The Red Mile will host Kentucky Super Night this Sunday (August 21), with total purses of $1.4 million offered. The program features eight Kentucky Sires Stakes finals for two and three-year-old pacers and trotters of both sexes, with each contest worth $175,000.
Last year’s Kentucky Super Night was dominated by winning favourites, and with two preliminary rounds already in the books and several dominating performances, it could lead to a repeat night of bettors’ choices reaching the winner’s circle.
There was no more dominant a winner in the early rounds than Hes On A Mission, who looks to be an overwhelming favourite to capture the KYSS final for two-year-old male trotters. Driven by Charlie Conrad for trainer and co-owner Stacey Ruddick, the son of Groton Hall has cakewalked to two victories. He scored by six lengths in Round 1 and then romped to an 18 and a half-length score in Round 2. Hes On A Mission will start from the outside Post 6 in Race 12.
Favoured in the five-horse final for two-year-old filly trotters is Mystic Stella, who had no problems in her first two KYSS starts, as she recorded wins by six and three-quarter and nine and a quarter lengths, respectively. Tom Jackson will drive the daughter of Groton Hall for trainer Pete Foley from Post 4 in Race 3.
Prelim winners In The Dark (by Cambest) and Al Mar Got A Fever (Third Straight) are favoured in the KYSS final for two-year-old filly pacers (Race 6), while Kirsch (Cambest) and V Power (Prince Chablis) appear to be the ones to beat in the KYSS final for two-year-old male pacers (Race 4).
A trio of three-year-olds will be back to defend their KYSS titles of a year ago. The group includes Erica America (Northern Kid), who will start from Post 1 in the KYSS final for three-year-old filly trotters (Race 2) after having finished fifth-placed-eighth and second in her preliminaries. Erica America will take on the likes of leg winners Cash In My Genes (Groton Hall) and Sea Shore (Tsunami Ranger).
After two impressive victories in the opening two rounds, Barryscourt looks primed to defend his title in the KYSS final for three-year-old male trotters. The son of Northern Kid will be driven by Josh Sutton for trainer Bobby Brower in Race 7. Lakeisha Hall, who is also two-for-two in the early legs, is the likely favourite in the KYSS final for three-year-old filly pacers (Race 11). She will start from Post 5, but the Dave Palone-driven, Ron Burke-trained daughter of Third Straight will have to contend with two-time runner-up Bellatricks (Third Straight), who will start from Post 1 for driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. and trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.
A new divisional champ is sure to be crowned in the KYSS final for three-year-old male pacers. The contenders are headed by Best To Hurst (Cambest) and Cracker Cam (Cambest), who traded one-two finishes in the first two legs.
Post time for the first race on Sunday is 7 p.m. (EDT) and admission is free. The Red Mile will also offer a Pick 4 on Races 7-10, with a $10,000 guaranteed pool.
The historic racetrack in Lexington will soon mark the one-year anniversary of the opening of its new gaming parlour that houses 902 Historical Racing machines as well as a remodeled simulcasting area.
(KYSS)