Lexington, KY – Despite racing on an altered scheduled due to extreme weather conditions on Wednesday (July 30) The Red Mile will provide an exceptional 15-race card featuring some of the most beautifully bred freshman filly trotters in the nation.
The schedule includes one $80,000 first round leg of the Kentucky Championship Series, four $30,000 first round divisions of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, four $15,000 first round legs of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series and three $10,000 first round legs of the Kentucky Wildcat Series.
With a scheduled post time of 8:25 p.m. the 11th race is the sole division of the Kentucky Championship Series. The 12 entrants would make any individual enamored of pedigrees to take an in depth look poring at these youngsters’ family trees.
There is Madam Cheval (Yannick Gingras), who is the fourth foal out of dual Dan Patch Award winner and Trotter of the Year Shake It Cerry (Donato Hanover, $2.78 million). The daughter of Walner will leave from post position nine for trainer Nancy Takter and is 3-1 on the morning line.
Bred by Solveig’s Racing Partners, Madam Cheval was purchased for $330,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by M Biasuzzi Stable Inc. The filly broke her maiden over The Red Mile clay in her career debut on July 21 in 1:54.4.
Madam Cheval collected $3,000 in her first trip to the winner’s circle. She is a half sibling to Mon Cheval (Father Patrick, $390,740) and Cheval Rapide (Father Patrick, $110,602). Her granddam Solveig (Yankee Glide, $820,791) is Hall of Fame. The mare, a Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner, has produced seven $100,000 winners from 14 foals.
Madam Cheval must contend with Setyoursightshigh (Jason Bartlett) who will commence trotting right beside her in post position 10. Trained by Marcus Melander, the daughter of In Range-Special Interest is 9-2 on the morning line and possesses a record of 3-2-1-0 with $135,000 in the bank.
Setyoursightshigh was second in her unveiling in Kentucky Sire Stakes company at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel on June 7, but scored in the $150,000 Next Generation Filly Trot at Eldorado Scioto Downs on July 5 to collect her first triumph.
The filly then won the $100,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes Final at Oak Grove on July 14 in a career best 1:53.3. Four of the horses she defeated that afternoon (Victorianas Secret, Scott Zeron, post position two, 9-2), Country Glide (David Miller, post position one, 8-1), Avenzee (Todd McCarthy, post position four, 8-1) and Jailbird Jog (Tim Tetrick, post position eight, 7-2) return to avenge their defeat.
Setyoursightshigh is a half sister to Saywhatimthinkin (Swan For All, $243,442). She was bred by Kentuckiana Farms and was purchased for $50,000 by Heights Stable, Mantorp LLC, AMG Stable Inc., and K Kjellgren Livs AB Inc.
Next Big Think (Dexter Dunn, post position 11) is 12-1 on the morning line and rightly so due to her draw, however, the daughter of Greenshoe-Iteration surely possesses ability if her family tree is any indication.
Trained by Melander, Next Big Think is the first foal out of a two-time New York champion who just happens to be a full sister to Hall of Fame member and young stallion Gimpanzee (Chapter Seven-Steamy Windows, $2.7 million). Gimpanzee is only the fifth trotter in history to win three Breeders Crowns.
Iteration banked $780,818 during her career.
Next Big Think competes as a homebred for Courant Inc and enters this event with a record of 2-1-1-0 after racing in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes company. The filly has earned $30,088 and possesses a mark of 1:57 achieved in her maiden-breaking victory on July 17 at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Sheza Single Lady, Isotta Bi and Decreed lead the way in Commonwealth Series
Races three, six and nine consist of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series divisions. In the first division Sheza Single Lady (Yannick Gingras) was assigned the rail for trainer Nancy Takter. The daughter of Walner-Something Pink is the 3-1 morning line choice.
Bred by Jay Mossbarger and Jacob Mossbarger, the filly was seventh in her career bow on July 4 at The Meadowlands in a $25,000 leg of the Kindergarten Series.
Sheza Single Lady is the first foal out of her dam and was selected for $95,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by Caviart Farms, Patrick Hoopes and Herb Liverman. Her dam is a half sibling to multiple Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner Pinkman (Explosive Matter-Margie Seelster, $2.85 million). Pinkman won the 2015 Hambletonian.
Something Pink (Father Patrick) is also a half-sister to world champion Impinktoo (Manofmanymissions, $423,860).
In the second Commonwealth division Isotta Bi (Dunn) seeks to visit the winner’s circle for the first time in three career trips to the gate. The daughter of Gimpanzee-Devine Equine is 9-2 on the morning line for Melander. She will commence her mile from the rail and brings a 2-0-0-1 record into this contest.
Bred by M Biasuzzi Stable Inc., the filly is the second foal out of her dam and fetched $30,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale for Heights Stable, Mantorp LLC and RTL Racing Inc.
Devine Equine (Andover Hall) is a half sibling to 2010 Hambletonian Oaks victress Bar Slide (Yankee Glide, $647,971), Model Behavior (Muscles Yankee, $103, 784), Tech Titan (Muscle Hill, $227,073) and Gigfy (Broadway Hall, $433,066).
Decreed (D. Miller) is 9-2 on the morning line in the third division for trainer Carter Pinske. The daughter of Gimpanzee-Cree broke her maiden in her first attempt in a non-winners race on July 21 at The Red Mile in 1:56.2. She trotted her last quarter mile in a blistering :26.3 at odds of 28-1.
Bred by Steve Stewart, Decreed was a private purchase by her trainer’s stable and Curly Tail Curly Small. Her granddam, Firstclassprincess (Classic Photo, $384,105) is a half sibling to Instant Photo (S J’s Photo, $514,015) and Peaceful Prince (Lindy Lane, $228,909).
Golden Rod and Wildcat Series quite competitive
The four Kentucky Golden Rod Series will be contested as races two, four, five and seven with fields of nine, nine, 10 and 10, respectively.
The two Wildcat legs, races eight and 12, will each have seven fillies facing the starter.
Racing will continue through Sunday (Oct. 5), following a Sunday through Wednesday schedule. Fans and horsemen can look forward to 5:05 p.m. post times on Sundays, and 1 p.m. post times on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays throughout the meet.
However, please be advised post times for this week Monday (July 28), Tuesday (July 29) and Wednesday (July 30) will be transitioned to 5:05 p.m. due to extreme heat in the Bluegrass.
The Red Mile will once again feature industry low takeout on the pari-mutuel side of things while offering fans a full buffet of wagering options including bookend daily double wagering exacta and trifecta wagering, 20-cent superfectas, Pick-3, Pick-4, Pick-5 and Pick-6 offerings and the Super Hi-5.
For more information on the upcoming draw schedule, promotional events, the live racing calendar, or free racing program pages, please visit www.redmileracing.com.