 1:21. Bookie J tired while pocket-sitter Ubrute (Yannick Gingras) zipped through a seam at the pylons and Sea Bistro Hanover angled to the centre of the track. Ubrute snatched a brief lead until Sea Bistro Hanover built momentum and motored by for a 1-3/4-length win under wraps. Funky Buddha (Tim Tetrick) rallied for third.

Brett Pelling trains Sea Bistro Hanover, a gelding by Captaintreacherous-Santa Rosa, for owners David McDuffee, Paul Bordogna and Melvin Hartman. The gelding collected his fourth win from 11 starts this season and his fifth win from 18 starts in his career, pushing his earnings to $248,112. He paid $6.38 to win.

Trainer Carter Pinske scored a hat trick on the day. His first win came in the single $41,667 Kentucky Commonwealth Series division for three-year-old trotting fillies when Decreed (Tim Tetrick, 1:52.4; $13.46) stormed from off the speed to collar second-over rallying Degas (Yannick Gingras) and first-up Joyofmylife As (Tony Hall), who were second and third, respectively. Pinske then won a pair of $20,833 Kentucky Golden Rod Series divisions for sophomore trotting fillies with Clemency (Todd McCarthy, 1:52.4; $4.94) and Calyx (Todd McCarthy, 1:53.1; $6.64).

A pair of $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series divisions for sophomore pacing males were also contested on the 15-race card. Thiago Hanover (Yannick Gingras, 1:49.1; $14.84) again took top honours from a front-stepping effort after pulling a 15-1 upset when winning the fastest division of the series’ opening preliminary last week. Door Dash (Scott Zeron) was second, followed by Toby Ornot Toby (Tim Tetrick). Caillou Hanover (Atlee Bender, 1:50.1; $21.12) capitalized from a pocket trip to win the other division over pacesetter and odds-on favourite Captain Apple (Dexter Dunn), with Downbythelakeside (Tim Tetrick) third. 

After returning to action during Monday's racing, driver Scott Zeron returned to the winner's circle for the first time since an accident on Thursday, Aug. 6 at Yonkers Raceway. Zeron guided Concise (1:53.1; $4.48) to victory in one of Tuesday's three $20,333 Kentucky Golden Rod divisions for three-year-old filly trotters. Clemency (Todd McCarthy, 1:52.4; $4.94) and Calyx (Todd McCarthy, 1:53.1, $6.64) took the other splits for that group. There were also three divisions for three-year-old colts and geldings, won by Lastdrivedownmain (Zeron, 1:50; $10.64), Benny B Hill (Dexter Dunn, 1:50.2; $2.18) and Odds On Python (Josh Sutton, 1:50; $10.66).

Fourbettor (Dexter Dunn, 1:50; $7.90) and Jula Princess (Andy McCarthy, 1:53.1; $3.02) won the $13,889 Kentucky Wildcat Series divisions for sophomore pacing males and trotting fillies, respectively. 

Live harness racing at The Red Mile continues on Wednesday with a 15-race card headlined by the $80,000 USD Kentucky Championship Series second preliminary for three-year-old trotting males and the $80,000 USD second round for sophomore pacing fillies. First-race post time is 1 p.m. (EDT).

(With files from The Red Mile; photo of Madam Cheval winning on Aug. 18)