Fortify fastest in Kentucky Sire Stakes

Lexington, KY — Driver Scott Zeron kept Brian Brown trainee Fortify towards the front and fired past the late-race leader to take the quickest of two $30,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts on Sunday (Sept. 1) at The Red Mile.

Fortify dug into Starship before surging three-quarters of a length in front and stopping the clock in 1:50.3. Nigel Soult photo.

Zeron placed the Sweet Lou-Can’t Stop Me Now colt in the pocket to Golden Sand heading to a :27 first quarter before circling to the front approaching a :54.4 half. Starship, racing fourth, ventured first over moving to the far turn and overtook Fortify nearing three-quarters in 1:22. Fortify then vacated the pocket at head stretch and dug into Starship before surging three-quarters of a length in front and stopping the clock in 1:50.3. Starship settled for second while Lottery Winner took third.

A homebred for Diamond Creek Farm (owned by Diamond Creek Racing), Fortify won his first race from six starts, earning $28,250. He paid $5.60 to win.

Zeron also steered Brian Brown trainee Moneyman Hill to a 1:50.4 victory to take the other KYSS division for frosh pacing colts.

The Somebeachsomewhere-Beyonce Blue Chip colt raced third as Roll With Jr ripped to the front before a :26.3 first quarter. Pocket-sitter Its Showtime went off stride approaching the backstretch, giving the pocket to Moneyman Hill as the odds-on favorite stalked the pacesetter through a :54.4 half and through three-quarters in 1:24.1. Moneyman Hill slipped from the pocket through the stretch and zipped to a 4-1/2 length victory while Put To Right took second in a 1:50.4 mile. Roll With Jr faded to third.

A homebred for Tom Hill, Moneyman Hill won his second race from six starts, earning $49,730. He paid $3.40 to win.

Baby Your The Best survived a first-half sprint to take the sole KYSS dash for frosh pacing fillies as the 1-9 favorite with a 1:51.3 mile.

The Linda Toscano trainee sparred around the first turn with stablemate Shining Beauty, who was parked to a :26.4 first quarter when leaving from post 10. Shining Beauty promptly retreated into the backside while Baby Your The Best maintained her speed while chased by pocket-sitter Gai Waterhouse through a :53.1 half. Driver David Miller rationed the Captaintreacherous-Dolphins Can Talk filly’s speed rounding the final turn — passing three-quarters in 1:23.1 — and turned away a pocket-popping bid from Gai Waterhouse to win by 1-1/4 lengths. Blood Red rushed from off the pace to take third.

Winning her second race from five starts this season, Baby Your The Best has accrued $83,720 in earnings for owners Richard and Joanne Young. Steve Stewart, Conquest Acres Lp and Michael Robinson bred the $2.20 winner.

KYSS action resumes at The Red Mile on Thursday (Sept. 5) with the third preliminary for 3-year-old trotting colts and fillies. The card starts with a first-race post at 7 p.m. (EDT).

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