Freshman pacers return to The Red Mile on Saturday with the third and last preliminary leg of the Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS). Two divisions each of fillies and colts populate the first four races of the evening.
The filly races will comprise the early double with a pair of seven-horse fields. Pure Paradise and Band Stand are the solid morning-line choices in the first and second, respectively.
Pure Paradise has blossomed quickly over the red clay for trainer Brian Brown with a rallying third in leg one and a first-over 1:53.1 win in the second. The Buckeye-bred lass has been driven in each by Tyler Smith who has the lines on Saturday for owners Mark Robinson, Bob Mondillo, RBH Ventures, and Joe Sbrocco.
Band Stand is unbeaten in her three career outings, including the fastest mile of the series to date with her 1:51.4 win in the first leg. She has looked stronger with each race and starts from post four this week for her regular driver Joe Bongiorno, trainer Tony Alagna and owner Brad Grant.
A competitive group of colts will assemble for the third race, and Key Advisor is favoured for the Alagna-Bongiorno duo. He’s the fastest of the KYSS group to date by virtue of his 1:51.3 leg-two victory. Brittany Farms and Key Advisor Racing signed the ticket for $200,000 to secure the son of Somebeachsomewhere at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale last fall.
There is an interesting new prospect in that first split, as Jim Mulinix brings Lost In Time to Lexington for his stakes debut. He comes in off an eye-catching qualifier and is owned by the group that raced his sire A Rocknroll Dance who was also a Mulinix trainee. Don Harmon drives.
The road to the winner’s circle in division two goes through Grand Teton, who’s been first and second in his two KYSS outings. He’ll start from post four for Mark MacDonald, in to drive trainer Jimmy Takter’s stock on Saturday. Diamond Creek Racing bred and owns the A Rocknroll Dance colt.
Post time is 7:00 p.m. Eastern.
(Red Mile)