The Kindergarten Trotting Classic series for freshman fillies and colts will come to a conclusion with finals on Halloween night (Saturday, October 31) at Vernon Downs.
The card will also include the annual ‘Turn Back The Clock’ pace and trot where the horses race one circuit of the track clock-wise and the ‘Four One One’ race for greys.
There is a special 6:00 p.m. first-race post time on Saturday.
The Kindergarten colts come up first in Race 8 with a very competitive field of nine vying for a purse of $191,500. Trainer Staffan Lind holds a strong hand, as he will send out an uncoupled entry of the series’ point leader, Hollywood Highway, and the emerging talent Celebrity Express into the fray.
With the top point earners assured a draw between Post 1 and Post 6 by series conditions, Hollywood Highway drew Post 4. He clearly found the Red Mile to his liking, as he arrived in Kentucky as a lightly-raced maiden and left as a Grand Circuit stakes winner with a 1:54.2 mark. He also won a pair of Kindergarten legs there for owners Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, who also bred the son of Muscle Massive. Tim Tetrick drove Hollywood Highway to his record mile and chose to stick with him for the final.
Celebrity Express (Post 7) also came of age in Lexington when he was paired with driver John Campbell. The duo scored a late-closer win, followed by a solid third in a division of the International Stallion Stake. The Andover Hall brother to Donato Hanover could make a significant dent in his $200,000 yearling purchase price with a good result for owner Celebrity Farms.
Jimmy Takter, who shattered records with his fantastic Breeders Crown tour de force last week, has the power in the $174,500 Kindergarten filly final, which has been carded as Race 9 on the program.
The Takter coupled entry is led by the series’ point leader, Haughty, who will start from the rail. The Donato Hanover lass is a three-time Kindergarten leg winner who finished second in last week's Breeders Crown, which was the only blemish on her freshman slate. Haughty won a Kindergarten split in 1:54.1 in Kentucky then captured an INSS division in advance of her Crown showing. Dave Palone has been the filly's regular pilot and is in to drive for owners Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband.
Hollywood Hill (Post 2) is the Takter entrymate for the final. She has been a model of consistency while winning three of ten seasonal outings for owner/breeder Goran Falk and his partner Christina Takter. John Campbell has the drive on Saturday.
(Vernon Downs)