The Red Mile hosted four divisions of the $268,000 International Stallion Stakes (ISS) for two-year-old filly trotters on Wednesday (October 7), and Celebrity Eventsy was a wire-to-wire winner in 1:54 during the opening split.
Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, Celebrity Eventsy (by Manofmanymissions and out of Little Ms Queenie) cut the fractions (:28.2, :57, 1:25) and held off a late challenge by first-over rallier Lookin Sharp. Silvia finished third and Encore Gold finished fourth.
Owned by Celebrity Farms, trained by Staffan Lind and driven by Brett Miller, Celebrity Eventsy obtained her fourth win in nine starts this year and returned $2.20 to win.
“She really is [talented]," Staffan Lind said. “A lot of times, it looks like she’s going really hard fractions, but she does them easily.”
When asked about the Breeders Crown as her next step, Lind said that’s what he’s aiming towards.
With a patient drive from Dave Palone, Haughty made her victory-worthy move in the final turn to take the second ISS split in 1:55. Stalking temposetter Hot Curry and pocket-sitter Franniegetyourgun, Haughty waited through fractions of :28.2 and :57.1 before edging off the pylons. She approached Hot Curry in the third quarter before advancing to the lead. Franniegetyourgun tipped off the pylons and attempted to pursue Haughty, but settled for second, while Hot Curry faded to third.
Also sent off as a 1-9 favourite, Haughty (Donato Hanover-Letsjustalkaboutme) paid $2.20 to win. She's owned by Marvin Katz, Al Libfeld, and Sam Goldband and is trained by Jimmy Takter. Haughty has yet to lose in six career starts.
"She's just a pleasure to drive,” Palone said. “I didn’t have to pull the plugs out. It's nice to prove the kind of horse she is.”
"We have confidence in Jimmy Takter,” Katz said. “He was careful bringing her along, and once she started racing, he really liked her.”
“If she comes out of the race well, I think so [going to the Breeders Crown], but it’s up to Jimmy [Takter],” Katz also said.
Favourite Sunset Glider battled with Sweet Ashley T for control and faltered, allowing Dancing In Thehall to slide by with ease to a 1:55 win in the third ISS division. In their conflict, Sunset Glider and Sweet Ashley T put up the first quarter in :29 and the half in :56.1 before Sweet Ashley T began to retreat. Hollywood Hill began to rally first-over around the far turn towards the 1:25.3 three quarters, and Dancing In Thehall was winding up his move, which granted him the lead by the eighth pole. He slid clear of Hollywood Hill, closer Lindys On Fire, and Sunset Glider.
Paying $19.40 to win, the daughter of Cantab Hall-Doin The Town racked the second win of her season. She competes for the interests of Vanersol Inc. and trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt.
"She raced very good last week, and it helped that they raced very fast to the half. She has the Goldsmith Maid. She's getting better with every start.”
In the final division, the Anette Lorentzon-trained Ultimate Shopper sat off a mile pace established by Womans Will before pulling towards the centre of the course and pursuing the lead en route to a 1:54 victory. Making her move after stalking a pace of :29, :58, and 1:26.2, Ultimate Shopper fanned wide of pocket-sitter and even-money favourite Kathy Parker. She was stride for stride with Womans Will about midway through the stretch until she edged by and advanced to a length and a half victory.
Womans Will held on for second, Kathy Parker finished third, and Wildflower finished fourth.
Owned by Acl Stuteri Ab, Anette Lorentzon, and Kjell Johansson and driven by Tim Tetrick, the filly by Yankee Glide-Adelaide Hall scored her first win in seven starts this season.
“I mean, she almost beat Broadway Donna last week, so I knew she’d give me a good run if I could just get out,” Tetrick said. “The slow fractions didn’t really hurt her because she’s not really big and really likes to sprint fast on the end, so it actually worked out perfect for her.”
“She was sick [in the Peaceful Way] elimination and they [Lorentzon and owners] decided that they really like the filly and want to try to protect her and get her ready for Lexington and the Breeders Crown,” Tetrick also said.
Live racing resumes Thursday, October 8, with the highlighted event being five divisions of the $264,000 ISS for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters. First-race post is at 1 p.m.
(Red Mile)