The Red Mile hosted a preview of future stars of tomorrow on Sunday, July 27, as freshman pacing colts and geldings demonstrated their talents on yet another sweltering evening infringed upon by pop-up storms at the historic mile oval. Brandon Blvd highlighted the card as he provided an upset in the $109,589 first leg of the Kentucky Championship Series.
Piloted by Hall of Famer Tim Tetrick, Brandon Blvd left from post two in the field of eight. The Andrew Harris-trained son of Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith was overlooked at odds of 17-1.
He sat in fifth through an open quarter mile in :29.3 established by Funky Buddha (Todd McCarthy). After being shuffled back to sixth at the half as favourite Panther Hill (Dexter Dunn) assumed command in :58.4, Brandon Blvd moved off the cones and into fifth at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.1 as Funky Buddha re-engaged to take the top spot. Heading around the final turn, Panther Hill overtook Funky Buddha with Brandon Blvd in fourth and, despite a :25.4 final panel for the favourite, Brandon Blvd out-sprinted his rival by a neck with a :25.2 drive to the line to prevail in 1:54.1. Funky Buddha finished strongly to come home third.
Bred by Crawford Farms LLC, the winner is the second foal out of the very talented racemare Alexis Faith (American Ideal, $615,088). The colt, under the name of Wayne Harvey, was purchased for $574,324 by William Pollock, Bruce Areman, and his trainer at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. He is now two-for-two lifetime.
Brandon Blvd is a half-sibling to Karma (Tall Dark Stranger, $174,679). The colt’s granddam is Cannae Cammie (Cams Card Shark, $546,928). His dam is a half-sister to Cant Beach That (Somebeachsomewhere, $479,925), Last Beach (Somebeachsomewhere, $212,897) and 2021 Horse of the Year Test Of Faith (Art Major, $2.52 million). Brandon Blvd paid $36.82 to his supporters.
Show Me Your Ace (Dunn), Hurrikanelouiexiii (Andrew McCarthy), and Papi Rick (Andrew McCarthy) captured their $41,096 divisions of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series by a head, neck and nose, respectively
Trained by Chris Ryder, Show Me Your Ace was the public’s second selection in the field of seven at odds of 5-2 in the first division and prevailed in 1:52.2. After racing third through :28.2, :57, and 1:25.2 panels, he pulled out on the final turn, swooped to the front, and held off Coup Station (Atlee Bender) for the victory. Winnercircleseeker (Yannick Gingras) rounded out the trifecta.
The winning son of American Ideal-Trip Aces Hanover is owned by Ryder, Anne Demers, Lawrence Minowitz, and Ake Svanstedt. Bred by In The Dark Racing LLC, Show Me Your Ace broke his maiden in his first trip to the gate and has now earned $20,548. The colt was a $202,703 purchase at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Show Me Your Ace provided $7.78 to those who selected him on their tickets.
Hurrikanelouiexiii (Sweet Lou-Hurrikane Empress) went off at 17-1 for last year’s Trainer of the Year, Noel Daley. The colt, leaving from post seven in the field of eight, took matters into his own hands right from the beginning and established fractions of :28, :56.3 and 1:25, going all the way in a new lifetime best of 1:52.3.
Hurrikanelouiexiii improved his record to 4-2-0-1 and his earnings to $54,431. The colt, a full sibling to Hurrikane Lady Lou ($172,647), was bred by Jonathan Klee Racing and Hurrikane Racing LLC. He is owned by his breeders in conjunction with Justin Bolasci and Big George Stables LLC. Birthday Wish (Dunn) and Toby Ornot Toby (Tetrick) were second and third, respectively. Hurrikanelouiexiii paid $36.14 to win.
Papi Rick (Papi Rob Hanover-Odds On Pussycat) parlayed an off-the-pace trip into a 1:52.3 victory for trainer Daley. Favoured Caviart Anders (Gingras) came up just short with Captain Apple (Dunn) in third. Leaving from the rail in the field of seven, Papi Rick was content to sit in fifth as Captain Wonderful (Todd McCarthy) led the way through first-half splits of :28.4 and :57.2. Caviart Anders, in third, decided it was time to go before three-quarters in 1:26.2 with Papi Rick remaining in his position. As the youngsters turned for home, McCarthy gave Papi Rick his cue, and the colt did not disappoint with a :25.3 final panel to spurn Captain Anders on the line.
Bred by All In Enterprise and JL Benson Stables Inc., Papi Rick broke his maiden his third career start and increased his bankroll to $29,256. He is the first foal out of his dam and was a $33,784 investment for Patricia Stable, Sjoblom Racing Inc., and L A Express LLC at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. The colt paid $6.64 to win as the second choice.
Fletchers Field (Geremy Bobbitt) captured the first $20,548 Golden Rod division by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:52.3. He is trained by Rodney DeBeck and owned by his trainer with Randy Donahue. The son of Tall Dark Stranger-Coronet paid $9.94 to win.
Down The Line (Tetrick) took the second split by a length in 1:54.3 for trainer Travis Alexander. The son of Captain Crunch-Bet Online is owned by breeder Fiddler’s Creek Stables LLC. He paid $4.64 to win.
First Colt (Dunn) came home strongly to win the third Golden Rod division by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:53.3 for trainer Chris Ryder. The son of Lazarus N-West Side Glory is owned by Christina Takter, who bred the colt, and Nicola Abrams. He paid $3.68 to his backers.
Push Up (Andrew McCarthy) outlasted a game New Kim In Town (Gingras) to win the sole $13,699 Wildcat Series division by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.2. The son of Tall Dark Stranger-Wrangler Magic is trained by Tahnee Camilleri and is owned by Kap Singh Racing Stable and Stephen Klunowski. Push Up paid $4.30 to win.
(With files from The Red Mile)