Despite racing on an altered scheduled due to extreme weather conditions on Wednesday, July 30, The Red Mile will provide an exceptional 15-race card featuring some of the most beautifully bred freshman filly trotters in the nation.
The schedule includes one $80,000 USD first-round dash of the Kentucky Championship Series, four $30,000 USD first-round divisions of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, four $15,000 first-round Kentucky Golden Rod Series contests, and three $10,000 first-round splits of the Kentucky Wildcat Series.
With a scheduled post time of 8:25 p.m., the 11th race is the sole division of the Kentucky Championship Series. The 12 entrants would make any individual enamoured by pedigrees take an in depth look at these youngsters’ family trees.
There is Madam Cheval (Yannick Gingras), who is the fourth foal out of double Dan Patch Award winner and Trotter of the Year Shake It Cerry (Donato Hanover, $2.86 million). The daughter of Walner will leave from post nine for trainer Nancy Takter and is 3-1 on the morning line.
Bred by Solveig’s Racing Partners, Madam Cheval was purchased for $445,946 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by M Biasuzzi Stable Inc. The filly broke her maiden over The Red Mile clay in her career debut on July 21 in 1:54.4. Madam Cheval collected $4,110 in that first trip to the winner’s circle. She is a half-sibling to Mon Cheval (Father Patrick, $404,100) and Cheval Rapide (Father Patrick, $141,742). Her granddam Solveig (Yankee Glide, $930,132) is in the Hall of Fame. The mare, a Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner, has produced seven $100,000 winners from 14 foals.
Madam Cheval must contend with Setyoursightshigh (Jason Bartlett), who will commence trotting right beside her in post position 10. Trained by Marcus Melander, the daughter of In Range-Special Interest is 9-2 on the morning line and possesses a record of 3-2-1-0 with $183,543 in the bank.
Setyoursightshigh was second in her unveiling in Kentucky Sire Stakes company at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel on June 23, but scored in the $202,703 Next Generation at Eldorado Scioto Downs on July 5 to collect her first triumph. The filly then won the $136,986 Kentucky Sire Stakes Final at Oak Grove on July 14 in a career-best 1:53.3. Four of the horses she defeated that afternoon - Victorianas Secret (Scott Zeron, post two, 9-2), Country Glide (David Miller, post one, 8-1), Avenzee (Todd McCarthy, post four, 8-1), and Jailbird Jog (Tim Tetrick, post eight, 7-2) will attempt to avenge their defeat.
Setyoursightshigh is a half-sister to Sayinwhatimthinkin (Swan For All, $304,556). She was bred by Kentuckiana Farms and was purchased for $67,568 by Heights Stable, Mantorp LLC, AMG Stable Inc., and K Kjellgren Livs AB Inc.
Next Big Think (Dexter Dunn, post 11) is 12-1 on the morning line, with her draw likely a large factor in the billing, but the daughter of Greenshoe-Iteration surely possesses ability if her family tree is any indication. Trained by Melander, Next Big Think is the first foal out of a two-time New York champion who is a full sister to Hall of Fame member and young stallion Gimpanzee (Chapter Seven, $2.79 million). Gimpanzee is only the fifth trotter in history to win three Breeders Crowns. Iteration banked $780,818 during her career. Next Big Think competes as a homebred for Courant Inc. and enters this event with a record of 2-1-1-0 after racing in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes company. The filly has earned $41,216 and achieved a mark of 1:57 in her maiden-breaking victory on July 17 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
The Kentucky Commonwealth Series divisions are scheduled as Races 3, 6, and 9. In the first division, Sheza Single Lady (Yannick Gingras) drew the rail for trainer Takter. The daughter of Walner-Something Pink is the 3-1 morning line choice. Bred by Jay Mossbarger and Jacob Mossbarger, the filly was seventh after a break in her career bow on July 4 at The Meadowlands in a leg of the Kindergarten Series. Sheza Single Lady is the first foal out of her dam and was selected for $128,378 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by Caviart Farms, Patrick Hoopes and Herb Liverman. Her dam is a half-sibling to multiple Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner Pinkman (Explosive Matter, $3 million). Pinkman won the 2015 Hambletonian. Something Pink (Father Patrick) is also a half-sister to world champion Impinktoo (Manofmanymissions, $423,860).
In the second Commonwealth division, Isotta Bi (Dunn) seeks to visit the winner’s circle for the first time in three career trips to the gate. The daughter of Gimpanzee-Devine Equine is 9-2 on the morning line for Melander. She will commence her mile from the rail and brings a 2-0-0-1 record into this contest. Bred by M Biasuzzi Stable Inc., the filly is the second foal out of her dam and fetched $40,541 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale from Heights Stable, Mantorp LLC, and RTL Racing Inc. Devine Equine (Andover Hall) is a half sibling to 2010 Hambletonian Oaks victress Bar Slide (Yankee Glide, $649,392), Model Behavior (Muscles Yankee, $103,784), Tech Titan (Muscle Hill, $235,866), and Gigfy (Broadway Hall, $451,796).
Decreed (Dave Miller) is 9-2 on the morning line from post eight in the fourth Commonwealth division for trainer Carter Pinske. The daughter of Gimpanzee-Cree broke her maiden in her first attempt in a conditioned race on July 21 at The Red Mile in 1:56.2. She trotted her last quarter-mile in :26.3 at odds of 28-1. Bred by Steve Stewart, Decreed was a private purchase by her trainer’s stable and Curly Tail Curly Small. Her granddam, Firstclassprincess (Classic Photo, $384,176) is a half-sibling to Instant Photo (S Js Photo, $517,361) and Peaceful Prince (Lindy Lane, $228,909).
The four Kentucky Golden Rod Series dashes will be contested as Races 2, 4, 5, and 7 with fields of nine, nine, 10, and 10, respectively.
The two Wildcat legs, in Races 8 and 12, will each have seven fillies facing the starter.
(With files from The Red Mile)