The Red Mile will host the second of three preliminary legs of the Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS) for two-year-old trotters on Saturday night, with the highest priced yearling of 2016 set to make his pari-mutuel debut.
Three divisions of both fillies and colts will be racing a purse of $30,000 each along with valuable points toward the September 17 $250,000 finals.
The fillies compete in races three, five and nine with the three winners from last week’s opening leg all drawing into separate divisions on Saturday.
Nixie Volo trotted through a deluge to a remarkable 1:57.1 win in her division and has drawn post three for this one. Trainer John Butenschoen has lured Lexington native Mike Simons in to drive the Yankee Glide filly for owners Kentuckiana Farms, VIP Internet Racing and 83 Racing.
The Dan and JoAnne Shetler-owned homebred Muscle Hill filly Passionate Miss shocked the horseplayers with her win in leg one at a pari-mutuel return of more than 100-1. That honeymoon price is history as she’ll take play from the rail here. Dan trains and drives Passionate Miss and Sawgrass Farms is the Shetler’s partner on their filly.
Zoe Bi is the third returning winner and she starts from post two in what is clearly the deepest of the three divisions. Special Hill, Lovely Lindy and D Bomb return as contenders after solid efforts last week and Lily Stride ships in after a third-place finish in the $330,800 Jim Doherty Memorial Grand Circuit stake at The Meadowlands.
Zoe Bi held on by a short head in 1:59.1 after an overland trip as the favourite in last week’s race. Chris Beaver trains and owns the Donato Hanover $15,000 yearling bargain in a partnership with Marion Beachy and Synerco Ventures. Zoe Bi has won five of her six starts and Dave Palone drives on Saturday.
The colts go in races four, seven and eight and the first division is loaded with prospects including all three winners from last week’s leg.
The fastest winner of the returning winners is Wolfgang (PP1) who trotted to a spectacular 1:54.2 win for trainer-driver Jimmy Takter. From the first crop of 2012 Kentucky Futurity winner My MVP, Wolfgang sped home in :27.3 after cutting the mile to hold Hat Trick Habit (who has also drawn into the first division) at bay. Brixton Medical, Goran Falk, Bud Hatfield Stable and breeder Fair Island Farm own Wolfgang.
Have It All Together was a front-stepping 1:56.2 winner in the first leg for trainer Joel Smith and owners Pinske Stables, Andy Miller Stables and Kentuckiana Racing Stable. He’ll start from post three for Marcus Miller.
Greg Peck and Christy Markos’ US Marshall was a handy 1:56 winner in the opening leg and he’s drawn the outside post seven in Saturday’s race with Christian Lind named to drive.
As if the potential of that group wasn’t enough making his pari-mutuel debut in the same race is Tactical Landing (Charlie Norris) -- the full-brother to Mission Brief, who topped all of the yearling sales last fall with a bid of $800,000.
It is a must-see program for fans of young trotters and the racing begins at 7:00 p.m.
(with files from The Red Mile)