After a blockbuster card on Sunday (Sept. 17), the Bluegrass State still had plenty to offer with six $100,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series finals for freshman and sophomore filly trotters and pacers. Hungry For Love and Prince Of Honor captured their respective divisions while Flawless also glistened at Red Mile on Monday (Sept. 18).
Hungry For Love (Todd McCarthy) established a new lifetime mark of 1:49 kicking off the 14-race card for her first victory since June 4 at Harrah’s Philadelphia in the division for three-year-old filly pacers. The daughter of Stay Hungry-Lover Of Art has kept strong company and finished behind dual Kentucky champion Twin B Joe Fresh in the $252,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship.
Late For Dinner (Yannick Gingras) was second and Cantgetuoutofmymind (Andy Miller) was third.
Conditioned by Ron Burke, the filly is owned Thomas and Scott Dillon and was bred by Brittany Farms.
She paid $3.13 to win as the second selection in the field of six.
Hungry For Love has earned $311,901 and sports a resume of 25-9-3-4.
Prince Of Honor (T. McCarthy) captured his Commonwealth final for sophomore male trotters to collect his fourth win in five seasonal starts in the division in a lifetime best of 1:51.4. Best Friend Volo (Scott Zeron) was second and Djimon (Gingras) was third.
Sent off as the public’s top selection, the gelding is conditioned by Carter Pinske. The son of Walner-Princess Aurelia was bred by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. He was purchased for $105,000 at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by Pinske Stables and David Hoese.
Prince Of Honor has a resume of 14-10-2 and has banked $222,790.
He paid $4.26 to win as the top choice.
Flawless (Gingras) led from gate to wire to capture the final for two-year-old pacing fillies in a lifetime best 1:51.2. Blazing Belle (Zeron) was second and Fearless Bettor (Joey Putnam) was third.
The daughter of Captaintreacherous-Sweet Diamond possesses a record of 7-2-2-1 and has amassed $87,958 in purse money.
The filly’s granddam is champion Yellow Diamond and she competes as a homebred for Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. Flawless is trained by Nancy Takter.
She paid $7.42 to win.
Catholic (Tim Tetrick) held off Swanky Hanover (Zeron) by a neck in 1:53.2 to claim victory in the contest for three-year-old filly trotters. Believe U Me (Gingras) completed the trifecta.
Trained by Marcus Melander, Catholic is a daughter of Muscle Hill-Fall From Grace. She is a half sister to Baptism (sired by Southwind Frank, $223,849 in career earnings) and competes as a homebred for Diamond Creek Farm.
The filly is 11-4-3-1 and has collected $122,300 in purse money.
Catholic paid $9.12 to win.
Stay Hungry’s son, Sir John B (Andrew McCarthy), won the division for freshman pacing colts, breaking his maiden in his sixth attempt in 1:51.4 after knocking on the door.
The colt is out of Evelix AM and has a record of 6-1-3-0. He has earned $75,900.
Tony Alagna is in charge of conditioning Sir John B. He also co-owns and bred the colt with Brad Grant. Melvin Segal also was involved with Sir John B’s breeding.
Sir John B paid $28.08 after upsetting the favoured Rockinpoppin.
Show Me was guided by Andy Miller to capture the final for two-year-old male trotters and break his maiden in 1:53.4. Casanova Hall (David Miller) was second and Pick Pocket (Anthony MacDonald) was third.
Julie Miller trains the Chapter Seven-Strawberry Hanover colt for Andy Miller Stable, Daniel Plouffe & Jean-Christophe Plouffe and One Legend Stable.
Show Me has a record of 6-1-2-3 and was bred by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. He has earned $78,740.
Show Me paid $19.08 to win.
Kentucky Sire Stakes events conclude on Tuesday, Sept. 19 with eight Kentucky Golden Rod Series finals for freshman and sophomore trotters and pacers.
(With files from The Red Mile)