On Tuesday (Sept. 17), The Red Mile hosted eight $67,568 divisions of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series for freshman and sophomore males and females of both gaits. Only two of the public’s top choices, Blue Cartier in the two-year-old male trot final and Faze in the two-year-old filly pace final, prevailed.
Blue Cartier, with Yannick Gingras at the controls for trainer Tony Alagna, completed the series sweep in 1:55.4. Alagna was also responsible for Uno (Anibal Borjas) who finished second at 40-1. Assiduous (Tim Tetrick) was third.
Bred by Crawford Farms, the son of Chapter Seven-Corazon Blue Chip is co-owned by his breeder’s racing operation, Bradley Grant and Pryde Stables. The colt has now won five consecutive starts and is 5-0-1 with $79,993 in his bank account from eight starts.
Blue Cartier paid $3.22 to win after a gate-to-wire display from post position nine in the field of 10.
Faze (T. Tetrick) collected her third win in a row for conditioner Nancy Takter as the post-time favourite in the two-year-old filly pace final in 1:53.4. Flossy Hill was second and Bytheliteofthemoon (Dexter Dunn) rounded out the trifecta.
The daughter of Sweet Lou-Darlinonthebeach was bred by Diamond Creek Farm, Shmuel Farhi and Spreydon Lodge LTD. The filly is owned by Diamond Creek Racing, Farhi Standardbreds and Spreydon Racing.
Faze paid $4.04 to win.
Delray Beach, Monkey Wine take freshman finals
Gingras and Takter collaborated to win with Delray Beach (Tall Dark Stranger-Idyllic Beach) in the final for freshman male pacers by a head in 1:52.2. Got Bourbon (Todd McCarthy) nabbed the place position and Luminary (Scott Zeron) snared the show spot.
Bred by Christina Takter, Marvin Katz and Brixton Medical, Delray Beach is owned by Black Horse Racing, John Fielding and Morrison Racing Stables.
The colt paid $6.88 to win as the second selection on the tote board.
Monkey Wine (Mattias Melander) bested Kewpie Doll (Tony Hall) and favoured Anativenewyorker (Dunn) in 1:58 in the event for freshman filly trotters.
The daughter of Gimpanzee-Back Splash resides in Marcus Melander’s shed row. In her last four starts, the win was her third triumph. Monkey Wine bred by Peter Martinson and is owned by AMG Stable, Kenneth Kjellgren, Mantorp LLC and Heights Stable.
The filly paid $16.02 as the fourth choice in the wagering.
Bet On Big Joe, Every Mans Dream come home first in finals for sophomore pacers
Bet On Big Joe (Andy Miller) hit the line first by a neck over favoured Lou Hill (Dunn) in a lifetime best 1:49.4 for owner/trainer Rodney Debeck. Ripasso (Zeron) was in third.
The son of Betting Line-Robin Cruiser improved his record to 11-6-0 in 24 starts. His slate this season stands at 11-4-0 in 16 starts. In his last 10 starts, he has visited the winner’s circle on eight occasions and finished second twice.
Bet On Big Joe was bred by Pinske Stables and provided his supporters with $11.48 for the win.
Every Mans Dream (Gingras) scored in 1:50.2 over Disney (T. McCarthy) and Gifted One (Dunn) for trainer Ron Burke in the final for three-year-old filly pacers.
The daughter of Always B Miki-Lindys Nightmare established a new lifetime mark in her first win of the season. The Massachusetts champion repeated as she captured this final last year as a two-year-old.
Every Mans Dream was bred by Lindy Farms and is owned by Thomas Dillon and Scott Dillon.
The filly paid $15.36 to win as the fourth choice.
Vic Zelenskyy, Green Mercedes win sophomore male and female trot finals
Vic Zelenskyy (Dunn) absolutely aired in his contest to stop the clock over favoured Duke Of Walner in 1:50.1. He tripped the timer more than three full seconds ahead of his rival. Rock My Universe (Andrew McCarthy) was third.
The son of Greenshoe-Mission Brief rebounded after breaking stride in the final leg of this series to finish ninth and a seventh-place finish in the third leg winning the first two. The Melander trainee set a new lifetime mark. He was unraced as a two-year-old. Vic Zelenskyy was bred by Mission Brief Stable and was a $550,000 purchase by S R F Stable and Holly Lane Stud East LTD.
The colt paid $6.60 to win as the second wagering selection.
Green Mercedes (A. Miller) won the Golden Rod Series final for three-year-old filly trotters in 1:55.4. Justasiam AS (Hall) was second and Dubai (A. McCarthy) was third.
The daughter of Greenshoe-Danielle Hall is trained by Julie Miller. The filly has won four of her last five starts. She was bred by Robert Kuhns and Dan Kuhns and is owned by Andy Miller Stable, Patrick Hoopes and VIP Internet Stable.
Green Mercedes paid $9.46 to win as the second betting choice.
Racing for the 2024 regular season has concluded at The Red Mile until the Grand Circuit arrives on Thursday (Sept. 26). Racing will be conducted for that week with a 1 p.m. post time on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The following week, Oct. 4-Oct. 6, will be held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with a first post of 1 p.m.
The 131st edition of the Kentucky Futurity will be contested on Oct. 6 as The Red Mile celebrates its 150th anniversary. It is the second oldest harness racing facility in the world.
(With files from The Red Mile)