Cuatro De Julio redeemed himself after breaking his last start to easily win by over two lengths in 1:51.4 in the lone division of the Kentucky Sire Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Sunday (Sept. 6) at The Red Mile.
His time was just one-fifth of a second off Walner‘s 1:51.3 track and world record for two-year-old trotting colts on a mile track.
Taking over the lead just before the half, he and driver Al Eferstein went on to win his eighth race in just 10 starts. Cuatro De Julio, a colt by Trixton out of the Ready Cash mare Clarabelle, is owned by D Farm LLC and is trained by Marie Ortolan Bar.
Empressive Hill took the first Sire Stakes division for two-year-old trotting fillies. The daughter of Muscle Hill and Slice Slice Baby trotted a last quarter of :27.1 to overtake Spring Dreams in a lifetime best of 1:53.4. She was driven by her trainer Dewayne Minor for owner Jordan Derue.
The other Sire Stakes division for trotting fillies was won by Darlene Hanover. She proved to be much the best as the favourite, winning her fourth race in a row in 1:55 with driver Todd McCarthy. The Chapter Seven-Danielle Hanover filly is owned by Yankeeland Partners LLP and trained by Brett Bittle.
Evil Empress picked up her first lifetime win for trainer Fred Grant in the first division of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series for two-year-old trotting fillies in 1:55.4. The daughter of Yankee Glide was driven to victory by Trace Tetrick for owners Timber Ridge Stable, Frederick Grant and Murray Brown. Tetrick took the other filly division as well, winning with Hey There Delilah in 1:55.3. The Bar Hopping filly is trained by Erv Miller and is owned by Ervin Miller Stable, Michael Anderson and Harvey Eisman.
The first Kentucky Commonwealth Series for male trotters was won by Media Mogul and driver Charlie Norris. The Muscle Hill colt picked up the first win of his career in 1:55.3 for trainer George Ducharme and owners Bill Donovan, Thomas Dillon, Purnel & Libby LLC, and Joe Sbrocco. The other division was taken by heavy favourite Lockbox. The son of Wishing Stone earned a new record of 1:55.2 with driver Joe Bongiorno. He is trained by Ron Burke and owned by Burke Racing Stable, Purnel & Libby LLC, J&T Silva Stables, LLC, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
Two-year-old pacers take the stage Monday afternoon (Sept. 7) at The Red Mile in Kentucky Sire Stakes and Kentucky Commonwealth Series action.
(Kentucky Harness Horsemen's Association)