Week two of the Grand Circuit meeting at The Red Mile will begin with five divisions of the $288,000 International Stallion Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Thursday, October 6.
Off a win in the Bluegrass last week, New Jersey Viking starts in the first division. The colt by Muscle Hill from the Broadway Hall mare Hall Of Wishes has won four races in seven starts this season, earning $111,893 for owners Knutsson Trotting Inc. and Little E LLC. Trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt, he won a $56,250 Bluegrass split going wire to wire in 1:56.1. He’ll start from post seven.
Also in the first division is Signal Hill, who tries for redemption after finishing fourth as the even-money favourite in a $55,250 Bluegrass split. He attempted to trot by his rivals in the stretch, but lost stride approaching the wire. By Muscle Hill out of the Cantab Hall mare Special Appeal, Signal Hill has won two races in seven starts and earned $63,101 for owners Brittany Farms, David Mc Duffee, Marvin Katz, and Adriano Sorella. The Tony Alagna trainee will start from post three.
Division two attracts Snowstorm Hanover, who won a $55,250 Bluegrass division going wire to wire in 1:55.3. A winner in three of eight starts, the colt by Muscle Massive out of the Andover Hall mare Snow Angel Hanover has earned $86,869 for owners Burke Racing Stable, Frank Baldachino, Phillip Collura and Weaver Bruscemi. Trainer Ron Burke sends him from post six.
International Moni, by Love You out of the legendary Speedy Crown mare Moni Maker, competes against Snowstorm Hanover. Winless in seven starts this season, he enters off a third-place finish to Snowstorm Hanover in the Bluegrass last week, and was also third in the $266,600 William Wellwood Memorial at 24-1. He has earned $49,795 this season for owner Moni Maker Stable. The Frank Antonacci trainee starts from post two.
Long Tom, off a 1:55.2 win in a $55,250 Bluegrass division, will start from post two in the third division. Winning three of his four starts this season and earning $46,875 for owner Amg Stable Oy and trainer Marcus Melander, Long Tom, by Muscle Hill out of the Windsongs Legacy mare Ilia, races against Devious Man, who starts from post four.
By Credit Winner out of the Garland Lobell mare Miss Garland, Devious Man has won six of ten starts this season, earning $280,233 for owner Story Inc. The Julie Miller trainee enters off a 1:58 win as the 3-5 favourite in the $225,000 New York Sire Stakes Final at Yonkers.
Dover Dan, winning a $56,250 Bluegrass division in 1:55 at 3-1, competes in the fourth division. By Andover Hall out of the great Royal Troubadour mare CR Kay Suzie, he has won four of eight starts this year, earning $108,579 for owner William Wiswell, Jean Goehlen and Eugene Shcick. Trained by John Butenschoen, he starts from post two.
Linda Toscano enters Walner against Dover Dan, shipping in from the Meadowlands where he won a Kindergarten preliminary in 1:53.4 by six lengths. The colt by Chapter Seven out of the Ken Warkentin mare Random Destiny has won three out of four starts this year, amassing $50,750 for owner Kenneth Jacobs. He will start from post five.
Bluegrass split winners Shake It Off Lindy and Fly On contest in the final split. Shake It Off Lindy, winning his division in 1:55 after pulling first over to take the lead, will start from post three. By Crazed out of the Love You mare Nashville Lindy, Shake It Off Lindy, trained by Frank Antonacci, has won two of six starts, earning $45,250 for owner K R Breeding LLC.
Fly On, drawing post two after winning his Bluegrass split off a pocket trip in 1:55, has won six of ten starts this season, compiling $88,747 in earnings for owners Andy Miller Stable Inc., Arden Homestead Stable and Gty Stable. The colt by Muscle Hill from the Credit Winner mare Calchips Finisher is trained by Julie Miller.
First race post for Thursday’s nine-race program is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
(with files from The Red Mile)