Rumble And Sway uncorked a menacing bid off a helmet to collar his rivals for a 1:51.1 victory in the $109,589 Kentucky Championship Series third preliminary for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Sunday, Aug. 23 at The Red Mile.
Leaving from post two, driver Scott Zeron took back to fourth with Rumble And Sway while 6-5 favourite Seine (David Miller) pushed to lead by the quarter in :28. Seine cruised to a :56.1 half but soon faced a first-up challenge from 7-5 shot Gobstopper (Tim Tetrick) to the last turn with Zeron perching Rumble And Sway onto cover second-over. Gobstopper marched to match strides with Seine by three-quarters in 1:24.3 and edged to a narrow lead in the stretch while Zeron swung Rumble And Sway three-wide. Once straightening, Rumble And Sway built steam and swept over the top of the competition to pull away for a 1-1/4-length win with Gobstopper holding second. Midwind Buxton (Todd McCarthy) skimmed the pylons for third.
Brett Pelling trains Rumble And Sway, a gelding by Sweet Lou-Apple Of My Pie, for owners Pelling Racing LLC, David Van Dusen, Canamerica Capital Corp and Pryde & Wienick Racing. The gelding, who debuted with a win in the Golden Rod Series and then stepped up for a runner-up finish in the Commonwealth Series, collected his second win from three starts and has now banked $75,775. He paid $8.04 to win.
Sunday’s 14-race card also featured a pair of $41,096 Kentucky Commonwealth Series divisions for two-year-old pacing males. Just Perfect Stuff scored his fifth straight win in the faster division, a 1:50.2 mile in which he dead-heated with Night Agent (Andy McCarthy). The latter brushed to the top past the :28 quarter to set :55.2 and 1:23.3 fractions, and pocket-popping Just Perfect Stuff (Joey Putnam) rallied to reach the line simultaneously with him. Dog Dare You (Dexter Dunn) pushed first up through the last turn but chased in third, beaten 4-1/4 lengths.
Joe Putnam trains Just Perfect Stuff ($2.10), a son of Perfect Sting out of the Art Major mare Sand Artist who is owned by J P Racing LLC, Joey Putnam and Crazy Parrot Farm LLC. The gelding won his first two starts in the Kentucky Proud Series and has since taken three in a row at the Commonwealth level. His earnings sit at $79,515.
Joe Holloway trains Night Agent ($3.40), a Captaintreacherous colt out of world champion Shebestingin.
Blazin Lou (Tim Tetrick), a son of Sweet Lou-Beautiful Lady, won the other Kentucky Commonwealth Series division by two lengths with a front-stepping 1:51.1 effort and paid $4.14 to win.
The $20,548 Kentucky Golden Rod Series divisions for two-year-old male pacers went to Rowdy Station (Dexter Dunn, 1:52.4; $3.38), A Bettor Dream (Andy McCarthy, 1:52.4, $7.58) and Scary Terry (Andy McCarthy, 1:52.2; $10.34).
The $13,699 Kentucky Wildcat Series splits for the rookie pacing colts and geldings were won by Cagey Captain (Tim Tetrick, 1:53; $15.14), Fairway To Heaven (Andy McCarthy, 1:52.1; $3.88) and Hazard (Todd McCarthy, 1:53.4; $3.36).
Live harness racing at The Red Mile resumes on Monday with a 14-race card headlined by the $80,000 USD Kentucky Championship Series third preliminary for two-year-old trotting males. The card also features a $35,000 USD division of Kentucky Sire Stakes for four-year-old pacing males and a $35,000 USD division of Kentucky Sire Stakes for four-year-old pacing mares, the latter of which will be contested as a non-wagering race prior to the pari-mutuel card. First-race post time on the betting program is 1 p.m. (EDT).
(With files from The Red Mile)