The Red Mile hosted the richest American Monte Race, with a purse of $20,000, on the Bluegrass Series undercard Sunday.

Jenny Melander rode Sand Top Gun to a 2:00 victory, a lifetime mark in Monte races.

Getting away ninth, they picked up cover down the backstretch and were forced four-wide as other horses were coming to the outside. The duo were four-wide through a :28.1 quarter and a :58 (:29.4) half.

Sand Top Gun came a little closer to the pylons into the far turn. He was in third behind Take My Picture and Angel Eyes Hanover. Melander then brought Sand Top Gun three-wide at three-quarters in 1:28.4 (:30.4).

Into the lane, Sand Top Gun drifted slightly, but chased down Take My Picture to win in 2:00. Take My Picture, with Therese Lindgren, was second and Angel Eyes Hanover, with Anita Valstad, was third.

Sand Top Gun is a seven-year-old gelding by Conway Hall out of the mare Top Chip by Pine Chip. He is owned by Helane and Harold Solomon and Stephen Moss. Sand Top Gun is trained by Tyler Raymer.

Melander is now a winner of two Under Saddle races in four tries.

(With files from The Red Mile)