Lexington, KY — On another Sunday Night Lights sponsored by Crawford Farms on Aug. 17 the 15-race card at The Red Mile offers yet another stakes-laden experience for freshman male pacers. The evening’s schedule of events includes a sole $80,000 third round leg of the Kentucky Championship Series, two $30,000 divisions of the third leg in the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, three $15,000 divisions of the third leg of The Kentucky Golden Rod Series and two $10,000 third round legs of the Kentucky Wildcat Series. Although there are many talented youngsters competing over the red clay, all eyes will certainly be upon the undefeated Brandon Blvd.
Spotlight shines on Brandon Blvd in the Championship Series
Leaving from post position seven in the field of eight, Brandon Blvd will have the services of pilot Tim Tetrick for trainer Andrew Harris in the 10th race. The son of Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith is 2-1 on the morning line and seeks to extend his unblemished three-for-three record to four in a row.
The heavy favorite in his debut at Harrah’s Philadelphia in a non-winner’s contest on July 13, the colt was sent off at odds of 17-1 upon his arrival in the Bluegrass for the first leg of this series three weeks previously. Brandon Blvd, however, closed on the leader and favorite Panther Hill (Dexter Dunn) to win by a neck with a :25.2 final quarter mile.
The second leg of the series was a non-wagering event on Aug. 6, and the colt closed from fifth to defeat Funky Buddha (Todd McCarthy) well within himself in a new lifetime best of 1:49.3.
Owned by William Pollack and Bruce Areman, Brandon Blvd was bred by Crawford Farms and went through the ring for $425,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
The colt hails from an extremely talented female family and has banked $85,000.
Tony Dinges will send out Funky Buddha (T. McCarthy). The son of Sweet Lou-The Double Deuce has hit the board in all six of his starts. He will be seeking his fourth triumph and first in Championship Series company.
The colt captured the $100,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel on July 14. Funky Buddha has been third and second since arriving in Lexington.
Owned by Rick Berks, the colt was bred by Black Horse Racing and Christina Takter. He was a $50,000 purchase at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
Funky Buddha’s dam (Captaintreacherous, $22,397) is a half sibling to Storm Point (Somebeachsomewhere, $214,741), Crossfirehurricane (Art Official, $167,515) and A Beach Cowgirl (Somebeachsomewhere, $189,478).
The colt is her second foal.
Funky Buddha has earned $115,600). He will begin pacing from post position three and is 7-2 on the morning line.
Lindy Dragonwater (Joe Bongiorno) makes his first foray in the Championship Series after capturing his last two starts in Ohio Sire Stakes company at MGM Northfield Park and El Dorado Scioto Downs for trainer Ron Burke.
He was third in his career bow on June 28, also at Scioto Downs.
The altered son of Downbytheseaside-Imagine Dragon was assigned post position two and is 9-2 on the morning line.
Bred by Lindy Farms, Lindy Dragonwater was a $100,000 purchase by his trainer, Knox Services Inc., Beasty LLC and Bradley Grant at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
His dam (Dragon Again) banked $184,251 during her racing career. This colt is her fifth foal and is a half sibling to Komodo Dragon (Somebeachsomewhere, $598,295).
Lindy Dragonwater has amassed $54,680 in purse money.
Winnercircleseeker, Fletchers Field headline Commonwealth Series
Fresh off his maiden breaking score on Aug. 6, in this same series over none other than Fletchers Field, Winnercircleseeker will have the services of Yannick Gingras when he leaves from post position two in the first Commonwealth division, which is scheduled as the second race.
The son of Sweet Lou-Don’t Forget is 9-5 in the field of nine on the morning line.
Winnercircleseeker sports a record of 3-1-1-1 and was third as the favorite in the first round of this series.
He was bred by Randy Wilt, Tyler Wilt and Zane Wilt. He is the third foal out of his dam and is a half-sibling to Hopeyaliketheshow (JK Endofanera, $143,187).
Winnercircleseeker was selected by his trainer, Lawrence Karr, Phillip Collura and Bradley Grant for $190,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
His granddam, Remember When (Camluck, $917,523) foaled Memory Game (Artiscape, $339,226), Lucy’s Pearl (Well Said, $341,213), Think Again (Art Major, $174,383), Time Watch (Captaintreacherous, $223,850) and Breeders Crown victress Reflect With Me (Captaintreacherous, $782,268).
In the second division, Fletchers Field (Geremy Bobbitt) seeks to return to the winner’s circle after following Winnercirclerseeker home last week when moving up in class. Trained by Rodney DeBeck, the colt is 8-1 on the morning line but brings six wins from 10 starts to this event.
Assigned post position four in the field of nine, Fletchers Field is a son of Tall Dark Stranger-Coronet. He was third in the $50,000 Kentucky Fair Final over this surface on July 20 and won his division of the Golden Rod Series the following week in a lifetime best 1:52.3. That time equals the second swiftest in this field.
Owned by his trainer and Randy Donahue, the colt was purchased for $17,000 at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. His unraced dam is a daughter of champion American Jewel (American Ideal, $1.84) who has also produced U S Captain (Captaintreacherous, $390,557), Admiral Hanover (Captaintreacherous, $169,690) and Odds On Platinum (Bettor’s Delight, $869,423).
Fletchers Field has earned $48,840.
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.