Freshmen pacing competition hits the track at The Red Mile on Monday (August 16) with two $40,000 second-round Kentucky Championship divisions slated to go on the 11-race card.
The fillies open the day with a quintet featuring no returning preliminary winners. Jazzed starts as the 6-5 morning-line choice shipping from Pennsylvania following a third-place finish in a Pennsylvania Sires Stakes at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, timed in 1:51.3. Andy Miller drives the Julie Miller-trained daughter of Betting Line against a trio of Tony Alagna pupils, all of whom competed in the first round. Todd McCarthy drives Boudoir Hanover for Alagna from post one, Andrew McCarthy has the reins on Captains Princess from post four and Scott Zeron steers Dont Fence Me In – a second-place finisher in the series – from post five. Always Gonna B You, a Joe Holloway-trained daughter of Always A Virgin shipping from a second-place finish in the Indiana Sires Stakes, completes the field from post two.
After a forceful performance in leg one of the series, Pebble Beach leads the colt and gelding division of the Kentucky Championship – carded as Race 5. The Downbytheseaside colt grabbed the lead late in the mile and strode clear of his rivals to post a 1:50.1 victory in rein to Todd McCarthy, who returns for the drive behind the Noel Daley trainee. He starts from post five in a field, which includes Wolftrax, who gave chase to finish second to Pebble Beach in his first start for trainer Linda Toscano. Scott Zeron drives that Betting Line colt from post three.
Monday’s card also features four $20,000 divisions of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, two for the colts and geldings and two for the fillies. First-race post time is 1 p.m. (EDT).
(The Red Mile)