The 2018 edition of the Kentucky Sires Stakes got underway on Thursday evening at the historic Red Mile with five $30,000 divisions of leg #1 - three for the fillies and two for colts - covering the first five races with Hambletonian winning driver Scott Zeron reprising his way with the ladies by winning all three of the filly splits.
French Café was a 1:54.4 winner in the first filly division for Zeron who was subbing for trainer Julie Miler’s husband, Andy. The pair rolled up uncovered then powered by for an open length win over early leader Cant Touch It (Takter) and Lindy Pearl (Brett Miller). French Café, by Father Patrick, was winning for the third time and took a new career mark here for breeder/owners Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.
Zeron came right back in the third race to score with Dreamville Stables’ flashy, Trixton filly, Dark As A Pocket, for a familiar connection in trainer Paula Wellwood in 1:55.4. She was winning her third straight and was well in hand in an uncovered move around turn two for the score over Asiago (Takter) and Feel Invincible AS (Elliott Deaton). Dark As A Pocket is a Lexington Selected Yearling Sale graduate who brought $90,000 for breeders Steve Stewart, Kemppi Stables Oy and Pond A Acres.
The cleverly named Taylor Swiftly was arguably the most impressive of tonight’s winners, storming by the field through the stretch in :27.3 off a second over ride for Zeron in a 1:55.1 mile with the greatest of ease. Whispering Oaks (Gingras) was up close throughout but had no answer for the winner while Graceful (Lachance) rallied for third. Taylor Swiftly is a Lindy Farms homebred from the first crop of Trixton (his second winner on the card), trained by Domenico Cecere.
Peter Haughton Memorial winner Dont Letem went away as the prohibitive 1-9 favourite in the first race but reminded us why they race them as he went off-stride while settled in fourth midway up the backstretch, taking a significant show pool bridge jumper with him as he didn’t set quickly enough to recover for a placing.
Barn mate Super Schissel saved the day for the Jimmy Takter barn with the trainer driving him to a 1:56 win while triggering a mutuel return of $84.40 with the Exacta and Trifecta both paying off on “all”. Reign Of Honor (Pat Lachance) closed to be second returning $177 to place and $150 to show with Manatlas (Brett Miller) paid $90 to show.
This was the first career win for Super Schissel, a son of first crop sire Uncle Peter and a $115,000 Lexington Selected Sale buy for the account of Al Libfeld and Perry Soderberg. Coyote Wind Farms is the breeder.
Mike Wilder, fresh back from a trip to Ireland for the Vincent Delaney Memorial, was a winner in the other colt split with Forecast for trainer John Butenschoen. Wilder held his charge well back early then closed hard, widest of all through the stretch trotting a :28 end to the 1:56 mile over Practical Cat (Gingras) and Lindys Crazy Hall (Zeron). The winner is owned by Wiswell, Goehlen and Schick who paid $70,000 for the Diamond Creek bred in Lexington last fall.
KYSS freshman pacers will race on Saturday evening here at The Red Mile with a 7:00 p.m. post time.
(The Red Mile)