The Red Mile completed the first week of its 150th season featuring the first of three $47,945 divisions in the debut of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Series for four-year-old male and female pacers on Tuesday, July 23.
Hungry For Love and El Rey demonstrated their affinity for the Lexington oval as each horse turned the tables on the rival who defeated them at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming in $205,479 series finals last month.
Defending Kentucky Commonwealth Series champion, Hungry For Love (David Miller), gunned down favoured Strong Poison (Yannick Gingras) by a half-length in the third race on a card where races nine through 12 were cancelled due to the unpredictable weather in the Bluegrass.
The daughter of Stay Hungry was content to track in third position while Strong Poison went straight to the top with Keep My Secret (Marvin Luna) in second. The mares remained in that position as Strong Poison clicked off fractions of :28.2, :56 and 1:24.3 through three-quarters. Hungry For Love, however, decided it was time to go at the top of the lane as she overhauled Keep My Secret to pursue the leader.
From there the race was on as Hungry For Love paced a sizzling :25.1 final quarter-mile to hit the wire in 1:50.2. Take nothing away from Strong Poison as she came home in :25.4. Keep My Secret held third.
Conditioned by Ron Burke, Hungry For Love increased her bankroll to $598,533. The mare was bred by Brittany Farms and is owned by Thomas and Scott Dillon.
The victory avenged three consecutive defeats when lining up against Strong Poison. The public’s second choice paid $6.72 to win and improved her overall record to 44-15-8-7. She is 12-3-5-2 in 2024.
El Rey (Marcus Miller) demonstrated a return to the red clay was exactly what the doctor ordered after a disappointing effort in the $586,301 William Haughton Memorial on July 13 behind Abuckabett Hanover. He also took a measure of revenge on 2023 Kentucky Commonwealth Series Final winner, Admiral Hill (Yannick Gingras), who bested him in the $205,479 series final at Oak Grove.
The son of Captaintreacherous zipped right to the front after the wings on the gate unfolded with favourite Admiral Hill biding his time in second. El Rey led the field with splits of :27.3, :53.4 and 1:21. As the field of seven turned for home, Admiral Hill laid down the gauntlet with Blue Lou (D. Miller) in hot pursuit.
El Rey would not be denied in a thrilling stretch drive, turning back the bids of his foes to stop the clock in 1:49.1. to hold Admiral Hill at bay by a nose. Blue Lou was another nose back in third.
Trained by Andrew Harris, El Rey increased his bank account to $700,743 from 41 career miles. The stallion is owned by William Pollock, Bruce Areman and his trainer.
El Rey has compiled a record of 9-2-3-1 this season and paid his supporters $6.06 for his effort. He was bred by Riverview Breeding LLC.
Racing returns to The Red Mile on Sunday (June 28) with another evening under the lights. Racing will be conducted on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays through Sept. 17 prior to the Grand Circuit coming to town. First post for Sundays is 5:05 p.m. with Mondays and Tuesdays kicking off at 1 p.m.
(The Red Mile)