Topville Lucky went back-to-back in Kentucky Sire Stakes action with another 1:50.2 mile in the $109,589 fourth leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for freshman pacing fillies at The Red Mile on Sunday, Aug. 31.
Atlee Bender made the most of his inside draw to guide second-choice Topville Lucky home in front of favoured Gala (Todd McCarthy) in the field of eight. Topville Lucky allowed 72-1 shot Shes A Rich Girl (David Miller) to cut the first split of :28.1. Dexter Dunn, however, decided Seaside Shuffle needed to be involved in the early action and steered his filly to the front before the half in :56.2.
Bender then sent Topville Lucky out of third to take the lead, and she brought the field to three-quarters in 1:24.2. It was a lead she would not relinquish despite the concerted effort of Gala down the stretch, holding on by a half-length to record her third win in four starts. Caviart Daisy (Andrew McCarthy) closed for third. The top two fillies both came home in :26.
A daughter of Sweet Lou-Warrawee Winx, Topville Lucky is trained by Erv Miller. The only blemish on her record is when she broke stride in the second leg of this series following her maiden-breaking effort in the first leg of the Commonwealth. The filly was bred by Jeremy Yoder and went through the ring at last year’s Harrisburg sale for $37,500. She has now amassed $130,899 in earnings for Ervin Miller Stable Inc., Douglas Overhiser, Dr. Michael Ternisky, and Dr. Scott Leaf. She paid $7.24 to win.
The 12-race card also included two $41,096 fourth-round divisions of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, three $20,548 fourth-leg splits of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series, and two $13,699 fourth-leg groups of the Kentucky Wildcat Series, all for for two-year-old female pacers.
Hope Hill (Dexter Dunn) made it three Commonwealth Series wins in a row as she beat Need You Now (Patrick Ryder) by 1-3/4 lengths with a second straight 1:51.2 effort. Eternal Blush (Yannick Gingras) took the show spot. The winning daughter of Papi Rob Hanover-Ruth Hill is under the care of Virgil Morgan Jr. Competing as a homebred for Tom Hill, Hope Hill improved to 5-4-0-1 with a bankroll of $75,080. Sent off as the favourite, Hope Hill returned $3.44.
Tan Lines Hanover (Scott Zeron) out-duelled Nash (Todd McCarthy) to visit the winner’s circle for the first time in her career for trainer Nancy Takter. Favourite Bettor Be A Star (Ryder) was third. The victorious daughter of Downbytheseaside-The Art Museum hit the line a head in front in 1:52.3. The filly had been chasing horses such as Hope Hill and Topville Lucky in her three previous appearances in this series after breaking in her debut in July. The filly was selected for $44,444 at last year’s Harrisburg sale by her trainer, Christina Takter, and Black Horse Racing. Tan Lines Hanover has a resume of 5-1-0-2 and has collected $30,480 in earnings. She paid $7.04 to win as the public’s second choice.
Favoured Seaside Charm provided Gingras and Burke with their first of two Golden Rod wins in 1:51, paying $2.80 for that mile.
Dunn and Joe Holloway were the team behind second-choice She Stings ($7.52) in the second division as the filly won in 1:51.4.
Burke and Gingras combined forces again in the third division with third-choice Lets Justin Turtle ($11.66), who won in 1:51.4.
Dave Miller swept the Wildcat divisions, with favoured Atte Station ($6.46) winning the first split in in 1:53.2, and Easy Station pacing to the finish line first in the second contest in 1:52.4.
Two-year-old filly trotters will take centre stage on the 12-race card on Labour Day, Monday, Sept. 1 at The Red Mile. An intriguing field of nine will go to post in the $80,000 USD fourth leg of the Kentucky Championship Series. The main event will be supported by two $30,000 USD divisions of the Commonwealth Series, four $15,000 USD splits of the Golden Rod, and two $10,000 USD divisions of the Wildcat. These freshmen are competing to cement their slots in the mid-September finals worth more than $4 million USD.
(The Red Mile)