Indiana invader Kountry Legacy popped when shipping for the $111,111 final preliminary leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for two-year-old pacing fillies on Sunday, Sept. 6 at The Red Mile, snatching victory in a 1:51.1 effort.

Starting from the pylon post, Kountry Legacy pushed to protect position as Goodwalkspoiled (Kyle Husted) brushed forward for the lead through a :27.3 first quarter. Goodwalkspoiled strolled up the backstretch as Banana Beach (Josert Fonseca), parked from the start when floating out of post nine, progressed uncovered up the rim with Seaside Ubeaut (Dexter Dunn) slotting into a second-over spot and Jk Simcha (Marvin Luna) into a third-over seat approaching a :56.1 half. 

Banana Beach began to waver around the last turn and started to retreat at three-quarters in 1:24.2, giving Kountry Legacy and Trace Tetrick room to angle out of the pocket. Once given clear sailing, Kountry Legacy quickened smoothly and slid by Goodwalkspoiled while staving off flanking late pursuers with a :26.2 final quarter to win by two lengths at the beam. Jk Simcha rallied for second over Seaside Ubeaut.

Jeff Cullipher trains Kountry Legacy, a filly by Capt Midnight out of world champion mare Shartin N, and co-owns her with Pollack Racing LLC. The filly won her fourth race from seven starts and has now banked $198,884 in her career. She paid $7.10 to win.

Baby Puppy ripped off a forward stalking trip to take the lone $41,667 dash of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series for freshman pacing fillies with a 1:51.3 effort. Atlee Bender sent the Erv Miller pupil to the fore through a :28.2 first quarter but found himself shuffled to third when Haven (Dexter Dunn) and then Holy (David Miller) brushed towards the top heading to a :55.3 half. After three-quarters in 1:24, Bender had ample room to angle Baby Puppy to the centre of the track, and his charge swooped to a length win over rallying stablemate Ryan Station (Marcus Miller). Haven was third. The winning Bulldog Hanover-American Cheer filly races for owners Ervin Miller Stable Inc., Stepbystep Racing and Bryn Campbell. She paid $5.62 to win in her second win from seven outings, which brought her bankroll to $72,564.

The Sunday card also featured a pair of $20,833 Kentucky Golden Rod Series divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies with Bordeaux Station (Marcus Miller) taking top honours with a pillar-to-post 1:51.1 victory by 2-1/2 lengths over pocket-sitter Odds On Momma (Dexter Dunn), with Aardies Lucy (Marvin Luna) third. Rob Rittoff trains the Sweet Lou-Bottle N Cork filly, who paid $2.46 to win. Brett Pelling pupil Jk Alwaysbpositive (David Miller) converted on a pocket trip to win by 4-1/4 lengths in the other division in a 1:51.4 mile and paid $2.68 to win. Miss Dolce (Chris Page) closed for place over Shezaloadedbet (Trace Tetrick).

The $13,889 Kentucky Wildcat Series divisions for rookie female pacers went to All Sparks (Joey Putnam, 1:53.1; $7), Bella Dayle (Atlee Bender, 1:53.2; $24.02), Aintuptotrouble (Atlee Bender, 1:55.3; $42.12) and Annalisa D (Chris Page, 1:54.4; $4.04).

Live harness racing at The Red Mile resumes on Monday with a 12-race card headlined by the $80,000 USD Kentucky Championship Series fourth preliminary for two-year-old trotting fillies. First-race post time is 1 p.m. (EDT).

(With files from The Red Mile)