On Sunday (July 17) Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel will host four $100,000 finals to complete the facility’s early sire stakes series for two-year-old Kentucky-bred trotters and pacers. Wind Chime and Cant Stop Lou place their perfect records on the line in their respective trotting and pacing divisions.
Wind Chime, Una Madonna clash in filly trot
Wind Chime (Father Patrick-Stroll) has faced the starter on three occasions and has been very impressive in every mile. She captured her debut at Harrah’s Philadelphia on June 3 for previous trainer Julie Miller as the short-priced favourite. The filly did not disappoint when she arrived at Oak Grove as Wind Chime won her first sire stakes split with ease in 1:56.3.
After she was purchased by Howard Taylor, Brad Grant and Judith Taylor from Andy Miller Stable, Gty Stable, Walter Zent and Tony Holmes, Wind Chime entered Tony Alagna’s barn. Her first start for her new connections was simply spectacular as the filly won by 12 lengths in 1:55.1.
Wind Chime is the 6-5 favourite on the morning line and will have Dexter Dunn in the bike. The filly will leave from post position six in the field of eight filly trotters.
Una Madonna, who is another recent addition to Alagna’s barn after an ownership change, will provide Wind Chime with some competition. Previously trained by Jason Robinson and Dominic Gladu, Una Madonna won her debut at Woodbine Mohawk Park on June 17 and captured her second start in the first leg of this series in 1:55.1 on June 26. The filly was scratched from the second leg on July 3.
Now owned by the Una Madonna Stable, the filly will begin trotting from post position three. Una Madonna will have Brian Sears holding the lines and is 2-1 on the morning line.
Hungry For Love meets Calgary in filly pace
After a sixth-place finish in a $47,975 division of the Tompkins-Geers Stake at The Meadowlands on June 17, Hungry For Love has reeled off two consecutive victories in the first two legs of the sire stakes series at Oak Grove in 1:54.2 and 1:53.2. The daughter of Stay Hungry and Lover Of Art hails from the Ron Burke barn and will have the services of Yannick Gingras.
A half sibling to Rock Me Baby (Rock N Roll Heaven, $394,523), Art Scene (American Ideal, $530,431) and Summer Charm (Bettors Delight, $422,238), Hungry For Love will begin from post position eight in the field of eight for owners Thomas and Scott Dillon. She’s at 5-2 on the morning line.
At 9-5 on the morning line, Calgary is receiving some support after winning the second sire stakes leg in her debut on July 3. The daughter of Downbytheseaside - Sweetest Emotion paced a :26.3 last quarter mile and hit the wire in 1:54.
Trained by Ryan Miller, Calgary will leave from post position three for owner - breeder Diamond Creek Racing. She is the second foal out of her dam who is a half-sibling to champion Captain Crunch (Captaintreacherous, $1.56 million).
Espresso, Yo Lucky Moni, Whole Nuther battle in colt and gelding trot
Julie and Andy Miller train and drive the 2-1 morning line choice Espresso in the third $100,000 sire stakes final for colt and gelding trotters. The son of Chapter Seven - Biscotti scored in the first $25,000 sire stakes leg in 1:57.4 on June 26 after a second and a first in qualifying races at Gaitway Farm on June 6 and June 13.
Espresso was scratched in the second sire stakes leg on July 3, but defeated Yo Lucky Moni and Over And Back, who are also in this field of eight. Espresso and Andy Miller will leave from post position three. The gelding is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Louis Willinger, Mortgage Boys Stable and L. Berg.
Yo Lucky Moni and owner/trainer/driver Verlin Yoder will begin from post position eight and are 3-1 on the morning line. The son of International Moni - Unbelindyble has a record of 3-1-1-1 and enters this event off the first victory of his career, a 1:55.1 mile, in the second sire stakes leg on July 3.
Whole Nother is 9-2 on the morning line for driver Doug McNair and trainer Gregg McNair. The son of Nuncio - Undersong won his first sire stakes leg in 1:58.4 on June 26 and was second to Over And Back by a head in the second leg on July 3.
Owned by his trainer and Dean Lockhart, Whole Nother will leave from post position seven.
Cant Stop Lou seeks to remain undefeated in colt and gelding pace final
Cant Stop Lou (pictured above) won his first sire stakes leg on June 26 in his career debut in 1:54.1 despite making a break in the stretch. He returned with another adventurous trip in the second leg on July 3 and still visited the winner’s circle after a :27.4 final quarter-mile.
Owned by Nancy Takter, Jaf Racing, Rojan Stables, R A W Equine and Jeffrey Bell, Cant Stop Lou is trained by Takter. He was bred by Diamond Creek Farm and is a full sibling to Fortify ($452,215). The son of Sweet Lou-Cant Stop Me Now will leave from post position seven in the field of eight and will be steered by Gingras.
The McNairs will be represented in this contest by Day Trader. The son of Stay Hungry - Day To Ponder seeks the first victory of his career in his third start. He enters this race off losses to Cant Stop Lou in the first and second legs. Day Trader was second in the first leg and fifth in the second after breaking at the start.
Owned by Ian Fleming, the gelding will leave from post position eight and is 7-2 on the morning line.
Oak Grove will also host four $100,000 finals for three-year-old trotters and pacers on July 18.
On July 19, four-year-old Kentucky-breds will return to action with four $150,000 finals carded for trotters and pacers in the newly implemented series for that age group.
To review point standings for each series please click here.
Racing at Oak Grove is conducted on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with a post time of 3 p.m. CST.
(Oak Grove)