The fifth and last preliminary leg of the Kindergarten Classic series goes Friday night at Vernon Downs with two divisions each of trotting colts and fillies.
With eleven colts declared, they split five and six with the second race quintet loaded with talent. Mavens Way, Celebrity Express, Taco Tuesday and Brownie Hanover all emerge from the Red Mile Grand Circuit stakes-tested with sub-1:55 miles under their belts.
Mavens Way did much of the work in Southwind Frank's world record and was timed in 1:53.3 while hanging tough for third. The Muscle Hill colt, currently third in the series standings, will be reunited with Oskar Florhed who drove him to a Kindergarten win in Kentucky last month. Mavens Way races for the interest of trainer Ake Svanstedt, Mal & Janet Burroughs and the TLP Stables.
Division two for the colts is the tenth race where Dog Gone Lucky boasts the best current form. The homebred Lucky Chucky colt was fourth in the NYSS final then dropped a tough photo after battling eventual winner Brooklyn Hill tooth and nail in 1:53.1 at Lexington. Tim Tetrick is listed to drive for trainer Chuck Sylvester and owners Amy Stoltzfus and Charles Stansley.
The fourteen fillies entered split nicely into a competitive pair of sevens as races six and eight.
Twice Is Right won a Kindergarten leg in 1:56.1 way back in July at The Meadowlands and has been chasing Grand Circuit types lately. She has drawn the outside post in the sixth Friday for owner Brittany Farms, trainer Jimmy Takter and driver Jim Morrill, Jr.
No fewer than three leg winners square off in the eighth race. Im Volo, Sweet Ashley T and Hollywood Hill have Kindergarten wins on their résumé.
Hollywood Hill is the most accomplished of the three, having amassed nearly $70,000 and a second place finish in the International Stallion Stakes in her most recent outing. She also hails from the Takter barn with Christina Takter and Goran Falk sharing ownership and Morrill listed.
The top colts and fillies will return along with others residing at or near the top of the series standings for the Kindergarten finals next Saturday night at Vernon.
Post time on Friday is 6:45 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)