The Canadian father-son team of Gregg and Doug McNair completed a sweep of Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) when their Somebeachsomewhere filly Beautyonthebeach cruised to a 1:51 victory in the $250,000 KYSS Two-Year-Old Filly Pace on the KYSS Super Day program at the Red Mile on Sunday (Sept. 16.).
Beautyonthebeach moved to the front past the quarter pole, taking the lead away from Summer Charm, and withstood a far-turn rush from Edge Of Eternity win by two lengths over Margret Hill. Summer Charm took third.
Trained by Gregg McNair and driven by Doug McNair, Beautyonthebeach is a Jim Avritt Sr.-homebred out of the standout mare Precocious Beauty. She won her fifth race in eight starts and equaled her career mark set in the second KYSS leg. Her earnings now stand at $181,343.
The first KYSS final was for two-year-old male trotters and it appeared odds-on favourite Dont Letem, who won the Peter Haughton Memorial earlier this year at the Meadowlands, was on his way to victory as the field of 10 came out of the last turn. But Dont Letem suddenly went on a break, which paved the way for the two-hole sitting Forecast to take advantage and score a 1:53.4 victory. Shake N Bake finished a length behind in second and just ahead of show-finisher Reign Of Honor.
Corey Callahan sat behind Forecast, who won for the fifth time in nine starts while posting a career best, for trainer John Butenschoen. A $70,000 yearling purchase and owned by Bill Wiswell, Jean Goehlen and Eugene Schick, Forecast now has career earnings of $186,650. The son of Cantab Hall was bred by Diamond Creek Farm.
Callahan and Butenschoen teamed up for a second KYSS champion with the three-year-old filly trotter Nixie Volo, who redeemed herself after making a break in last year’s final.
Leaving from post eight, Nixie Volo parked the entire mile but still held onto the lead she finally secured in deep stretch to win in a career-best 1:51.1. Pat Matters was a head back in second with Live Laugh Love third.
A daughter of Yankee Glide, Nixie Volo was a $22,000 yearling purchase and now owned by Kentuckiana Racing Stable, VIP Internet Stable, 83 Racing and the University of Kentucky football team’s offensive coordinator Eddie Gran. With her fourth win of the year Nixie Volo boosted her seasonal earnings to $215,486 and career total to $286,786. She was bred by Jorgen Jahre Jr.
Whispering Oaks sprung a 16-1 upset in the KYSS final for two-year-old filly trotters. Driven by Yannick Gingras, Whispering Oaks left fast from post eight but, after taking the lead, soon yielded to heavy-favourite Taylor Swiftly. That odds-on choice held the lead turning for home but in deep stretch gave way to Whispering Oaks, who crossed the wire in 1:54. Ma Was Right was able to get up for second late just ahead of Taylor Swiftly.
A daughter of Father Patrick, Whispering Oaks is a $100,000 yearling purchase of Brixton Medical, Herb Liverman and RAW Equine. Trained by Jimmy Takter, the win was Whispering Oaks’ third of the year and came after three consecutive second-place finishes in the KYSS prelims. Her career-best effort increased her earnings to $124,574. Whispering Oaks was bred by Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband.
Hurrikane Emperor captured the KYSS final for two-year-old male trotters. Already the winner of the New Jersey Sire Stakes final, Hurrikane Emperor became a two-state champ with a 1:49.3 victory for driver Daniel Dube and trainer John McDermott Jr. Hurrikane Emperor led at every call to best pocket-sitting Blood Money by a head with favourite Captain Trevor third.
A son of Hurrikane Kingcole, Hurrikane Emperor was bred and is owned by Jonathan Klee Racing, Kuhen Racing, Pegasis Investment Group and Lind Racing Stable. The win was his sixth in eight starts, bringing her earnings to $214,400.
The $250,000 KYSS final for three-year-old filly pacers went to favourite Dance Blue and driver Andy McCarthy in 1:51.1. Defending divisional champ Band Stand, who went off at odds of 68-1, finished a neck behind in second with Cabowabocuttie third.
Winless last year at two, Dance Blue won for the sixth time in 12 starts this year, bringing her career earnings to $241,880. A $50,000 yearling purchase from breeders Steve Stewart and Julie and Charles “Cotton” Nash, the daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven is owned by Katz, Goldband and Goran Anderberg
Eurobond outgamed Tactical Landing in the stretch to capture the KYSS final for three-year-old male trotters. With Wolfgang on the lead and Tactical Landing with trainer-driver Takter first-over, driver David Miller waited patiently along the inside with Eurobond. In deep stretch Miller found room and urged his charge to the wire a head in front of Tactical Landing in 1:51.3. Classichap rallied for third as Wolfgang tired to fourth.
A son of French stallion Love You, Eurobond is owned by breeder Lindy Farms of Conn. In partnership with Robert Rudolph. The win was just his second in a dozen starts this year and lowered his previous mark by more than two seconds. Domenico Cecere trains Eurobond, who increased his earnings to $152,900.
The rich program was capped off with a 1:48.1 victory by American History in the KYSS final for three-year-old male pacers. Driven by Gingras for trainer Tony Alagna, American History used a final quarter of :26.1 to get past leader Thinkbig Dreambig in deep stretch to win by one length. Grant Teton was third.
A son of American Ideal, American History was a $150,000 yearling purchase and now owned by breeder Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz and American History Racing. The win was the seventh of the year for American History, who earlier this year posted a 1:47 victory at the Meadowlands. The effort boosted American History’s earnings to $472,285.
Two $50,000 KYSS consolations opened up the card. The two-year-old filly trot consolation went to Mother Teresa in 1:55.2 for driver Zeron and trainer Cecere. The daughter of Father Patrick is a homebred of KR Breeding.
The consolation for freshman male pacers went to Waterway, who won in 1:50.1 for driver Brett Miller and trainer Alagna. The daughter of Captaintreacherous was bred by Brittany Farms and is owned by Alagna & Begley Stable, Santo Barbera, David Silverman and Joseph Barbera.
Three KYSS consolations were held on Saturday night. Supergirl Riley won the three-year-old filly trot in 1:54.3 for driver Marcus Miller, trainer Erv Miller and owners Paymaq Racing, George Golemes and Harvey Eisman; Amico Mio Bi won the two-year-old male trot in 1:55.4 for trainer-driver Brian Connor, who shares ownership with Janice Connor, Arden Homestead Stable and Caroline Gerry; and Cruise won the two-year-old male pace in 1:52.4 for driver Christian Lind, trainer Brian Brown and owner Emerald Highlands Farm.
(With files from the Kentucky Sire Stakes)