The Kindergarten Trotting Series continued on Thursday evening at The Red Mile, and the toteboard was lit up on more than one occasion.
The colt divisions began the evening with Mavens Way scoring a $37.20 upset for young Oskar Florhed taking a nice record of 1:55.3 in the process. The son of Muscle Hill-Doris Deo sat close up early then wore down Dominion Beach in the shadow of the wire for the win. He is trained by Ake Svanstedt for his own interests along with partners Al & Janet Burroughs and TLP Stable.
Charlie Norris worked out a perfect pocket trip for Cloud Nine Hanover in the next division for a huge $54.40 upset after favoured Southwind Flash broke on the final bend. Charlie trains the son of Muscle Massive who was winning for the first time on behalf of his wife Carrie, Acadia Farms and G&B Racing. Celebrity Express rallied from well back for the place award.
Hollywood Highway struck a blow for favouritism winning right back for Dave Palone in a new record of 1:55.2 in the third and last colt split. He’s another by Muscle Massive who has found his best form on the clay surface for trainer Staffan Lind. Marvin Katz and Al Goldband share the ownership.
Palone won the very next race with Haughty, who has clearly been the class of the Kindergarten filly races in Lexington. Jimmy Takter conditions the winner and had the second-place finisher, as well, in Hollywood Hill. Haughty was well within herself tonight in a measured 1:55.4 tally. She races for the ownership group of Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband.
Howie Okusko, Jr. steered Sweet Ashley T to yet another upset in the last of the Kindergarten races returning $38.60 to her small legion of backers. The Conway Hall filly took a 1:56 record in the process for trainer Homer Hochstetler who owns her with South Of The Tracks Racing.
The Kindergarten goes on hiatus until leg five set for October 23 at Vernon Downs with the finals the next week.
Red Mile racing resumes on Saturday before going dark for week. The Grand Circuit kicks off on Wednesday, September 30 racing at 7 p.m. through Saturday, October 3 then matinee racing the following Wednesday through Saturday.
(The Red Mile)