Lexington, KY — First-round winner Pebble Beach returned to The Red Mile with ease to post a 1:51.4 victory in taking the $40,000 Kentucky Championship second preliminary for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Monday (Aug. 16).

Pebble Beach posted a 1:51.4 victory in the $40,000 Kentucky Championship for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Amanda Stephens photo.

Driver Todd McCarthy wasted little time with the 1-5 choice and hustled Pebble Beach to the point heading to a :28.2 first quarter. He continued uncontested through a :56.2 half and through three-quarters in 1:24.4 to then sail through the stretch in a :27 sprint to the finish. River Ness pulled first over from fourth into the final turn and gave pursuit to take second, beaten 3-1/2 lengths. Western Era rode the pylons for third with Vicious rallying for fourth.

A colt by Downbytheseaside-Santa Rosa, Pebble Beach has won three races from four starts, earning $54,800. Noel Daley trains the $2.60 winner for owners Patricia Stable, Joe Sbrocco, Country Club Acres Inc. and LA Express & JAF Racing.

Dont Fence Me In dove through a late opening at the pylons to snag the $40,000 second-round division of the Kentucky Championship Series for 2-year-old pacing fillies, winning in a time of 1:52.4.

Dont Fence Me In snagged the $40,000 second-round division of the Kentucky Championship for 2-year-old pacing fillies, winning in a time of 1:52.4. Amanda Stephens photo.

Grabbing the lead to the first turn, Dont Fence Me In yielded control past a :27.4 first quarter to Captains Princess, who rolled up the backside unchallenged to a :55 half. The pacesetter then slowed the tempo to the far turn, prompting Jazzed to push uncovered for the lead. Captains Princess took the field by three-quarters in 1:23.4 but folded quickly off the turn, leaving Jazzed with a two-length lead.

Jazzed maintained control through the stretch until Dont Fence Me In found late room and slid past the late leader to win by a length at the beam. Boudoir Hanover came from second over to finish third while Captains Princess faded to fourth, another 12 lengths behind the top three.

Co-owned by trainer Tony Alagna through Alagna Racing along with Riverview Racing, Steven Head and Jerry Glantz, Dont Fence Me In won her second race from four starts, earning $44,375. Scott Zeron piloted the daughter of Captaintreacherous-Mystery Game who paid $4.80 to win.

Six Feet Apart ($3.60) topped the pair of winners in the $20,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, ripping off cover to a 1:52.4 win in rein to David Miller for trainer Brian Brown, who swept the pair of colt and gelding splits. His pupil Caughtinalandslide ($26.40) took the other division with a similar closing move to post a 1:53.3 mile with Todd McCarthy in the bike.

Queen Of Success ($2.20) led the winners of the $20,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series for 2-year-old pacing fillies with a 1:53.1 win going away for driver Andrew McCarthy and trainer Tony Alagna. Acrimony ($15.00) seized command midway through the mile in the other division and held firm to the finish of a 1:53.4 mile with Scott Zeron in the sulky for trainer Todd Luther.

Point totals for both the Kentucky Championship and Kentucky Commonwealth Series are available at the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission website.