Two-year-old trotters were front and centre at the Red Mile during Thursday evening’s program, as the Lexington, Kentucky oval hosted seven divisions of the Kindergarten Series – four for fillies and three for the colts and geldings.
The opening division for the fillies was taken by 30-1 shot Bee The Queen, doing so in a career best 1:56 over a ‘good’ track. Leaving the gate, Bee The Queen secured forward position as Sweet Thing, from Post 7, began to make a move to the front. Clearing past a quarter of :28.3, public-choice Allerage Star then made her move towards the front, taking control at three-eighths. Bee The Queen was shuffled to third and sat 2-¾ lengths off the leader, Allerage Star, through a :57.4 (:29.1) half-mile.
Into the far turn, driver James Stiltner II pulled Bee The Queen first over and began to pursuit the lead. Past three-quarters in 1:27.4 (:30), she was up to the throat of Allerage Star. As Sweet Thing faltered behind them, Bee The Queen powered by the 3/5 favourite to win by 3-¼ lengths in 1:56 (:28.1) over Allerage Star, Sarcy and Murderers Row.
A filly by Donato Hanover, out of the mare Bee Line by Self Possessed, Bee The Queen paid $62.00 to win. She is owned by Alfred Ross and trained by George Ducharme.
The second division saw another longshot, Waiting Room, foil the public choice at odds of 41-1 in 1:56.1. Waiting Room was among a trio of leavers, with favoured Lilu Hanover and Bright Baby Blues, from post 10, also heading to the front. Lilu Hanover was the pacesetter through a quarter in :28.3. While Waiting Room remained in the pocket, Lady Clarabella traveled first over, with Josies Joy drafting behind her. That duo parked as Lilu Hanover remained in control through a :58.3 (:30) half.
Heading to three-quarters, Lilu Hanover was 1-¾ lengths clear of pocket-sitter Waiting Room as they passed that station in 1:28.1 (:29.3). Encouraged for trot, Lilu Hanover did not respond in the stretch while Waiting Room popped out of the pocket, as well as Bright Baby Blues from third. Waiting Room gained control while Bright Baby Blues stalled to her outside. Waiting Room remained in front at the finish, winning by a half-length over Bright Baby Blues, Lilu Hanover and Bright Eyes in a lifetime-best 1:56.1 (:27.3).
Paying $85.60 to win, Waiting Room is by Credit Winner, out of the mare Wedding Dress by Muscles Yankee. She is owned by Andy Miller Stables Inc., Little E LLC, and Lawrence Dumain, trained by Julie Miller and was driven by Charlie Norris.
Gold Cora ironically defied the odds, winning the third division as the 3-5 favourite in 1:57. Gold Cora secured command at the inside, but Aarena Hanover brushed by to take the lead heading to the quarter. Classical Annie tucked into third and Morcredit Bluechip was fourth through a :28.4 quarter. Driver Mike Lachance sent Gold Cora back to the front and cleared the lead with ease approaching the half. He was uncontested through a :58.3 (:29.4) half-mile.
Into the far turn, Morcredit Bluechip took to the outside, but stalled as Gold Cora maintained a 1-¾ lengths lead passed three-quarters in 1:28.2 (:29.4). Aarena Hanover attempted to slingshot out of the pocket, while Classical Annie was gradually gaining ground three wide. Aarena Hanover dropped out of the battle from in between horses and Gold Cora, despite getting a little rough-gaited in the stretch, held off the bid of Classical Annie to win by a length in 1:57 (:28.3).
Rob Key owns the filly by Encore Encore, out of the mare Striking Gold K by Striking Sahbra. Trained by Rich Gillock, she paid $3.20 to win.
With the break of 4-5 favourite Saturday Mornings, Rules Of The Road sat a perfect trip to slide by race leader Pad Princess to win at 19-1 in 1:57. Rules Of The Road and Pad Princess left the gate well and battled for control through a :29.3 quarter. Approaching three-eighths, Pad Princess cleared the lead while Rules Of The Road drafted in second. Pad Princess led past the half in :57.4 (:28.1).
Wordie Hanover was flushed first over entering the far turn and gradually made his way to Pad Princess. The two were neck-and-neck through a 1:28 (:30.1) third-quarter. Wordie Hanover stalled first over and Pad Princess began to drift off the pylons, leaving room for Rules Of The Road to squeeze through and win by a length in 1:57 over Pad Princess, What Ru Going Todo, and Meadowbranch Lulu.
Owned by Arden Homestead Stable and trainer Janice Connor and driven by Chuck Connor, Jr., the daughter of Muscle Hill, out of the mare Right On Renee by Andover Hall, paid $41.00 to win.
Bee The Queen currently leads in the standings with 108 points, while Lady Clarabella sits second with 100 points and Allerage Star is tied for third with 75 points to Josie’s Joy.
The fourth preliminary of the Kindergarten series has been moved from Friday, September 19 to Thursday, September 18. Declaration time is at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 15.
Indiana-native Airman Batten bested series-leader French Laundry as the 1-2 favourite in 1:57.1 in the first division for the colts and geldings. Driver Lewayne Miller protected the pylons with Airman Batten as French Laundry was in pursuit of the front. After tucking into the pocket, Airman Batten passed the quarter in :30. Slowing the tempo to the half, Boots N Chains brushed to the lead from sixth. Airman Batten yielded to the 22-1 shot in 1:01.2 (:31.2).
Airman Batten was patient around the far turn, pulling out of the pocket once passed three-quarters, which was timed in 1:30.2 (:29). Airman Batten slowly made his way passed Boots N Chains, who was drifting far off the pylons. French Laundry attempted to close at the inside, but settled for third as Airman Batten was a length winner over Boots N Chains in 1:57.1 (:26.4).
A colt by Swan For All, out of the mare Ladylike Volo by Yankee Glide, Airman Batten is owned by Paymaq Racing, Harvey Eisman and Greg Gillis and is trained by Erv Miller. He paid $3.00 to win.
Wicker Hanover sat patiently in the mid-pack and swept by his competition in the stretch to win in 1:57. P Mac Attack took command, with True Blue Stride tucking into the pocket and Ferragamo progressing first over. Past a quarter in :28.2, Ferragamo went on to take control. P Mac Attack sat behind as Ferragamo passed the half in :57.4 (:29.2).
Into the far turn, True Blue Stride broke from third as P Mac Attack angled to the outside with Wicker Hanover on his tail. Ferragamo was starting to lose his stride at three-quarters in 1:27.3 (:29.4). P Mac Attack inherited the front upon Ferragamo’s break in the stretch. Wicker Hanover fanned three-wide and trotted by for driver Andrew McCarthy and won by two lengths at the finish over Cinnabar Hall, Ss Poseidon, and P Mac Attack in 1:57 (:29.2).
Wicker Hanover is by Explosive Matter, out of the Conway Hall mare Won An Done. Owned by Christer Haggstrom Racing Stable Inc and trained by Noel Daley, he paid $9.40 to win. This was the first win of his career.
In the final division, Musical Rhythm sat at the pylons for the whole mile and found room in the final eighth to score in 1:56.4. First-time starter Iron showed speed, with Bighandsbiggloves getting away second and Musical Rhythm in third. Iron passed the quarter in :28.4. He was uncontested up to the half, timed in :59 (:30.1).
Suit And Tie pulled first over from fourth around the far turn and was stride-for-stride with Iron heading to three-quarters. Iron had a slight advantage through three-quarters in 1:28.4 (:29.4). Suit And Tie had a nose in front at the top of the lane, while Iron fought on towards the inside. Musical Rhythm slowly eased his way up the inside and took control approaching the finish. He won by 2-¼ lengths in 1:56.4 (:28) over Suit And Tie, Iron and Bighandsbiggloves.
Musical Rhythm is by Cantab Hall, out of the Valley Victory mare Musical Victory. Owned by Mystical Marker Farms, In The Gym Partners, Joe Sbrocco and T. Massey, trained by Tony Alagna and driven by Scott Zeron, he paid $13.80 to win. The 1:56.4 mile is a lifetime mark for Musical Rhythm.
French Laundry remains on top of the standings with 112 points, while Wheels Ah Smokin maintains second at 58 points and P Mac Attack is third with 55 points. Airman Batten, making his Kindergarten debut, is tied for fifth between Suit And Tie and Habitat at 50 points.
The fourth preliminary of the Kindergarten series has been moved from Friday, September 19 to Thursday, September 18. Declaration time is at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, September 15.
Earlier in the card, Whom Shall I Fear made his career debut for trainer-driver Jimmy Takter. The son of Cantab Hall, a full brother to Father Patrick and Pastor Stephen, finished fourth in first start trotting his mile in 1:57.2. Sold as Custom Fit, he topped all yearling sales in 2013 with his $475,000 price tag.
(The Red Mile)