Admiral Hill established a new track record in winning a $205,479 Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) final for four-year-old pacing horses at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel in 1:48.
Launching for the lead from the six-hole, Admiral Hill (Yannick Gingras) seized the lead via a :26.2 first quarter. He maintained his speed through a :54.4 half and to three-quarters in 1:21, where El Rey (Dexter Dunn) staged a first-over assault. El Rey stayed persistent at Admiral Hill's throat all through the final turn while Gingras called on his charge to fight spinning for home. Admiral Hill held his ground all through the stretch and held El Rey at bay to the beam by a neck. For Once Inmy Life (Andy McCarthy) gave chase off a pocket trip to finish third.
Per Engblom trains Admiral Hill, a gelding by Sweet Lou, for owner Morrison Racing Stables. He won his 16th race from 34 starts and has now earned $592,059. Admiral Hill's 1:48 mile bests the track record for four-year-old pacing geldings of 1:48.3 that he set just a week ago. It also beat the all-age track record of 1:48.2 set by All Or Nothing last year.
Once In A Lifetime (Todd McCarthy) also exacted revenge in the $205,479 KYSS final for four-year-old trotting horses and geldings. Once In A Lifetime won in 1:52 after he finished runner-up in the $136,986 series final just a month ago.
McCarthy hustled the Jim Campbell trainee for the top from the pylon post and refused to relinquish control past a :26.3 first quarter. The Hazelton (Yannick Gingras), left with nowhere to sit at the pylons, committed to race first-over but made little inroads past a :55.2 half. Once In A Lifetime then stole a big breather as The Hazelton sat parked and much of his competition raced locked at the pylons to three-quarters in 1:24.2. From there, McCarthy hit the accelerator and Once In A Lifetime jetted away to a 2-1/2-length win over pocket-sitting Djimon (David Miller). French Wine (Andy Miller), the 4-5 favourite, emerged third after a bottled trip.
Sad Frog Farms owns Once In A Lifetime, a gelded son of Father Patrick who now has 12 wins from 30 starts and $661,541 earned.
Vindication continued later in the card when Railee Something (Andy McCarthy) finally turned the tables on 1-9 favourite Mambacita (Dexter Dunn) with a 1:52.1 win in the $205,479 KYSS final for four-year-old trotting mares.
Entering the race off five straight runner-up finishes to her main rival. McCarthy landed on the point with Railee Something after a :27.1 first quarter out of the five-hole. Dunn floated forward out of the six-hole with Mambacita but could only find a seat behind Railee Something, who freewheeled to a :55.3 half and three-quarters in 1:23.4. With steam still in reserve through the final turn, Dunn pulled pocket, ducked back into the pocket and made any move he can to implore Mambacita turning for home, but Railee Something chugged down the track to grab victory by 2-1/4 lengths. Mambacita settled for second, having her unbeaten season snapped, with Picaboo Lady (Gingras) closing for third.
Roger Cullipher conditions Railee Something, a daughter of International Moni, for owner-breeder Ronald Mersky. In collecting her 13th win from 36 starts, she added to her account now worth $843,384.
Strong Poison (Gingras) was the only horse to sweep both series for four-year-olds when she won the $205,479 KYSS final for four-year-old pacing mares in 1:49.4.
Gingras looped Strong Poison to the lead past a :26 first quarter and maintained her speed through hot middle fractions of :54.3 and 1:21.4. Spinning for home, Gingras called upon Strong Poison and she hit her top gear come mid-stretch to fend off the late surge of Hungry For Love (David Miller) and win by a length. Zanatta (Andy Miller) gave chase off a pocket trip for third.
Virgil Morgan Jr. trains Strong Poison, a daughter of Always B Miki who has now won 13 races from 33 starts and banked $1,086,479 for owners Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Odds On Racing.
Tuesday's card also featured three $54,794 opening preliminary divisions of the KYSS for three-year-old pacing fillies. Defining Moment (David Miller) took top honours with a second-over charge to win by a half length in 1:50.3 over pocket-popper Real Deal Lindy (Atlee Bender). Ron Burke trains the daughter of JK Endofanera for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Frank Baldachino and Lawrence Karr. She won her fourth race from 13 starts and has now earned $76,038.
Viki Hill (Dexter Dunn) popped pocket to the final turn and held late to win the second KYSS division for sophomore pacing fillies in 1:51 by three-quarter lengths over fast-closing Shezahungrygigi (Atlee Bender) and Seeuontheotherside (Marvin Luna). Chris Ryder trains the Always B Miki filly for owner Tom Hill.
Direction (Todd McCarthy) later maintained her unbeaten record this season with a down-the-road win in 1:51.2 by 2-1/2 lengths over Capytreach (David Miller). Brett Pelling trains the daughter of Always B Miki for owner Diamond Creek Racing.
A pair of Open events also went postward on the Tuesday card. Dougs Babe A (Dunn) cruised first-over to a two-length win in 1:50.3 over pocket-sitter Yankee B Something (Andy Miller) in the $56,164 Fillies & Mares Open Pace. Richard "Nifty" Norman trains Dougs Babe A, a seven-year-old daughter of Western Terror, for owners Tom Vassiliou, Nicholas Tallarico and Enzed Racing Stable Inc.
Pioneer As (Marvin Luna) later skimmed the pylons and snatched victory from Oh Look Magic (David Miller) by a neck in 1:52.1 to take the $56,164 Open Trot. Anette Lorentzon trains Pioneer As, a five-year-old daughter of Devious Man, for owner-breeder ACL Stuteri AB.
Live harness racing resumes at Oak Grove on Monday, July 1 with first-race post time at 3 p.m. (CDT).
(With files from Oak Grove)