Lexington, KY — Whiskey Wow and Grand Reserve each registered a victory in their respective $35,000 third-preliminary divisions of the Kentucky Sire Stakes for trotting 4-year-olds on Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 15) at the Red Mile.
Whiskey Wow (driven by Todd McCarthy) looped to the lead past the quarter and held control to the finish of a 1:51.2 mile to win the Kentucky Sire Stakes division for 4-year-old trotting males.
After the pair of Big Shoes (Scott Zeron) and Breakthrough (Andy McCarthy) lost stride at the start, Whiskey Wow pushed to plant towards the front and yielded command to outermost starter Boots N Beer (Joey Putnam) moving to the first quarter in :28.1. Todd McCarthy then circled Whiskey Wow to the fore and cruised through middle fractions of :56.3 and 1:24 before wrapping the mile snugly by 2 lengths while odds-on favorite Monserrate (Dexter Dunn) kicked to finish second with Boots N Beer chasing in third and Vugoo (Andy Miller) checking in fourth.
Matthew Wilson trains Whiskey Wow, a 4-year-old gelding by Crazy Wow-Whimzical Britt, for owner Burlin Brower. The gelding has now won four races from 10 starts this season and 13 races from 28 starts in his career, earning $239,945. He paid $6.12 to win.
Grand Reserve (Andy McCarthy) led every step to win the Kentucky Sire Stakes division for 4-year-old trotting mares, which was contested as a non-wagering race before the pari-mutuel card. Andy McCarthy cut a clip of :29.2, :55.4 and 1:24.1 in progress to a 1:51.2 victory by three-quarters of a length over Winnpanzee (Dunn), who pushed from a pocket trip late but settled for second. Aperfect Annie (Marvin Luna) gave pursuit from third and Best Friends Girl (Todd McCarthy) finished last of the four.
Carter Pinske trains Grand Reserve, a 4-year-old mare by Walner-Bella Glos, for owner Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. The mare won her fourth race from 13 starts this season and her seventh race from 36 starts in her career, earning $199,911.
Trainer Mann Hughes collected a hat trick on the Tuesday program, which included a pair of victories from the three $10,000 divisions of the Kentucky Wildcat Series for 2-year-old pacing fillies. Hughes sent long shots Tilton (Zyler Maxwell, 1:54.3 winning mile; $30.98 to win) and Cello Beach (Luna, 1:54.1; $22.48) to victories in the Wildcat Series and also scored a come-from-behind win in a $7,200 overnight pace with favored Lets Flip Onit (Maxwell, 1:54.2; $4.58).
Live harness racing at the Red Mile resumes on Sunday (Sept. 20) with a card featuring eight finals of the Kentucky Championship Series and over $3.2 million in purses. First-race post time is 5:05 p.m. (EDT).