So Nice kicked off Thursday night's card at The Red Mile with a maiden-breaking 1:52.2 victory in the lone $30,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) division for two-year-old filly pacers.
The race was the first of eight KYSS preliminaries held on the card that set the stage for the $2 million Super Night program scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 9, at the famed red clay oval.
Favourite Ohmybelle appeared on her way to her ninth win of the year in the KYSS leg for first-year filly pacers, but she was no match on Thursday for So Nice, who rallied past in deep stretch for the two and a quarter length victory. Driven by Peter Wrenn, So Nice won for the first time in just two starts as she bested just four rivals. Kevin Thomas trains So Nice, a daughter of Ponder, for owner Andrew Demetrious of Campbellville, Ont.
Also raced in a single $30,000 KYSS division was the twp-year-old colt pacers and it was Wrenn and driver Wrenn who rallied to a 1:53 score over 46-1 outsider Talk It Up. Blatantly Best and driver Marcus Miller were closing fast behind the winner but he went off stride late that cost him all chance for the victory. Miller got his charge back on gait in time to save third-place money. John Butenschoen trains the winning son of Cambest for owners VIP Internet Stable and William Wiswell.
Dewey Lane and Simcoe Hall, both daughters of Deweycheatumnhowe, romped to easy victories in two of the three KYSS divisions for freshman filly trotters, while it was a much tighter decision for True Day Dream in the final split.
Ray Paver directed Dewey Lane to a five-length 1:56.4 win, with Dana Boko second and Kijafa third. Rich Gillock trains Bob Key's homebred, who won for the second time in seven starts.
Simone Hall was a six and a quarter length winner with Mike Lachance driving for trainer Robert Horowitz. Finishing second was Dontcheatonafilly, with Blue Diamonds third. The win was Simone Hall's third in five starts for owners Horowitz and Brian Clark.
True Day Dream held on by a neck over Andie Sophia in the third KYSS split for the freshman colt trotters. Dan O'Mara trains and drives the winner for Joseph Hess. It was True Day Dream's fifth win in seven starts as well as a new career best.
Caveat Emptor appeared on his way to a popular victory as the heavy favorite in the first of three divisions for two-year-old colt trotters, but he made a break at the top of the stretch and that paved the way for Mystical Dew to rally to a 1:55.2 score for driver Tyler Smith. Jeff Smith trains the winning son of Deweycheatumnhowe for owner Mystical Marker Farms. He remains perfect in three starts.
Banco Solo was an impressive 1:57.4 winner in the second split. posting his fourth victory in six starts. Ken Oscarsson trains the winning son of Master Glide for owner Atlantic Trot. It was Banco Solo's fourth straight win in six starts.
Penn wrapped up the KYSS portion of the card with a 1:56.4 score in the third division for juvenile male trotters. Dave Magee was in the sulky for trainer Randy Jerrell and owner Barkley Counts as he won for the third time in 10 starts. Penn, a son of Master Glide, lowered his career mark by more than a second with his Thursday night score.
(The Red Mile)