Lexington, KY — While most eyes will be on the Hambletonian and the undercard supporting it at The Meadowlands this weekend, The Red Mile will provide plenty of quality competition on Sunday (Aug. 3). The 16-race card features two $80,000 first round legs of the Kentucky Championship Series for 3-year-old filly trotters and sophomore male pacers. The presence of the outstanding Yo Tillie and highly competitive fields in the stakes-laden line-up promises to be an excellent evening of racing.
Yo Tillie takes on six rivals in Kentucky Championship Series
Winner of her $141,600 division of the Delvin Miller Memorial on July 12, Yo Tillie (Todd McCarthy) will commence trotting from post position five in the sixth race at the Lexington oval. The daughter of Tactical Landing-Consolidator was ineligible to the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks but returns to her home turf this weekend.
Trained by Andrew Harris, Yo Tillie is a perfect four-for-four this season and is on a seven-race win streak since a loss in the $400,000 Kentucky Championship Series Final on Sept. 15, 2024, behind Hambletonian Oaks contender Aperfect Annie.
Considered one of the leading horses in her division, Yo Tillie is 6-5 on the morning line. The filly was purchased privately from Verlin Yoder after a freshman campaign in which she earned $305,300 with a record of 12-8-1-1.
She is now owned by William Pollack, Bruce Areman and her conditioner.
Yo Tillie possesses a career resume of 16-12-1-1 with $427,383 in the bank. Her lifetime mark of 1:51 was trotted in the Delvin Miller Memorial.
The filly is the fourth foal out of her dam (Triumphant Caviar, $570,387) and was a $25,000 purchase at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale under the name Tactoulator.
Yo Tillie was bred by GBW Breeding Farms Inc. and Black Creek Farm.
A return to the Bluegrass may be exactly what the doctor ordered for Luna Lovegood (Dexter Dunn). The daughter of Gimpanzee-Southwind Venus was the favorite in last year’s Breeder Crown for her age, sex and gait but unfortunately could not stay flat.
Trained by Marcus Melander, Luna Lovegood rebounded to capture the $116,600 Matron Stake for 2-year-old filly trotters and was third in the $455,000 Goldsmith Maid final. The filly, however, has not fared well in her two 2025 miles.
She broke stride in her division of the Delvin Miller Memorial and in her $50,000 Hambletonian Oaks elimination on July 26.
Luna Lovegood has a record of 12-5-1-1 and has earned $306,010 in purse money. Her lifetime mark of 1:51.4 was established at The Red Mile on Aug. 26,2024.
Bred by Blue Chip Farms and Stefan Melander, the filly is a half-sibling to Miss I L A (Walner, $437,508) and was a $100,000 selection at the 2023 Standardbred Horse Sale under the name Witness Blue Chip by Holly Lane Stud East LTD.
Luna Lovegood has been assigned post position six and is 7-2 on the morning line.
World champion Sippinonsearoc returns to The Red Mile
In the 11th race, Sippinonsearoc (Yannick Gingras) travels to where he performed his best work in the Kentucky Championship Series leg for sophomore male pacers.
Trained by Ron Burke, the son of Downbytheseaside-Queen Anne M became the swiftest 2-year-old pacer in history on Aug. 13, 2024, when he paced in 1:48.2 over the red clay. He was second in the $400,000 Kentucky Championship Series final to stablemate Louprint. The duo finished in the same order in the last year’s $700,000 Breeders Crown.
Louprint captured this year’s $740,000 North America Cup Final and is a perfect five-for-five this season. He is also the top ranked horse in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll despite being on the sidelines after a minor medical procedure.
Sippinonsearoc has not been as fortunate this year. The colt has one victory from seven starts which was in a $20,000 Buckeye Stallion Series event on May 24 at El Dorado Scioto Downs. He did, however, finish fourth in the $385,000 Adios Final on June 26 at The Meadows.
Owned by his trainer, Weaver Brucemi, R A S Racing and Knox Services Inc., Sippinonsearoc will leave from post position six in the field of 11. He is 7-2 on the morning line.
The colt was bred by Trent Stohler and Alesha Marie Binkley. He was purchased for $77,000 at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
Sippinonsearoc’s resume stands at 18-7-4-2 and he has earned $640,900.
Ayeaye Captain Deo (T. McCarthy) is an intriguing prospect. The son of Captaintreacherous-Oceania is a pupil of Garry Merner Jr. and is 9-2 on the morning line. The lightly raced colt is 6-1 on the morning line and will commence his mile from post position two.
Bred by Deo Valente Farms, Ayeaye Captain Deo is the first foal out of his dam, who collected $275,423 on the track. The daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven is a half-sibling to Cruise Queen (Artiscape, $$180,618) and Cruise Patrol (Bettor’s Delight, $502,703).
Ayeaye Captain Deo was selected for $57,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by Gino Toscani. The colt’s career record is 16-6-3-3 and he has earned $177,544.
Commonwealth, Golden Rod and Wildcat Series support Championship Series contests
There will be three of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series events, the first race is the first $30,000 leg for 3-year-old male pacers, with the other two races for 3-year-old filly trotters. They are slated as races four, seven and 12 on the card.
There are five $15,000 Golden Rod Series races on the evening. Races two and nine are the first leg for 3-year-old male pacers. Races three, eight and 10 are the first round legs for 3-year-old filly trotters.
There will be three $10,000 Wildcat Series races. Races one and 13 are for 3-year-old filly trotters with race 14 for 3-year-old male pacers. All are first round legs.
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 1:00 p.m. post times on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays throughout the meet.
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.