Canadian Pacing Derby champion Its My Show used a blistering final quarter-mile to defeat the talented El Rey in 1:49.2 in the $47,297 third leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Series (KYSS) for four-year-old male pacers on Tuesday, Sept. 10 at The Red Mile. Hers Hungry hit the line a neck in front of favoured Strong Poison to capture the $47,297 third leg for four-year-old mare pacers.
Its My Show (Scott Zeron) began pacing from post position three in the field of eight while the speedy El Rey (Andy Miller) assumed command right from the beginning of the mile. The public’s third choice clicked off fractions of :27.2, :55.3 and 1:22.4 while favoured Its My Show started in fifth and moved into fourth at the three-quarter pole. As the field rounded the final bend, Its My Show began to uncork his rally in the drive for the finish line and was positioned in third behind pocket-sitter Speaking Volumes (Tony Hall). El Rey had the jump on the 2023 North America Cup and Little Brown Jug winner, but Its My Show came storming over the red clay with a final quarter of :25.4 to best El Rey, who was not throwing in the towel, by a half-length. Speaking Volumes was third.
Trained by Linda Toscano, Its My Show set his lifetime mark of 1:46.4, which was then a world record, at this facility in 2023 Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series action. After his triumph in the Jug, the gelding went off form towards the end of the season. It took some time to find that form again in 2024, but after his rousing win in the $540,000 Canadian Pacing Derby on Aug. 31 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, it appears Its My Show is back where he belongs: in the spotlight.
The son of Sweet Lou and Put On A Show, both champions in their days on the track, was bred by his owners, Richard and Joanne Young. He now sports a resume of 12-8-3 with nearly $1.74 million in the bank from 36 starts.
Its My Show provided his supporters with $2.72 to win.
Hers Hungry threw down a sizzling final quarter-mile of her own to give Zeron a sweep of the Sire Stakes for four-year-olds on the 15-race card as she staved off heavily favoured Strong Poison by a neck in 1:49. The mile time was a lifetime best for the daughter of Stay Hungry-Injeanous Style.
Keep My Secret and Tony Hall snatched the early lead from the rail and led the field of five through the first quarter in :28.1. Strong Poison and David Miller left from post position two. The duo pulled prior to the half-mile marker after sitting in second to click off times of :55.3 and 1:22.2. Hers Hungry left from post position four and remained there until advancing into third turning for home. Strong Poison still had plenty of pace, but Hers Hungry had more, as she used a :25.3 final quarter to ensure she was the mare who would be having her picture taken. Keep My Secret rounded out the trifecta.
Trained by Travis Kolaczynski, Hers Hungry improved her career slate to 8-7-0 and she has earned $96,765 in purse money from 30 starts.
The mare is a half-sibling to Winner Is Coming (sired by Betting Line, $160,200 in career earnings) and Style For A Mile (Captaintreacherous, $383,710). She was a $27,000 purchase by Jeffrey Dauplaise and Aimee Scheid at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Hers Hungry’s great granddam is U.S. Hall of Fame member Delinquent Account and her granddam, Art Account, foaled five offspring that broke the $100,000 barrier.
Hers Hungry was bred by All For Won and paid $28.20 to win.
Racing continues at The Red Mile on Sunday, Sept. 15 with eight $400,000 USD Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series finals with a first post of 5:05 p.m. On Monday, Sept. 16, the Lexington oval will feature the $100,000 USD Commonwealth Series finals, and on Tuesday, Sept. 17, the $50,000 USD Golden Rod Series finals.
There will then be a hiatus at The Red Mile until the Grand Circuit rolls into the Bluegrass on Thursday, Sept. 26 for a two-week sojourn.
(With files from The Red Mile)
Its My Show
I'm glad that Linda Toscano has finally figured out what was wrong with Its My Show. His win in the CPD on 8/31 was just his second win this year, the first win being back on May 6, and his win on Tuesday was the first time that he won back-to-back races since he won The NA Cup and his elimination for The NA Cup way back in June of last year.