Bahama Momma glided to her third triumph in four career starts in the $109,589 second leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for two-year-old pacing fillies at The Red Mile on Sunday, Aug. 10.
After finishing second to 65-1 shot to Beautiful Memory in their initial meeting on July 29, Bahama Momma exacted revenge on that rival as she rebounded for trainer Joe Bongiorno in 1:51.1.
Bahama Momma, the public’s second selection, commenced her mile from post five in the field of 10. The daughter of Tall Dark Stranger-Idyllic Beach wrested command from 91-1 shot Caviart Amore Mio (Todd McCarthy) after a first quarter in :27.4. She hit the half-mile marker in :56.3 and the three-quarter pole in 1:24.1 and came home a two-length winner. Favoured Caviart Daisy (Andrew McCarthy) gave solid chase to the winner but could not get by in the drive to the finish line. She left Seaside Shuffle (Dexter Dunn) in her wake after that rival was poised in second heading around the last bend.
Bred by Christina Takter, Marvin Katz, and Brixton Medical Inc., Bahama Momma was a private purchase by Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Odds On Racing. Sunday's clocking was a new career best for the filly. She is a full sister to Delray Beach ($178,799) and is the fifth foal out her dam, who was a Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner in 2016. The filly paid $7.34 to her supporters.
In addition to the Championship Series event, the 16-race card included two $41,096 groups of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, three $20,548 Kentucky Golden Rod Series divisions, and three $13,699 splits of the Kentucky Wildcat Series. All events were second-leg contests for freshman filly pacers.
Patrick Ryder and Bettor Be A Star overhauled favoured Call Me Angelita (Tim Tetrick) in the stretch to take the first $41,096 division of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series by three-quarters of a length in a lifetime-best 1:51.1 for trainer Chris Ryder. Nash (Todd McCarthy) came home third at odds of 53-1. A daughter of Bettors Wish-It Can Happen bred by Diamond Creek Farm LLC and Country Club Acres Inc., Bettor Be A Star has won two of three starts for owner Ryder Stable. The filly paid $13.54 to win.
Hope Hill (Dunn) passed Naughty Beauty (Todd McCarthy) in the stretch and stopped in the clock in 1:52.2 in a three-quarter-length win in the second Commonwealth division. Need You Now (Patrick Ryder) completed the trifecta. A daughter of Papi Rob Hanover-Ruth Hill, Hope Hill improved her resume to two wins and a place in three outings for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. The final time was a new lifetime best for the public’s third choice. The filly competes as a homebred for Tom Hill. Hope Hill paid $9.62 to win.
She B Minnie (Patrick Ryder) won the first division of the Golden Rod in 1:53.1 by a head over Interstellar (Marvin Luna) and Rocksy (Tetrick) in a three-across finish. The victorious filly was bred by Thaddeus Weir and is owned by Ryder Henderson Mondillo, Anne Demers, and William Donovan. The daughter of Always B Miki-Shebesailin, trained by Chris Ryder, paid $18.26 to win in her second tally in three attempts.
Trainer Brian Brown and Tetrick teamed up to get favoured Gala ($4.04) to victory lane in 1:53.3 in her career debut in the second Golden Rod split. She soared from fifth to first in the stretch and drew clear by 3-1/4 lengths over Carolina (Andrew McCarthy), who was a narrow second over Complete Stranger (Atlee Bender). Gala, a daughter of Downbytheseaside-Sweetest Emotion, was bred by Diamond Creek Farm LLC and competes for Diamond Creek Racing.
Favoured Always By The Sea (Dunn, $4.24) prevailed by a head over Gracious (Todd McCarthy) in 1:53.1 in the last Golden Rod contest. Ruby Vuitton (Andy Miller) rounded out the top three. Always B The Sea, a daughter of Always B Miki-Cruzinbytheseaside, took her first win since moving to the Steve Carter barn in July. She was bred by Seaside Bloodstock and Brian Tormey and is owned by Carter and Jay Mossbarger. She has now won four of nine lifetime starts.
She Stings (Zeron, $3.52), Lady Panera (Bender, $14.18), and Play Date (Todd McCarthy, $14.02) won their respective divisions of the Wildcat Series.
On Tuesday, Aug. 12, The Red Mile will conduct a 17-race card with two $80,000 USD second-round divisions of the Kentucky Championship Series for three-year-old male pacers and sophomore filly trotters. The card also includes nearly $200,000 USD in stakes purses with the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, Kentucky Golden Rod Series, and Kentucky Wildcat Series. Sippononsearoc, Crack Shot, and Deja Blu are among the top contenders.
(With files from The Red Mile)