Women Layer delivered as advertised in the second of two $69,444 Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) divisions for four-year-old pacing horses and geldings on Monday, April 21 at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, living up to his 2-5 promise with an authoritative victory.
Driver Todd McCarthy settled Women Layer third early as stablemate Lou Hill (Dexter Dunn) fired off the gate to cut a :26.3 opening quarter. McCarthy soon sent Women Layer (pictured above) to the lead, where the gelding coasted through a :54.4 half and 1:22.4 three-quarters before drawing clear under wraps to win by 4-3/4 lengths in 1:50.4. Lou Hill held second, while Steely Knife (Trace Tetrick) rallied from the backfield for third.
Now a 13-time winner from 22 starts, Women Layer has banked $557,607. The Sweet Lou–Loreenas Ruffian gelding is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for Let It Ride Stables Inc., Douglas Overhiser, Jeff Fought Racing, and Larry Wills. He returned $2.70 to win.
In the other KYSS division for four-year-old pacing males, Better Is Nice (Andy McCarthy) delivered as the 3-5 favourite with a steady first-over surge to win in 1:52.1.
McCarthy landed fourth early as Total Stranger (Todd McCarthy) cut fractions of :27.2 and :56. Better Is Nice began his grind down the backside, applying pressure through a 1:24 three-quarters and edging by in the lane to win by a length. Swaggy Cal (Jeremy Indof) closed off a pocket trip for second, while Total Stranger faded to third.
A son of Bettors Wish–Thatoververynice, Better Is Nice now sports $1,258,531 in career earnings and 13 wins from 30 starts. Tony Alagna trains for Alagna Racing LLC, Pryde Stables Inc., and Birnam Wood Farms. He paid $3.52 to win.
Spy Coast (Jeremy Indof) turned in a gritty effort in the lone $69,444 KYSS division for four-year-old trotting mares, wearing down the favoured Woman Of Passion (Todd McCarthy) to win in 1:54.1.
Woman Of Passion led the field through soft fractions of :27.4 and :56.4, but Spy Coast launched from third and matched strides through a 1:25.1 three-quarters. The pair battled around the far turn and into the stretch, with Spy Coast digging in late to edge a neck in front at the wire. Black Velvet As (Tony Hall) finished third, while R Liza (Dexter Dunn) chased from the pocket for fourth.
Spy Coast, a daughter of Walner–Zeppole, is trained by Ron Burke and now has nine wins from 32 starts and $356,923 in the bank. She returned $6.00 to win.
Bargain (Dexter Dunn) was just that for his backers in the KYSS split for four-year-old trotting colts and geldings, unleashing a powerful first-over move to score in 1:54.1.
The gelded son of Chapter Seven–Batoutahill advanced from fourth after fractions of :27.3 and :56.3 set by Ordained(Trace Tetrick), rolling up to take over at three-quarters in 1:25.3 and holding firm to the finish. Convoy Hall (David Miller), the 2-1 favourite, followed cover to finish second, while Ways N Means (Marvin Luna) shook loose for third.
Nancy Takter trains Bargain for Christina Takter & Anderberg, JAF Racing, Joe Sbrocco, R A W Equine Inc., and herself. He now sports six wins from 27 starts and $446,996 in earnings. He paid $6.60 to win.
In the KYSS division for four-year-old pacing mares, Bath Bomb (Andy McCarthy) pulled off a mild upset, blasting home from the pocket to upend 2-5 favourite Asweetbeachhere (Todd McCarthy) in 1:50.4.
Asweetbeachhere dictated the terms through panels of :27, :55.2, and 1:23.2, but Bath Bomb sat chilly in second before making her move in the stretch. The top pair kicked clear of the field, with Bath Bomb edging away to win by three-quarters of a length. Peace Talks (Dexter Dunn) closed from the second tier to snag third.
Trained by Per Engblom for Morrison Racing Stables, the Lather Up–Sangaal mare earned her fifth win from 17 starts and boosted her bankroll to $198,668. She returned $11.52 to win.
Saulsbrook Victor (Brett MacDonald) capped off the day with the fastest mile of the Oak Grove meet so far, winning the $41,667 Open Pace in 1:49.4.
Clearing command past a :26.2 first quarter, the Source Of Pride–Atlanta Girl gelding never looked back, cruising to a 1-1/4 length score. Dale Yeah (Marvin Luna) challenged first-over for second, while Hezzz A Wise Sky (Marcus Miller) tracked from the pocket to finish third.
Trained by Ronald MacDonald for owner-driver Brett MacDonald, Saulsbrook Victor posted his 32nd career win and increased his earnings to $713,230. He paid $3.82 to win.
Earlier in the card, Lyin Eyes (Joey Putnam) pulled off a 9-1 upset in the $41,667 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap with a sweeping rally.
After quick fractions of :26.4, :54.3, and 1:23 set by Dandys Mercy (Marcus Miller), Lyin Eyes stormed home to win by a length in 1:52. Scorecard Dandy (Dexter Dunn) followed the pocket path to finish second, while Dandys Mercy held third.
Joe Putnam conditions the four-year-old Odds On Equuleus–Miswava Hanover mare for J P Racing LLC, Joey Putnam, and Crazy Parrot Farm LLC. She paid $19.94 to win.
Racing continues at Oak Grove on Tuesday, April 22, with a 12-race card. First-race post time at Oak Grove is 1:45 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Oak Grove)