The Ron Burke-trained dynamic duo of Melillo and Al Papi — both graded stakes winners at the upper echelon of the three-year-old male pacing division — will face off in the $365,000 USD Tattersalls Pace (Grade 2), sponsored by Cameo Hills Farm, in the final race on the final day of the 2026 meet at The Red Mile this Saturday afternoon, Oct. 10.
Melillo, the 9-5 morning line favourite in rein to Ronnie Wrenn Jr., landed the pylon post in the Tattersalls following a runner-up finish to Canadian-record holder Redland Rocket Man in the Grade 1 Little Brown Jug on Sept. 24. He drew just inside of stablemate Al Papi (driven by Yannick Gingras, post two, 2-1 morning line odds), who finished third behind Melillo in the Little Brown Jug among other prominent finishes include a second-place effort to Brandon Blvd in the Grade 1 Meadowlands Pace and a win in the Grade 1 Adios Pace at The Meadows. Burke will send out another pair in Winnercircleseeker (Joe Bongiorno, post seven, 15-1) and Ubrute (Jason Bartlett, post nine, 8-1) in the 10-horse field that also attracted the Brett Pelling-trained speedy Sea Bistro Hanover (Todd McCarthy, post eight, 6-1) and Grade 2 Cane Pace champion Sweet Lovin Lou (Scott Zeron, post 10, 3-1) from the Dan Lagace stable.
Sophomore pacing fillies will spar in the debutante co-feature, the $212,000 USD Glen Garnsey Memorial (Grade 2), sponsored by Diamond Creek Farm, in the penultimate race on closing day. Pelling pupil Miss Jum Jabber (Andy McCarthy, post one, 1-1), a winner of 13 races from 16 starts in her career, will look to rebound from a head defeat to Hope Hill (Dexter Dunn, post two, 2-1) in the Grade 3 Bluegrass last week. The 11-horse field also includes Im A Lou Lou (Tim Tetrick, post five, 9-2), who finished third in the Grade 1 Jugette as well as to Miss Jum Jabber and Hope Hill in last week’s Bluegrass division, in addition to Kentucky Golden Rod Series champ Need You Now (Joey Putnam, post nine, 8-1), who finished runner-up in a 1:49.1 mile behind Bluegrass division winner Topville Lucky and ahead of third-place finisher Barbuda Belle (Ronnie Wrenn Jr., post seven, 8-1) last week.
The $145,000 USD Allerage Open Pace, sponsored by Jeff & Paula Gural, will open the final $3 Players Pick 3 of the meet in race nine on closing day. The 10-horse field, including eight millionaires, will have Ken Hanover (Tim Tetrick, post seven, 2-1) eyeing a rebound from a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Dayton Pacing Derby after taking a pair of Grade 2 events in the Jim Ewart Memorial and the Hoosier Park Pacing Derby. Dr. Ian Moore trainee Prince Hal Hanover (Todd McCarthy, post six, 3-1) will try for his first graded stakes victory since taking the Grade 2 Charles Juravinski Memorial at Flamboro Downs back in May. Veteran pacing gelding Charlie May (Scott Zeron, post five, 15-1) will also put his nose on the gate, following a third via placing in the Ohio Sires Stakes aged final on Oct. 4 at Northfield Park, as well as Grade 2 William Haughton Memorial winner Lou Hill (Yannick Gingras, post one, 9-2) and Grade 1 Dan Patch Pace champ Dandy Ideal (Jason Bartlett, post three, 8-1).
Twin B Joe Fresh (Dexter Dunn, post four, 4-5) will look to maintain the throne on the aged pacing mare division when she faces four rivals in the first stakes of the closing day card in race two, the $67,000 USD Allerage Mare Pace (Grade 3). The six-year-old Chris Ryder trainee and winner of 40 races from 60 starts enters from a 1:49.2 win in the Grade 1 Dayton Distaff Derby last Saturday which was her first graded stakes win since taking the Grade 3 Clara Barton at Plainridge Park on July 19. Her competition in this race includes Grade 3 Betsy Ross Invitational winner Louies Girl N (Jason Bartlett, post one, 5-2), 2025 Breeders Crown Three-Year-Old Filly Pace dead-heat winner (with Twin B Joe Fresh) The Last Martini (Scott Zeron, post two, 12-1), Rocket Deo (Tim Tetrick, post three, 9-2) and Champagne Room (Ronnie Wrenn Jr., post five, 8-1).
Trotting sophomores will also compete in five divisions of the Grade 3 Bluegrass Stakes with two $114,000 USD divisions slated for the males and three $84,000+ (USD) divisions for the fillies.
Ake Svanstedt trainee Magic Punk (Todd McCarthy, post three, 2-1) earned morning-line favouritism in the first division off a fourth-place effort in the Grade 1 Canadian Trotting Classic and a last-place effort after breaking stride in the Grade 1 Kentucky Futurity. He matches up inside of the seven-horse field that also includes Linda Toscano trainee It Could Be Worse (Tim Tetrick, post one, 3-1), who tuned up with a 1:51.1 victory in an overnight at The Red Mile last Thursday.
The second division for trotting males includes Grade 3 Goodtimes winner Neighver Punt (Dexter Dunn, post three, 5-2), fresh from a fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Futurity, as well as Grade 3 Old Oaken Bucket winner Untouchable As (Tony Hall, post seven, 7-2).
Leading Lady (Yannick Gingras, post seven, 2-1) will seek to rebound after breaking stride in the Grade 1 Kentucky Filly Futurity when she starts as the morning line chalk in the opening Bluegrass division for sophomore trotting fillies.
The second division attracted Carve (Andy McCarthy, post six, 2-1) and R Ro (Andy Miller, post five, 12-1), who finished third and fourth, respectively, in the Kentucky Filly Futurity, as well as Kentucky Commonwealth Series champ Naked And Famous (Todd McCarthy, post two, 6-1).
Isabella Bi (Ake Svanstedt, post seven, 6-1), winner of the Kentucky Filly Futurity consolation, will look for another Red Mile Grand Circuit win when she goes to the gate in the third division right outside of morning line favourite Jailbird Jog (Anthony MacDonald, post six, 2-1) in the eight-horse affair.
Sponsors of the five Bluegrass divisions on Saturday include the Captain Corey Syndicate, Greenshoe Syndicate, Tactical Landing and Karl Syndicates, Hanover Shoe Farms, the Harness Horse Youth Foundation 50th Anniversary and Wiesman Farms.
First-race post time for the 14-race card is 1 p.m.
(The Red Mile; photo of Melillo from a previous win)