Jim Doherty Memorial winner Venerable rung her unbeaten streak to five when venturing uncovered to a 1:54.1 victory in the $40,000 Kentucky Championship Series second preliminary for two-year-old trotting fillies on Sunday (August 15) at The Red Mile.
Off the 3-5 favourite, Venerable landed in fifth as the overflow field of 12 stacked into the first turn. Penelope J powered to the lead from post 10 and took the field past the quarter in :28.1 with opening-round winner Selfie Queen sitting the pocket. Towards the back of the pack entering the backside, second-tier starter Pink Gypsy angled off the pylons and prompted the hands of American Beauty and then Venerable to tip overland in the march to a :57 half.
Venerable led the two-wide tier into the final turn making steady gains on, and soon clearing the lead from, Penelope J. The Richard “Nifty” Norman trainee tripped three-quarters in 1:26 as Selfie Queen raced anxiously and soon lost stride from third inside, and sailed through the stretch chased by a wall of pursuers. More Than Ever emerged from the charge to snag second in the 1:54.1 mile with Pink Gypsy to the center of the track taking third and Spendthemoneyhoney sliding up the pegs for fourth.
A daughter of Walner, Venerable’s unbeaten streak has pushed her bankroll to $300,255 for owners David Mc Duffee, Melvin Hartman, Paul Bordogna and Steven Arnold. David Miller piloted the $3.40 winner.
Ron Burke pupil S I P popped pocket and coasted to a 1:53.4 win in the lone $40,000 second-round division of the Kentucky Championship Series for freshmen trotting colts and geldings.
Fast As The Wind fired for the front from post nine while S I P, leaving from post eight, followed suit to settle into the pocket approaching a :28.3 first quarter. Driver Yannick Gingras stayed put with the Bar Hopping colt while Fast As The Wind raced uncontested to a :57 half.
The leader soon after faced first-over pressure from Bully Boy Hill heading to three-quarters in 1:26.1 but turned that challenger away coming to headstretch. However, the tempo-setter could not withstand the fresh legs of S I P as that pocket-sitter soared through the stretch to a two-length victory while chased home by first-round winner Double Deceiver. Fast As The Wind faded to third with Rebuff rallying for fourth.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Hatfield Stables, Brixton Medical Inc. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, S I P scored his third win from seven starts, pushing his earnings to $132,432. He paid $9 to win.
Branded By Lindy ($5.80) led the winners of the three $20,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series divisions with a 1:54 mile in rein to Scott Zeron for trainer Domenico Cecere, who sent three winners on the card. Access ($9.60) scored in the opening division in a time of 1:55.3 for trainer Bob Stewart and driver Andrew McCarthy while Bright Side Up ($14.40) rolled to a 1:55.3 victory in the other division for trainer Marcus Melander and driver Mattias Melander.
Date Night ($2.80) dominated her $20,000 division of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series for two-year-old trotting fillies with a 1:54.3 victory by driver Andy Miller for trainer Julie Miller. The other divisions went to Moni Heist ($5.40), driven by Yannick Gingras to a 1:56 win for trainer Domenico Cecere; and Medley, piloted by Andrew McCarthy to a 1:56.1 mile for trainer Brett Pelling.
Racing resumes at The Red Mile on Monday (August 16) with two $40,000 second-round divisions of the Kentucky Championship Series – one for the boys and one for the fillies. The 11-race card also features four $20,000 Kentucky Commonwealth divisions with two for the colts and geldings and two for the fillies. First-race post time is 1 p.m. (EDT).
(The Red Mile)