Yannick Gingras piloted the first three of four winners in the third round of the Kentucky-Bred Series for four-year-olds at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Tuesday (June 28). The Hall of Famer made his time in the Bluegrass State a profitable one as he tallied eight scores in three days of sire stakes and series action over the five-eighths-mile oval.
Gingras set the stage in the first $50,000 division for male pacers, as Goldies Legacy took the lead at the gate and went on to score by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:50.1. The duo, however, had some anxious moments in the stretch as favourite Komodo Beach (Andrew McCarthy) laid down the gauntlet. Each horse paced their last quarter-mile in :25.4. Caviart Lotus (Tony Hall) was third.
After failing to deliver his best in last week’s leg, Goldies Legacy recorded his fourth win from his last five starts. The son of Always A Virgin-Ag N Au Bluegrass holds the track record at Oak Grove for his age, sex and gait. The gelding is owned by Pollack Racing and trainer Jeff Cullipher, and was bred by Dave Yoder of Paris, Kentucky. Goldies Legacy has now earned $439,910 and has a record of 46-15-4-2.
The defending Kentucky champion paid $6.80 to win.
Gingras picked up right where he left off with the Chris Beaver-trained Kildare King ($2.40) in the second division for male trotters.
The favoured gelding sat behind leader Jula Muscle Pack (McCarthy) until the stretch drive and hit the line one length in front in 1:51.4. Flemsteen (Joey Putnam) closed to be second with Platinum As (Hall) in third.
Owned and bred by Robert Goodman of Lexington, Kentucky, the son of Trixton-Exclusivity sports a record of 31-8-4-3 and has earned $162,725 in his career. This was his second triumph in the series after finishing second to track record holder Cuatro De Julio in the first leg.
Track record holder Blue Diamond Eyes ($2.10) was responsible for Gingras’ third series victory on Tuesday, delivering as the heavy favourite the division for pacing mares.
The daughter of Captaintreacherous out of Aria Hanover assumed command after the first quarter-mile from eventual runner-up High Minded (Kevin Wallis) and paced home a 2-1/4-length winner in 1:50. Classicist (McCarthy) was third.
Blue Diamond Eyes has now earned more than $1.22 million for owners Thomas and Scott Dillion. Trained by Ron Burke, she sports a career summary reading 38-17-7-5 including a victory the 2021 final of the Kentucky Championship Series. The mare was bred by Brittany Farms of Lexington, Kentucky.
Andrew McCarthy took his turn in the winner’s circle after guiding the favoured Beltamissa ($2.10) to the finish line first in the division for female trotters.
Beltamissa was a 1:54.3 winner in gate-to-wire fashion. Shenzi As (Todd Warren) finished 11 lengths behind in second and Highly Acclaimed (Dan Shetler) inherited third after a judges placing.
Trained by Tony Alagna and owned by Crawford Farms, Beltamissa is now three-for-three this season after sweeping three legs of this series. The Trixton-Beltrane Hanover mare has earned $397,947 in her career, with a record reading 24-10-4-2. She was bred by D Farm of Hustonville, Kentucky,
The $50,000 fourth legs of the four-year-old series take place on July 12. The $150,000 final is scheduled for July 19.
Racing at Oak Grove is conducted on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at 3 p.m. C.T.. For full race results please click here.
(With files from Kentucky Harness Association)