Trainer Bob McIntosh and driver Mike Lachance teamed up to win both Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS) divisions for pacers on Thursday night at the Red Mile, as the second and final preliminary round for two-year-olds highlighted the card.
The fellow Hall of Famers won the lone $30,000 KYSS division for colt pacers with On Golden Ponder as well as the single $30,000 KYSS split for filly pacers with Somethinincredible. Both pacers scored victories in last week's opening KYSS round.
Lachance moved to the lead past the opening quarter with the 1-9 favourite On Golden Ponder, leading the rest of the mile to score in 1:54.2. Up N At It and Trace Tetrick finished second with Last Best Chance third for Jeff Nisonger. The winning son of Ponder is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables, CSX Stables and Michael Kohler. The win was his third in four starts as well as a new career best.
Somethinincredible was also the overwhelming 1-9 favourite, attracting a show pool of $29,679 of a total pool of $30,838. The daughter of Ponder moved to the lead past the quarter, going on to defeat runner-up Salsa Star and Randy Tharps by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:56.3. Best Legacy and Lewayne Miller took third. Robert McIntosh Stables, CSX Stables and Dave Boyle share ownership of Somethinincredible, who won for the third time in five starts.
Petticoat Affair was an easy three and a half-length winner in 1:57.2 as the 2-5 favourite in the lone $30,000 KYSS division for two-year-old filly trotters. Petticoat Affair led wire to wire as she bested runner-up Twice Too Nice and driver Brett Crawford, with KJ Brenda and Lachance third. Pettticoat Affair also won her second straight KYSS contest, lowering her career mark by more than one second. The daughter of Valley Victor is owned by Mystical Marker Farms and trainer Bobby Brower.
Samburu and driver Trace Tetrick moved past Sorrento Hall and Lachance in deep stretch to win the first of two $15,000 KYSS divisions for juvenile colt trotters by a half length in 1:58.1. Groton Party was third for Michael Pryor. This was just the second start and first victory for Samburu, a gelded son of Master Glide trained by Bob Stewart, who shares ownership with his wife, Lynda.
Scatto Matto was first across the wire in the second division, but the judges ruled interference in the first turn and he was disqualified and placed third. Elevated to first from second was High Seriousness and Hugh Beatty, who originally crossed the wire just behind Scacco Matto in the 1:59.3 clocking. Maple Grove Joe and Tetrick, who was the recipient of the interference, was third-placed-second, ahead of the offending Scacco Matto and Jeff Nisonger. Beatty trains the winning son of Infinitif for owners Stephanie and Brian Cassell. The win was his first in three attempts.
The KYSS for three-year-olds wrap up on Saturday, Aug. 22. The $2-million Kentucky Super Night, with eight $250,000 finals, is scheduled for Sunday night, Sept. 1.
(The Red Mile)