Sent the 3-5 favourite, Pebble Beach asserted himself on the point and coasted clear of his competition to post a 1:50.1 victory in the first of two $40,000 divisions for the Kentucky Championship Two-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace on Monday (Aug. 2) at The Red Mile.
Wolftrax gunned for the lead from post 6 while Pebble Beach secured the pocket moving to the first turn, but driver Todd McCarthy soon angled the Downbytheseaside colt off the pegs to a :28.2 first quarter. He circled the Noel Daley trainee to the lead entering the backstretch as River Ness ranged first over to then grab the lead before a :55.4 half.
River Ness tried to grab a breather into the far turn, with the slowing tempo jamming the field across the track. Pebble Beach circumvented the leader and retook control to three-quarters in 1:24.1 with Wolftrax giving chase second. He cruised through the stretch to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Wolftrax with River Ness finishing third, but being placed seventh for the far-turn confusion scattering the field. Terminator assumed third and Caviart Camden took over fourth.
Owned by Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Country Club Acres Inc. and LA Express & JAF Racing, Pebble Beach is unbeaten from two starts and has banked $34,800. He paid $3.20 to win.
Todd McCarthy later took the other Championship division for colts and geldings when teaming with trainer Tony Alagna behind I Did It Myway, a gate-to-wire winner in 1:50.3.
Off the 1-9 choice, McCarthy motored the Captaintreacherous colt to the lead from the pylon post and clicked the first quarter in :28.3. He strode up the backstretch under minimal pressure to a :57 half and continued uncontested while accelerating to three-quarters in 1:24.3. Once straightening for the finish, I Did It Myway hit another gear and coasted to the beam 2-1/4 lengths better than Western Era, who rallied with a :25.3 final quarter to take second. Vicious finished third while Silverstone faltered from the pocket for fourth.
Undefeated from four starts, I Did It Myway has now earned $89,944 for owners Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco, Don Latore and Alagna And Fodera Racing. He paid $2.20 to win.
The Monday card opened with the lone $40,000 dash for the Kentucky Championship Series 2-Year-Old Filly Pace, which went to Sloopy off a pocket-pouncing effort in a 1:50.3 mile.
Driver Yannick Gingras sent Sloopy for the front from post 6 while Dont Fence Me In slid into the pocket from the pylon post moving to a :27.1 first quarter. Into the backstretch, Dont Fence Me In vacated pocket to take over command and lead the field by a :56.1 half before upping the tempo to three-quarters in 1:23.4. Sloopy started to mount out of the pocket at the top of the stretch and took her shot at Dont Fence Me In, eventually downing the 3-5 choice into the final eighth to win by 1-3/4 lengths going away. Boudoir Hanover gave chase from third with Captains Princess closing for fourth.
A filly by Downbytheseaside, Sloopy won her second race from four starts, earning $38,800 for breeder W. J. Donovan, who co-owns the Ron Burke trainee with Joe Sbrocco. She paid $6.80 to win.
Six Feet Apart ($3.40), a Sweet Lou colt trained by Brian Brown, posted the quickest mile of the three $20,000 Kentucky Commonwealth divisions for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. He rallied off a quick clip of :26.2, :53.4 and 1:22.4 set by Vintage Cowboy to win in 1:51 for owners Michael Robinson, Robert Mondillo, David Meola and Rich Lombardo Racing LLC. The other divisions went to Boston ($4.40), a 1:51.4 winner off a pocket trip for trainer Brett Pelling and owner Diamond Creek Racing; and Danger Zone ($4.20), a front-stepping winner in 1:52 for trainer Tony Alagna and owners Alagna Racing LLC and Ronald Ruggles.
Queen Of Success ($6.20) paced the quickest mile of the two $20,000 Kentucky Commonwealth splits for two-year-old pacing fillies with a 1:52.1 victory off a pocket ride. Andrew McCarthy steered the daughter of Captaintreacherous to victory for owners Alagna Racing LLC, Caviart Farms and Robert Leblanc. Captiva ($10.80) rode the cones to a 1:53 victory in the other division for the team of Andrew McCarthy and Tony Alagna, but this daughter of Captaintreacherous competes for owner-breeder Brittany Farms LLC.
Racing resumes at The Red Mile on Tuesday (Aug. 3) with 14 races on tap. Stakes action returns to Lexington on Sunday (Aug. 8) with the first round of the Kentucky Championship Series for Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts and Geldings and for Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies. First-race post time each race day is at 1 p.m. (EDT).
(The Red Mile)