A stakes-filled Sunday is in the books at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, and once again Greenshoe found his way into the headlines thanks to a new race record he earned in a division of the Bluegrass Series.
Here's a complete recap of this afternoon's stakes action:
$96,100 Bluegrass Series – Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trotters
Trainer Marcus Melander was loaded for bear in the first division of the Bluegrass Series for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings, and it came as no surprise that he took down the top two spots in the $96,100 affair.
Greenshoe took the checkered flag in an eye-catching clocking of 1:49.4 over stablemate Gimpanzee in the nine-horse affair.
Chin Chin Hall shot to the lead from Post 5 and hung up first-half fractions of :26.3 and :55.2 before passing the baton to Greenshoe, who sat third through the opening half for driver Brian Sears. When Sears called on his colt to accelerate, the Melander-trained sensation complied. Greenshoe led past the three-quarter pole in 1:23 before using a :26.4 closing panel to seal the deal by four lengths over Gimpanzee. Chin Chin Hall, who was beaten that same margin, finished third.
Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, the son of Father Patrick-Designed To Be improved this year’s record to 9-2-0 from 11 attempts. The 11-time winner, who is owned by Courant Inc, Hans Backe, Lars Granqvist and Morten Langli, lifted his lifetime earnings to $1,016,237 with the triumph.
The Melander mastery continued in the second division when Green Manalishi S, fresh off of his win in the $605,000 Canadian Trotting Classic, rallied to a 1:50.4 score for driver Tim Tetrick.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, Green Manalishi S got away fourth while Marseille marched to the engine and supplied the field with first-half fractions of :27.1 and :55.4. Green Manalishi S came first over on the way to the half, and he showed a short lead while racing parked past the three-quarter pole in 1:23. He drew clear late thanks to a :27.4 final quarter that propelled him to the one-length decision over Pilot Discretion. Marseille faded to finish third.
The son of Muscle Hill-Naga Morich S extended his winning streak to three-in-a-row for Courant Inc of Delray Beach, FL. The 11-time winner has manufactured a 6-2-1 record from 10 attempts this season. He’s banked over $700,000 this season and close to $1.3 million in his career.
$108,500 Bluegrass Series – Three-Year-Old Filly Trotters
After disappointing as the favourite in the $376,000 Elegantimage Stake on September 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, When Dovescry bounced back to produce a rock solid score in Sunday’s first division of the Bluegrass Series for Team Allard.
The daughter of Muscle Hill-Cedar Dove marched right to the position of command from Post 6 in the $108,500 contest for driver Simon Allard, and once she crossed over in front of the field she sliced out intervals of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:23.4. A :26.2 closing panel was kicked out by the drifting filly who went on to halt the teletimer in 1:50.1. She defeated pocket-sitting Golden Tricks, who finished second, and race favourite Millies Possesion.
Rene Allard trains the nine-time winner for Go Fast Stable, Yves Sarrazin, Kapildeo Singh and Lawrence Dumain. The filly has put together a 4-2-2 record from eight attempts this season while banking well over $400,000. To date, the trotting star has earned $718,134.
Beautiful Sin was a combined 0-for-7 on the season coming into this afternoon’s assignment, but she broke through for a winning effort in what was her debut for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt.
Away third from the starting gate, Beautiful Sin watched Starita go along on an unchallenged lead through first-half fractions of :27.4 and :56. Pocket-sitting Asiago tipped off the rail around the final turn and went toe-to-toe with Starita to the three-quarter pole in 1:24.1. Svanstedt was quick to follow cover at that point, and when he flipped the switch on his filly in the lane she exploded home and managed to track down Asiago in the closing strides for the 1:50.4 score. Asiago held on for second, with race favourite Evident Beauty rallying for third.
Sent off at odds of 11-1, the daughter of Muscle Hill-Sina improved this year’s record to 1-2-1 from eight attempts. The four-time winner, who is owned by S R F Stable of Lighthouse Point, FL, pushed her lifetime earnings well over $200,000 with the winning effort.
$88,800 Bluegrass Series – Three-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace
Workin Ona Mystery kicked off his 2019 season with some terrific performances before being mired in a mid-season slump for trainer Brian Brown. Thankfully for the connections, the colt bounced back with a sharp score over this year’s Pepsi North America Cup winner, Captain Crunch, in the first of three divisions of the Bluegrass Series.
Tim Tetrick got away fifth with Workin Ona Mystery while Semi Tough rolled to the top and kicked out fractions of :27.1, :54.4 and 1:21.4. Captain Crunch came first over on the way to the half, and Workin Ona Mystery was quick to latch onto that cover.
Captain Crunch was at the flank of the leader at the three-quarter pole, but he couldn’t sustain that drive into the lane. Workin Ona Mystery, however, was full of pace in the stretch. He kicked home in :26 to win by a pair of lengths over Captain Crunch in 1:48.1. Dancin Lou, who was treated to a ground-saving trip throughout the mile, was third.
Sent off as the 6-5 second choice in the wagering, Workin Ona Mystery improved this year’s record to 4-1-2 from 11 tries with the win. The son of Captaintreacherous-Dragons Tale is now a nine-time winner with earnings of $463,591. He is owned by Diamond Creek Racing, Stambaugh Leeman Stable, Alan Keith and Wingfield Brothers LLC.
American Mercury turned a two-hole trip into a 1:49.3 triumph in the second division for the duo of driver Tyler Buter and trainer Chris Oakes.
Sent off as the 3-5 favourite, American Mercury grabbed the deuce behind Cant Beach That, who sprinted to the top and whacked out fractions of :27, :55 and 1:23.3. He was pressed in the third quarter by De Los Cielos Deo, but that foe tired and backpedalled out of the picture. American Mercury found clearance in the lane and uncorked a :25.3 closing quarter en route to posting the win by two lengths over Fabrice Hanover in 1:49.3. Cant Beach That faded late but held on for the show dough.
The son of American Ideal-Tessa Hanover is owned by Crawford Farms Racing, Northfork Racing Stable, Chuck Pompey and Scott Bice. After a 2-for-7 season as a freshman, the colt has taken his game to a new level this year as noted in the 8-for-12 record he’s assembled to this point. The lion’s share of the purse boosted his overall cash stash to $631,443.
Following a crushing score in the $250,000 final of the KYSS at The Red Mile on September 15, Bettors Wish returned to the speedy oval and disposed of seven foes in his $88,800 Bluegrass Series division.
With Dexter Dunn at the lines, the 1-9 favourite got away fourth while Air Force Hanover shot to the top and rolled the field to the quarter pole in :26.4. Pyro swept from third to first in the backstretch, and he had them lined up behind him at the half in :53.4. Dunn started first over with Bettors Wish on the way to the three-quarter pole, and he was at the flank of Pyro at the three-quarter pole in 1:22. Bettors Wish unleashed a :26.3 closing quarter, and that was good enough to propel him to the four-length triumph over Air Force Hanover in 1:48.3. Shake That House rallied from sixth to finish third.
Trainer Chris Ryder co-owns the son of Bettors Delight-Lifetime Star with Bella Racing Ltd, Fair Island Farm Inc and Bettors Wish Partners. The victory was his 10th of the season and the 15th of his career. He’s now put away more than $1.2 million this season and over $1.5 million to date.