Lexington, KY — Trainer Matt Burkholder doubled in the $291,000 International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old trotting males, which included a world-record equaling performance by Silverstein in the second of four divisions – a split of the Six Pack sponsored by the Six Pack Syndicate and Deo Volente Farms – on Friday (Oct. 3) at The Red Mile.
Driver David Miller looped Silverstein, the even-money favorite, out of the pocket to the lead after a :27.4 first quarter and strolled unchallenged to a :56.1 half, at which point 7-5 second choice I’m Kronos S (driven by Ake Svanstedt) angled outside to start a first-over bid moving for the last turn. I’m Kronos S marched forward and pressed Silverstein to three-quarters in 1:25.2, but Silverstein turned away that rival and strode confidently to the finish for a two-length win in 1:51.4. Highball Hanover (Andy McCarthy) split horses late to take second from pocket-chaser Inexpressable (Scott Zeron) in third and I’m Kronos S settled for fourth.
The 1:51.4 mile by Silverstein matches the world record for 2-year-old trotting geldings set at The Red Mile last year by Memento Mori in a division of the International Stallion Stakes. It comes three-fifths of a second off the record for freshman trotting colts established by Southwind Tyrion in 2020 and just over a second shy of the overall trotting mark for 2-year-olds set by the filly Mission Brief in 2014 at The Red Mile.
Matt Burkholder conditions Silverstein, a Chapter Seven-Shining Brightly gelding, for owner Dark Horse Farm LLC. The gelding won his second race from 10 starts and has now banked $300,340. He paid $4.08 to win.
Burkholder opened the day of racing with a 1:53 victory by even-money chalk Requiem (David Miller) in the first division for freshman trotting males, a division of the Six Pack.
Requiem floated for the lead out of post six to a :28.1 first quarter and managed to maintain a steady tempo with no challengers moving for a :57.3 half. Midwind Chimp (Mattias Melander) flushed off the pegs to lead the overland charge through the last turn, though Silverstein stayed resolute on the lead after three-quarters in 1:26 and held firmly through the stretch for a measured win by a neck. Neighver Punt (Dexter Dunn) took a late shot off a pocket ride but settled for second with Kibbie J (Todd McCarthy) rallying from near last for third and Rambo Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) sitting a ground-saving trip for fourth.
“He’s a real handy horse,” David Miller said after the race. “He can race either way, has a lot of great qualities and can leave the gate pretty quick. Nobody covered him up, so we kind of took our time. My horse felt strong in the last turn and did it all the way to the wire.”
A colt by Muscle Hill-Ostrich Blue Chip, Requiem won his fourth race from nine starts and has now banked $138,500 for owner Dark Horse Farm LLC. He paid $4.02 to win.
Nix Nacken (Mattias Melander) stormed for the finish late and snatched victory in the last stride of a 1:52.2 mile in the second division for trotting males – a division sponsored by the Walner Syndicate.
Melander took back and sat sixth in the eight-horse field off a contested :27.2 first quarter, in which 3-5 favorite Ardonne (Scott Zeron) pushed outside to take the lead from Zephyr Kemp (Dexter Dunn). Dollar Draft (Andy McCarthy) then lifted out of third past a :55.2 half and swooped by Ardonne to take the lead into the last turn. Lethal Legacy (Todd McCarthy) inherited the first-over seat while Nix Nacken followed on that cover through three-quarters in 1:23.4 before tipping for clearance in the stretch. Dollar Draft ripped away to a three-length lead in the stretch that gradually diminished as Nix Nacken extended stride, and Nix Nacken landed on his late assault for a head victory on Dollar Draft at the beam. Zephyr Kemp gave pursuit from third and Nordic Dancer S (Ake Svanstedt) took fourth from a ground-saving trip.
Marcus Melander trains Nix Nacken, a gelding by Muscle Hill-Nixie Volo, for owner Courant Inc. The gelding won his third race from eight starts, has now earned $125,500 in his career and paid $6.94 to win.
David Miller completed a near sweep of the stakes action for freshman trotting males when powering over the top with 12-1 shot American Power to score a 1:53.1 win.
Miller waited for a path into the fold as horses shuffled persistently for the lead through a :28.4 first quarter and :56 half. Oversear (Scott Zeron) completed a steady grind on the rim to take the lead as the field entered the far turn, but he promptly faced a first-over challenge from Minoan (Todd McCarthy) on the march to three-quarters in 1:23.3. Miller secured a third-over seat with American Power through the turn and wound his charge to the center of the track as his weary peers straggled for the finish. American Power surged by his competition and slid clear to a two-length win with Never Say Die (Dexter Dunn) grabbing second. Minoan settled for third and Captain Naughty (Tim Tetrick) took fourth.
A colt by Walner out of 2017 Hambletonian Oaks winner Ariana G, American Power collected his second win from eight starts this season and has now earned $53,600. Marcus Melander trains the colt for owner M Biasuzzi Stable Inc. He paid $26.36 to win.
Racing resumes at The Red Mile on Saturday (Oct. 4) with three divisions of the $264,000 International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings and three divisions of the $324,000 International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old trotting fillies. Saturday’s card also features a $7,500 guarantee on the Early Pick 4, which begins in Race 6. Every Pick 4 at The Red Mile, as well as the 50-cent Pick 5, features an industry-low takeout of 12 percent.
First-race post time at The Red Mile is 1 p.m.