A trio of $122,300 divisions of the Glen Garnsey Memorial for three-year-old pacing fillies is also in the spotlight today at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky.
In the first division, Miss New Jersey winner Knock Three Times came home widest of all through the lane and swept the field for a mark-lowering 1:51 victory for driver David Miller and trainer Ross Croghan.
The fractions were cut in :27.1, :55 and 1:23.3. It looked like Miller and the Western Ideal filly may have been in some trouble at the third stanza -- where the duo were fourth-over in eighth -- but the pair persevered and came home with a well-timed punch.
After a gutsy first-over performance, Ideal Nectarine (driven by Andy Miller) finished second, while Cherry Bomb (Brian Sears) finished third.
"I wasn't sure either," said Miller, referring to whether he and his mount were going to get to the wire first off the three-quarters. "She's got a big kick to her, and that's always our plan with her: to race her off the pace. It just worked out today.
"Last week [in the Bluegrass], she wasn't as strong as she was today, that's for sure. Maybe it's just been a long season for her, and that was the problem; but today she was very sharp."
The Noel Daley-trained and Brian Sears-driven Native Bride captured an action-packed second division, hitting the wire in 1:50.1.
Btwnyurheartnmine (driven by Tim Tetrick) finished second, while Good News Lady (Greg Grismore) finished third. A And Gs Confusion (David Miiller) just missed the ticket.
Good News Lady cut the quarter in :28.2 before Btwnyurheartnmine came first-up from third and cleared to the lead prior to the :56.1 half. A And Gs Confusion then came first-up and got hung by Btwnyurheartnmine, who tripped the third stanza in 1:24.
Tetrick and Btwnyurheartnmine shut off the rail, bottling up Good News Lady, who had received a ground-saving trip. Although, Tetrick couldn't do anything about Native Bride, who fired off a second-over ride to get the job done.
Brian Sears' father, Jay Sears, was one of the owners that ponied up the funds to have Native Bride supplemented to the event, and he couldn't have been any happier in the post-race interview.
"She's been wonderful. It's such a blessing to have a filly like this and have my son drive her -- it's just been great," said the elder Sears.
Tug River Princess was an easy winner in the third and final tilt for the sophomore fillies. The Badlands Hanover – Aucryifiwanto filly dropped into the pocket at the :27.1 quarter, but she looped around Teenage Paige (Andy Miller) at the three-eighths.
Under tight lines to driver John Campbell, Tug River Princess set stanzas of :55.2 and 1:24.1 en route to a 1:50.4 triumph. Stylish Artist (Dave Miller) race first-over in the final half and finished a game second while Lightning Glory (Andrew McCarthy) rallied into third.
Ross Croghan trains and Let It Ride Stables Inc., Robert Cooper Stables LLC and Jerry Silva are partners on Tug River Princess, who is 11-1-2 in 15 attempts this season, banking $634,788.