The second leg of Kentucky Sire Stakes for two-year-olds will be contested the evening of Thursday, August 30 at the Red Mile, setting the stage for the $2 million Super Night, scheduled for Sunday, September 9. The three-year-olds will be in KYSS action on Saturday, September 1, which will finalize the fields for the eight finals worth $250,000 each.
On Thursday, the 14-race card will kick off with a lone $30,000, five-horse KYSS division for two-year-old pacing fillies. Interestingly, the five are lining up behind the gate in the exact order of their finish in the August 19 opening KYSS round, starting from the inside with Ohmybelle, who was driven to a 1:54.2 victory — her eighth in nine starts — by trainer/driver Randy Jerrell.
There is also one $30,000 KYSS division for two-year-old pacing colts, with 11 going postward. The division was split into two fields in the opening KYSS leg, and the pair of winners, Jude Hall and Blatantly Best, will start Thursday night from Post 7 and Post 8, respectively.
Jude Hall, a gelded son of Southwind Lynx bred by Walnut Hall Ltd. and Steve Katz, was purchased as a yearling for $10,000 by Cary Grady. Trained by Joseph Carroll, his 1:53.3 KYSS win last time out was his first in six starts.
As for Blatantly Best, the son of Cambest remained perfect in three starts with a 1:53.1 KYSS victory for driver Trace Tetrick and trainer Erv Miller. Bred by Denim Stable, Blatantly Best was purchased for $9,000 as a yearling by Mary Jane Anderson and Tim Towne.
There are two $15,000 KYSS divisions for two-year-old trotting colts on the card, with first-leg winners Caveat Emptor and Mystical Dew — both sons of Deweycheatumnhowe — drawing in together in the first split. Banco Solo, a son of Master Glide who won the third KYSS division last time out, landed in the second division.
Caveat Emptor romped to a five and three-quarter-length win in a career-best 1:57.1 in the first leg, his second victory in five starts. Bred by Walnut Hall Ltd., Caveat Emptor is a $60,000 yearling purchase by trainer-driver Ray Schnittker and Caveat Emptor Stable. Mystical Dew made it two-for-two in his young career after his two and three-quarter-length win in 1:57. A $20,000 yearling purchase by Mystical Marker Farms from breeder Walnut Hall Stock Farm, Mystical Dew is trained by Jeff Smith and driven by Tyler Smith.
Banco Solo is a homebred of Atlantic Trot Inc., trained by Ken Oscarsson and driven by Dan Shetler. Banco Solo is three-for-five for his career after his 1:57 KYSS opening-round victory.
Three $15,000 KYSS divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies rounds out the action, with first-leg winners Ma Chere Hall (by Deweycheatumnhowe), Simone Hall (Deweycheatumnhowe), Andie Sophia (Like A Prayer) and True Day Dream (Infinitif) all hoping to repeat.
First-race post time Thursday at the Red Mile is 7:00 p.m. Admission, programs, hot dogs and beer are each just $1 on Thursday nights.
(Red Mile)