Thursday, August 27 was the date of the third and final preliminary leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotters and pacers, as they made their last push to earn enough points to be included in the $2.4 million Night of Champions on Sunday, September 6.
It was a familiar scene in the lone $25,000 KYSS leg for pacing fillies, as Best Boss (driven by Mike Lachance) scored its third consecutive KYSS victory and stamped itself as the one to knock off in next week’s $300,000 final with an impressive one and three-quarter-length victory in 1:52.3. The filly did not have an easy journey, as it started from the outside post (10) in the crowded field of eleven. Lachance moved the two-year-old daughter of Cambest--Head Of The House first over as they entered the final turn after getting away sixth in the early going. The filly responded with a :27.2 final quarter to get past Ultimate Best (Andy Miller) which held on for second. Laynuptreasures (Peter Wrenn) rallied for third. Best Boss, a $100,000 private purchase three weeks ago, is trained by Richard Ringler for M & M Harness Racing LLC, Ira Rosenblum, and Pat Lachance.
The two-year-old trotting fillies needed just a single $25,000 division for round three of the KYSS as well, as Felicity Hall (Mike Lachance) was a gate-to-wire winner while recording its third career victory in as many starts. The daughter of Like A Prayer--Favorite Hall cruised through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.2, and 1:30.3, before putting away the field down the lane to easily pick up the one and three-quarter-length score in 1:59.3, a new lifetime best. The filly is trained by Fred Grant for Walnut Hall Limited. Striking Victress (Luke McCarthy), a 50-1 longshot, parlayed a pocket trip into the place spot, while Just A Valley Gal (Joe Putnam) rallied for third.
The two-year-old trotting colts settled leg three of the KYSS with two $15,000 divisions. The first of which saw Victors Future (Brad Hanners) use different tactics than normal by rushing up to the lead past the half-mile marker, but produced the same result. The win translated to a perfect three-for-three sweep of the KYSS preliminary legs with a two and three-quarter-length victory in 1:59.1, a lifetime best. The son of Valley Victor--Baby Bella is trained by Jeff Smith and owned by Terry & Cynthia Kinsley, along with James and Fred Everhart. Kentucky Wildcat (Peter Wrenn) finished second behind its nemesis for the third consecutive week, while Cardura Hall (Mike Lachance) held third.
The second $15,000 KYSS division for two-year-old trotters looked to be another win for the connections of trainer Jeff Smith, as they sent out the dominant 1-2 favourite Quantum Lightning (Brad Hanners). However, Victory Nut (Luke McCarthy) was able to avenge two straight second-place finishes to the favourite by scoring the upset. It was a two-horse race down the lane, as Victory Nut took the lead at the head of the stretch and used a :27.4 final quarter, along with a two-length head start, to fend off the favourite which was a half-length back to finish a very game second. Trot to Victory (Robert Taylor) was five and a half lengths back in third. Victory Nut, a son of Valley Victor--Garbo Hanover, picked up its first career victory with the 1:57.3 clocking for trainer Noel Daley and owners John Wagner and Scott Woogen.
The two-year-old pacing colts were also split into two $15,000 divisions for leg three of the KYSS. The first of which proved to be a wide open affair, with the top five within three quarters of a length of each other at the finish. Roys Beach Boy (Dan Noble), a son of Jennas Beach Boy--Miss Doshie, was a game winner after settling fourth in the early going and coming first-over around the final turn, using a :28.2 final quarter to hold off the challengers and score the 8-1 upset in 1:56.3. Roys Beach Boy is trained by Bradley Crates for Henry Ruppel and the Krak the Whip Stable. Electrifying Cam (Marcus Johansson) closed from last to within a head of the winner, with Onemoreroundocrown (Trace Tetrick) only a neck away from the win in third.
The other $15,000 division for two-year old pacers also completed a clean sweep of the three preliminary legs of the KYSS for High Def Z Tam (Mike Lachance). Lachance tucked the gelded son of Real Desire--Caribbean away second around the first turn, but quickly took control as they straightened out up the backstretch. The pair cruised through a half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:27.3, before kicking home in :26.4 to post a three and a quarter-length score in 1:54.2. Richard Ringler trains the likely favourite in next week’s $300,000 final, and he is owned by Z Tam Racing LLC and Pat Lachance. Main A Dieu Too (Trace Tetrick) used a pocket trip to hold second, with Spartan Justice (Peter Wrenn) rallying late for third.
Racing action returns to the Red Mile on Sunday night, as three-year-old trotters and pacers will have their last chance to earn points for the $2.4 million Night of Champions with round three of the KYSS. First-race post time is at 6:30 p.m.
(With files from the Red Mile)