On Sunday (Aug. 28), Rebuff returned to his victorious ways at The Red Mile in the $80,000 third leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for sophomore trotting males in 1:51.4.
Rebuff did not make his pari-mutuel appearance until the 11th race on the card. His performance, however, was well worth the wait as the son of Muscle Hill-Meucci Madness overhauled longshot Keg Stand on the finish line to win by a nose. Branded By Lindy was third.
Leaving from post two, Rebuff was placed in third by driver Tim Tetrick as Keg Stand was sent to the lead. The Dan Patch Award winner remained in that position as Keg Stand clicked fractions of :28, :56.2 and 1:24.3 with defending Kentucky champ Double Deceiver tracking in second. Tetrick provided Rebuff with rein in the stretch drive and the duo passed a fading Double Deceiver with Keg Stand in his sights. The leader was valiant in defeat, but Rebuff lived to his name at the wire.
Co-owned by trainer Lucas Wallin, Kjell Magne Anderson and Pieter Delis, Rebuff now sports a resume of 16-8-2-1 and boosted his bankroll to $623,270. The colt was bred by Steve Stewart and Michael Andrew. He is a half-sibling to dual New York Sire Stakes champion Non Stick and sold for $200,000 at the 2020 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
Rebuff paid $3.52 to win.
Kopi Luwak also provided his supporters with some anxious moments, but the son of Stay Hungry-Auniqueaquistion got up in time to defeat Bamboozler by a nose in 1:49.2 in the $80,000 Kentucky Championship division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Command was third.
The colt broke his maiden in his third trip to the gate after two seconds in his previous starts. Kopi Luwak made his debut on July 15 at The Meadowlands in a $20,000 first round leg of the Kindergarten series and was second by a neck to Blue Lou, who was also in this field, in the first round of the Championship series on Aug. 7.
Owned by Brad Grant and Steve Heimbecker, Kopi Luwak is the fifth foal from Auniqueaquisition, who was a standout in Illinois and won the 2013 Grandma Anne final. She was also second in the 2012 Orange and Blue final for two-year-old filly pacers. Auniqueaquistion has been just as prolific as a broodmare, as Kopi Luwak is a half-sibling to Yacht Week, High Minded and Find Happiness.
Bred by Steve Stewart and John Carver, Kopi Luwak is trained by Tony Alagna and was purchased for $160,000 at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Kopi Luwak has now earned $65,000 in purse money with a record of 3-1-2-0. He paid $9.62 to win.
Tetrick and Miller collected three wins on the card.
Sire stakes action continues at The Red Mile on Monday (Aug. 29) and Tuesday (Aug. 30). First post is 1 p.m. (EDT).
(The Red Mile)