The second leg of the Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS) for the pacing two-year-olds will be raced over the clay oval at The Red Mile on Sunday, August 27. Two each of fillies and colts comprise races 4-7 on the evening with each of the four division carrying a purse of $30,000.
It's ladies first in the fourth race where the Ohio-sired McArdle filly Pure Paradise (Tyler Smith) is the slight morning line choice among a field of seven. She closed from well back to be third in the faster division of leg #1 and has drawn the rail this week. Brian Brown trains Pure Paradise for an ownership group that includes Michael Robinson, Bob Mondillo, RBH Ventures and Joe Sbrocco.
Making just her second start is Belle, a Lindy Farms homebred by top sire Somebeachsomewhere who made her pari-mutuel debut in leg one and was fourth in a dead-heat after an overland trip from post nine. This time she starts from the three hole with Dave Palone named to drive for trainer Frank Antonacci.
Both of the returning winners drew into the second filly division where Band Stand (PP #4) is the favourite off her convincing 1:51.4 win, her second win in as many starts. The lightly-raced daughter of A Rocknroll Dance advanced uncovered and strode home confidently with Joe Bongiorno at the lines for trainer Tony Alagna and owner Brad Grant.
The royally-bred Western Ideal filly Santa Rosa (PP #2) came from well back to win her division in 1:53.4 for the potent combination of trainer Jimmy Takter and driver Brett Miller to break her maiden for breeder-owner Brittany Farms.
Making her first start in the KYSS program is Charles (Cotton) and Julie Nash's Cuts Like A Knife. Another A Rocknroll Dance first-cropper, she is a multiple winner in the PASS program, the latest a 1:53 score at Pocono for trainer Bruce Saunders which precluded her Kentucky visit. Trace Tetrick is down to drive.
Grand Teton (pictured below) impressed with his in-hand 1:52.4 win for the Miller/Takter juggernaut last week. Reserved off the pace early, he vaulted past rivals in the stretch with a powerful move that may have stamped him as the horse to beat in the series. He’s also by A Rocknroll Dance and is a Diamond Creek homebred.
Decoy was the third winner out of the four KYSS divisions last week for the combination of trainer Takter and driver Miller and he is the odds-maker’s choice in the seventh race. He also covered the course in 1:52.4, taking over before the half mile pole and lasting by a diminishing neck over Key Advisor. Decoy is by Somebeachsomewhere and races for the ownership group of Brixton Medical, RAW Equine and Joe Sbrocco.
First post time Sunday is 7:00 p.m.
(with files from The Red Mile)