On Monday (Aug. 26), Luna Lovegood rebounded from a costly break in the second leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series (KYSS) for two-year-old filly trotters to pull a mild upset at 14-1 in the $108,108 third leg of the KYSS in a lifetime mark of 1:51.4.
Steered by Dexter Dunn, Luna Lovegood, a daughter of Gimpanzee-Southwind Venus commenced her mile from post position six in the field of 10. The filly settled in second leaving the gate behind Torrisi (Yannick Gingras) who led the way through the first split in :27.3. Yo Tillie (Verlin Yoder) assumed command prior to the half-mile marker and passed that pole in :54.4. Luna Lovegood protected that pocket spot as Yo Tillie continued in 1:23.4. Torrisi was shuffled back to third.
When it came time to round the last bend in the drive for the wire, Dunn provided Luna Lovegood with her cue. The filly strode by the leader, who tired in the lane and trotted home in :27.3. Torrisi was second and Divine Thing (David Miller) was third.
Trained by Marcus Melander, Luna Lovegood was bred by Blue Chip Farms and Stefan Melander. She was purchased from last year’s Standardbred Horse Sale for $100,000 under the name Witness Blue Chip by Holly Lane Stud East LTD.
The filly is a half-sibling to Miss I LA (Walner, $354,333), who won an $87,500 division of the International Stallion Stake in 2023 and was fourth in the $729,167 Hambletonian Oaks final.
Luna Lovegood improved her record to two wins in three starts and her bankroll stands at $109,610.
She paid a healthy $30.06 to her supporters.
Bestfriend Volo wins third straight in KYSS for older horses
Gingras and Takter teamed to take the second $47,297 leg of the KYSS for four-year-olds with Bestfriend Volo in 1:51.2. The heavy favourite took over at the three-quarter pole and held off longshot Country Dagger (Andrew McCarthy). Prince Of Honor (Todd McCarthy) was third.
Bestfriend Volo is a son of Walner-Bank Of Newport. The gelding is owned by his trainer, Christina Taker, 3 Brothers Stables and Deja Blu. He was bred by Kentuckiana Farms and Jorgen Jahre.
His lifetime slate is 14-4-1 and he has earned $372,966 in 24 starts.
Bestfriend Volo provided his backers with $2.66 for the win.
Railee Something and Andy McCarthy took the second $47,297 KYSS division for four-year-old mares in a single non-betting race.
McCarthy wasted little time in sending the mare to the front as they controlled the timer in :28.2, :57.4, and 1:25.2 before cruising home uncontested to win in 1:52.3. Cessna Pride (Tim Tetrick) was second with Canterbury Hanover (Tony Hall) third.
Ronald Mersky owns the International Moni - Railee Priti mare, who is trained by Roger Cullipher.
Flashy fillies take Commonwealth Series legs
Voguish, Kadena and Deja Blu all captured their respective $40,541 divisions as the third round of the Commonwealth Series for freshman filly trotters. The young ladies also share the distinction of some of the best pedigrees in the sport.
Voguish (Gingras) is by Gimpanzee and out of Jolene Jolene, a world champion daughter of Muscle Hill who earned $239,637 on the racetrack. As a broodmare she has foaled Crucial (Father Patrick, $528,598) and Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner Venerable (Walner, $1.35 million).
Voguish was bred by Maumee River Stables, Black Creek Farm, Martin Schmucker and Steve Stewart.
She was purchased by William Pollack, Bruce Areman and her trainer, Andrew Harris, for $535,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
The filly is now 2-0-0 and has earned $60,072 in four starts. Her final time of 1:53.2 is a new lifetime mark.
Kadena (Dunn) won the second division of the Commonwealth Series also in a lifetime best of 1:53.1 for her second victory in three starts. Trained by M. Melander, the filly is by Gimpanzee and out of world champion and Dan Patch Award winner Mission Brief. Mission Brief is a full sibling to top stallion Tactical Landing who has sired the last two Hambletonian winners, Tactical Approach and Karl.
Kadena was bred by Mission Brief Stable and was purchased for $800,000, in fact she was the sales topper and equaled the highest price ever paid for a yearling trotting filly, at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
The filly is owned by S R F Stable and Jeffrey Synder.
Kadena paid $6.08 to win.
Deja Blu (Gingras) collected her second consecutive triumph and the second in four starts. The daughter of Muscle Hill and world champion Atlanta lowered her lifetime mark to 1:53.
Bred by Crawford Farms Racing, Bradley Grant and Howard Taylor, Deja Blu is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and Thomas Pontone. She is the first and to date only foal out of her illustrious dam, banked $3.81 million and captured the 2018 Hambletonian.
Deja Blu was purchased privately and paid $3.34 to win.
The filly is trained by Nancy Takter and was one of Gingras’ three winners on the day.
Four $20,270 Kentucky Goldenrod Series divisions went to the gate with splits taken by Naughty Naughty (Tim Tetrick, 1:54.4), Kewpie Doll (Tony Hall, 1:55.4), Gingin Bi (Andy McCarthy, 1:53.3), and Alure (Scott Zeron, 1:56).
Racing continues Tuesday (Aug. 27) at The Red Mile with a first post of 1 p.m. and six stakes including one $80,000 USD division as the third leg of the KYSS for three-year-old filly pacers.
(With files from The Red Mile)