Oak Grove, KY — Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee Women Layer delivered all faith of his 2-5 promise in the second of two $50,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) divisions for 4-year-old pacing horses and geldings at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday (April 21), stopping the clock in 1:50.4 to win by open lengths.
Driver Todd McCarthy circled Women Layer to the fore out of third after stablemate Lou Hill (driven by Dexter Dunn) cut a :26.3 quarter. Once on the point, Women Layer sailed around the track to post a :54.4 half and 1:22.4 three-quarters before pulling away while wrapped up to cross the beam 4-3/4 lengths better than Lou Hill in second. Steely Knife (Trace Tetrick) emerged from the backfield for third while Copperfield (Andy McCarthy) broke stride when rallying off the pylons and settled for fourth.
Winning his 13th race from 22 starts, Women Layer has now banked $411,079 and competes for owners Let It Ride Stables Inc., Douglas Overhiser, Jeff Fought Racing and Larry Wills. The gelding by Sweet Lou paid $2.70 to win.
Better Is Nice (Andy McCarthy) scored as the 3-5 chalk in the other KYSS division for 4-year-old pacing horses and geldings, powering first over to win in 1:52.1. McCarthy floated away fourth while Total Stranger (Todd McCarthy) moved to carve the mile with a first-half clip of :27.2 and :56. While the tempo stayed steady to the backside, McCarthy marched Better Is Nice forward and ranged to press Total Stranger to three-quarters in 1:24 and eventually overthrew the pacesetter in the lane to grab the win by a length. Swaggy Cal (Jeremy Indof) swung off a pocket ride to rally for second while Total Stranger settled for third and Courtship (Marcus Miller) gave chase in fourth.
A stallion by Bettor’s Wish with now $1,059,933 in the coffers for Alagna Racing LLC, Pryde Stables Inc. and Birnam Wood Farms, Better Is Nice made his 13th visit to the winner’s circle from 30 starts. Tony Alagna trains the $3.52 winner.
Spy Coast (Jeremy Indof) uncorked a successful blitz in the lone $50,000 KYSS dash for 4-year-old trotting mares to down 3-2 favorite Woman Of Passion (Todd McCarthy) in a 1:54.1 mile. Indof mounted his charge out of third after Woman Of Passion set a sensible tempo of :27.4 and :56.4 on the lead. Spy Coast quickly rolled to match strides with Woman Of Passion moving to three-quarters in 1:25.1 and remained at her throat all through the far turn and the stretch drive. The Ron Burke trainee eventually overpowered the debuting chalk to slide a neck in front at the beam while Black Velvet As (Tony Hall) rallied for third and R Liza (Dexter Dunn) gave chase from a pocket ride for fourth.
Registering her ninth win from 32 starts, Spy Coast has now earned $269,827. The daughter of Walner returned $6 to win.
Bargain (Dexter Dunn) made a smooth first-over brush to crush the $50,000 KYSS division for 4-year-old trotting horses and geldings. Dunn activated his charge from fourth after a :27.3 and :56.3 tempo set by Ordained (Trace Tetrick) and easily strode forward on the rim to challenge towards three-quarters in 1:25.3. With the leader on fumes, Bargain scooted by and held firm to the line to notch a 1-3/4-length win over 2-1 favorite Convoy Hall (David Miller), who followed his cover for second. Ways N Means (Marvin Luna) shook free from a pocket trip for third while Tom’s Muscle (Ernie Hendry) closed for fourth.
Nancy Takter trains Bargain, a gelding by Chapter Seven, for herself and co-owners Christina Takter & Anderberg, JAF Racing, Joe Sbrocco and R A W Equine Inc. The gelding won his sixth race from 27 starts, has now earned $378,086 and paid $6.60 to win.
Bath Bomb (Andy McCarthy) ripped off a pocket ride to better 2-5 favorite Asweetbeachhere (Todd McCarthy) in the lane and win the $50,000 KYSS split for 4-year-old pacing mares in 1:50.4. Asweetbeachhere set fractions of :27, :55.2 and 1:23.2 while Bath Bomb stalked all the way around waiting to strike in the stretch drive. The top pair peeled well clear of the competition in their sprint to the finish with Bath Bomb getting the better of Asweetbeachhere by three-quarter lengths. Peace Talks (Dexter Dunn) emerged from the second tier to finish third, another six lengths behind, with Defining Moment (Trace Tetrick) fourth.
Per Engblom conditions Bath Bomb, a daughter of Lather Up, for owner Morrison Racing Stables. She won her fifth race from 17 starts, has now earned $144,360 and paid $11.52 to win.
In the $30,000 Open Pace, Saulsbrook Victor (Brett MacDonald) cleared command past a :26.2 first quarter and carried his momentum all the way around to post the fastest mile of the meet so far at Oak Grove, a 1:49.4 win. Dale Yeah (Marvin Luna) mounted a first-over challenge late to take second, beaten 1-1/4 lengths, while He’zzz A Wise Sky (Marcus Miller) chased from a pocket trip for third.
Ronald MacDonald trains the 7-year-old gelding by Source Of Pride for owner Brett MacDonald. The gelding won his 32nd race from 120 starts, has now banked $528,688 and paid $3.82 to win.
Lyin’ Eyes (Joey Putnam) upset earlier in the card with a power sweep to victory in the $30,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap. Putnam rallied off steep fractions set by Dandy’s Mercy (Marcus Miller) of :26.4, :54.3 and 1:23 to roll over the top of the field and pull away to a length win in 1:52. Scorecard Dandy (Dexter Dunn) finished second off a pocket trip while Dandy’s Mercy settled for third.
Joe Putnam trains Lyin’ Eyes, a 4-year-old daughter of Odds On Equuleus, for J P Racing LLC, Joey Putnam and Crazy Parrot Farm LLC. She paid $19.94 to win.
Racing continues at Oak Grove on Tuesday (April 22) with a 12-race card. First-race post time at Oak Grove is 1:45 p.m. (CDT). For more information on Oak Grove, visit oakgrovegaming.com.