On Monday (Aug. 14), Red Mile hosted 11 second round sire stakes divisions for freshman and sophomore colts and fillies of both gaits. Its My Show returned to his winning ways in style in the $80,000 second leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Series for three-year-old male pacers with a world record equalling mile in 1:46.4 and Date Night Hanover recovered from a costly break in her last engagement to win the $80,000 division for two-year-old trotting fillies.
Its My Show and his pilot, Scott Zeron, commenced their mile from post position four and settled in fourth position while Bamboozler (Dexter Dunn) cut the mile with sizzling fractions of :26.4, :53.1 and 1:19.3. Zeron and the North America Cup winner came roaring into the stretch from fourth to face the challenge of Cannibal (Yannick Gingras), who led briefly after popping the pocket.
Despite his best efforts, Cannibal could not keep pace with the winner and held second over a closing For Once Inmy Life (Andrew McCarthy).
Its My Show’s final time equalled the world records for male sophomore pacers established by Somebeachsomewhere (2008), Hes Watching (2014) and Cattlewash (2020), and bested the 1:47.3 gelding mark of Dealt A Winner (2015).
Trained by Linda Toscano, the colt sustained his first loss of 2023 when fourth in the $350,000 Adios at The Meadows in his last start after pacing a world record time of 1:47.4 in the elimination. The regally bred son of champions Sweet Lou and Put On A Show now has a resume of 17-8-2-1 and boosted his bankroll to $730,465. Its My Show competes as a homebred for Richard and Joanne Young.
He paid $4.74 to win as the public’s second choice.
Date Night Hanover (Chapter Seven-Dont Wait Up) rebounded from a ninth-place finish in the first round action of this series for two-year-old filly trotters to score by a nose in a new lifetime best of 1:54.
The filly and her driver, Brian Sears, left from post position five and went right to the front. After setting the opening fraction of :28.4, Date Night Hanover and Sears relinquished the lead to Miss Dior (A. McCarthy). The duo were content to sit in the garden spot while Miss Dior set fractions of :56.1 and 1:25.1. As Miss Dior retreated, Date Night Hanover battled with Volcanic Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) down the lane to get the best of that rival after being passed. Special Talent (Dunn) was third.
Trained by Marcus Melander, Date Night Hanover improved her record to 4-3-0-0 and has banked $77,625. The filly was purchased for $600,000 at the 2022 Standardbred Horse Sale, which topped the first day of the event, by Jeffrey Snyder and ONDA Racing LLC.
She is a half sibling to Delayed Hanover (sired by Southwind Frank, $578,461 career earnings) and was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.
Date Night Hanover paid $7.40 as the second choice in the field of nine.
El Rey leads Commonwealth Series victors
Heavy favourite El Rey (Zeron, $3.08) collected his first win of the season for trainer Tony Alagna in the $30,000 second round division of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series for male sophomore pacers, winning in 1:49.4. The son of Captaintreacherous finished off the board in the Cane Pace and Meadowlands Pace final. He is owned by Brittany Farms and El Rey Racing and was bred by Riverview Breeding.
Admiral Hill (Sears, $3) collected his second consecutive win with a 1:49.2 triumph in a division for three-year-old male pacers. The son of Sweet Lou competes as a homebred for Tom Hill and is trained by Chris Ryder.
Pisco Sour (Svanstedt, $4.90) broke her maiden in her first pari-mutuel attempt in the leg for two-year-old female trotters, winning in 1:57. The daughter of Walner-Blessed was a $110,000 purchase at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. The filly is owned by Jorgen Sparredal Inc. and was bred by Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm and Harri Koskela.
French Champagne (Svanstedt, $2.58) made her career debut a winning one in a division for two-year-old filly trotters with a 1:55.3 victory. Trained by her driver, French Champagne is a daughter of Muscle Hill-French Café. Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld bred and now race the filly.
Gingras wins four Golden Rod Series divisions
Gingras swept the two $15,000 divisions for sophomore male pacers with Cant Stop Lou (1:50.4; $10.76) and Wicked Character (1:50; $3.48). He also collected victories for trainer Ron Burke with Emissary (1:56.4; $9.92) and Its My Hill (1:56.1 $4.50) in two of the divisions for freshman filly trotters.
Green Mercedes and pilot Andy Miller won the other division for two-year-old trotting fillies in 1:56.4. She paid $4.12 as the favourite.
Red Mile offers a rich buffet of wagering items including a 20-cent Pick-6 with 15 per cent takeout, a 50-cent Pick-5 with an industry low 12 per cent takeout, a Super Hi-5 15 percent takeout and Pick-4 events, with a $10,000 guaranteed pool in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.
Red Mile races on a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday schedule with a 1 p.m. EDT post time through Oct. 8. Free program pages are available at the Red Mile website in addition to race replays and a daily livestream of each card.
(With files from The Red Mile)
Its My Show
Its My Show declined an invitation to race in the $300,000 Milstein and chose to race in The KYSS instead. Had he merely finished second in The Milstein, he would have earned nearly twice as much money ($75,000) as he made ($40,000) by winning The KYSS.