Lexington, KY – On Sunday (Aug. 10) Bahama Momma glided to her third triumph in four starts in the $80,000 second-round leg of the Kentucky Championship Series at The Red Mile. The 16-race card included two $30,000 second-round legs of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, three $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series second legs and three $10,000 second-round legs of the Kentucky Wildcat Series. All events were for freshman filly pacers.
Bahama Momma rebounds after a first-round upset
After finishing second to 65-1 shot to Beautiful Memory (Marvin Luna) in their initial meeting on July 29, Bahama Momma (Scott Zeron) demonstrated her ability for trainer Joe Bongiorno in 1:51.1.
The daughter of Tall Dark Stranger-Idyllic Beach wasted no time in wresting command from 91-1 shot Caviart Amore Mio (Todd McCarthy) after a first quarter in :27.4. The filly, the public’s second choice, commenced her mile from post position five in the field of 10.
She hit the half-mile marker in :56.3, the three-quarter pole in 1:24.1 and the wire in the aforementioned time.
Favored Caviart Daisy (Andrew McCarthy) gave solid chase to the winner but could not get by in the drive to the finish line. She did leave Seaside Shuffle (Dexter Dunn) in her wake after that rival was poised in second heading around the last bend.
Bred by Christina Takter, Marvin Katz and Brixton Medical Inc. The filly is owned by Let It Ride Stables and Odds On Racing.
Bahama Momma is a full sister to Delray Beach ($131,241) and is the fifth foal out of her dam, who was the 2-year-old Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner in 2016.
She paid $7.34 to her supporters.
Bettor Be A Star, Hope Hill win Commonwealth divisions
Patrick Ryder and Bettor Be A Star overhauled favored Call Me Angelita (Tim Tetrick) in the stretch to take the first division of this series in a lifetime best 1:51.1 for trainer Chris Ryder. Nash (Todd McCarthy) came home third at odds of 53-1.
A daughter of Bettor’s Wish-It Can Happen, Bettor Be A Star is now 3-2-1-0. The sole blemish on her record is a second in the first leg of this series after 18-1 Topville Lucky tossed down a :25.3 final quarter panel.
Diamond Creek Farms and Country Club Acres are responsible for producing Bettor Be A Star. She was purchased by her trainer’s stable at last year’s Standardbred Horse Sale for $10,000.
The filly paid $13.54 at the windows as the third choice in the field of six.
Hope Hill (Dunn) surpassed Naughty Beauty (T. McCarthy) in the stretch to stop the clock in 1:52.2. Need You Now (Ryder) completed the trifecta.
A daughter of Papi Rob Hanover-Ruth Hill, Hope Hill improved her resume to 3-2-0-1 for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. The final time was a new lifetime best as the public’s third choice.
The filly competes as a homebred for Tom Hill. Her dam is a half sibling to Breeders Crown victor Racing Hill (Roll With Joe, $1.76 million).
Hope Hill paid $9.62 to win.
Golden Rod and Wildcat Series continue stakes-filled evening
She B Minnie (Patrick Ryder) won the first division of the Golden Rod Series in 1:53.1 for trainer Chris Ryder.
The filly was bred by Thaddeus Wier and is owned by Ryder Henderson Mondillo, Anne Demers and William Donovan.
She paid $18.46 to win and is a daughter of Always B Miki-Shebesailin.
Brian Brown and Tetrick teamed up to get favored Gala to the finish line a winner in the second Golden Rod split. The daughter of Downbytheseaside-Sweetest Emotion was bred by Diamond Creek Farm and competes for its racing division.
Gala broke her maiden upon her debut this evening and her dam is a half sibling to Dan Patch Award winner Captain Crunch (Captaintreacherous, $1.56 million). Her third dam is Hall of Fame Broodmare Sweet Future.
Gala rewarded her supporters with $4.04 to win.
Favored Always By The Sea (Dunn) collected her first triumph for new trainer Steve Carter in the Golden Rod third division. She was previously trained by Charlie Conrad and raced on the fair circuit earlier this season.
The daughter of Always B Miki-Cruzinbytheseaside was bred by Seaside Bloodstock and Brian Tormey. She was purchased by her trainer and Jay Mossbarger at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale for $10,000.
The filly paid $4.24 to win and improved her record to 10-4-3-0.
She Stings (Zeron, $3.52), Lady Panera (Atlee Bender, $14.18) and Play Date (T. McCarthy, $14.02) won their respective divisions of the Wildcat Series.
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. Please be advised post times on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are subject to change due to the fluctuations in extreme heat and various other weather conditions across the nation.
For more information on the upcoming draw schedule, promotional events, the live racing calendar, or free racing program pages, please visit www.redmileracing.