by Gabe Prewitt, publicity director, The Red Mile
Lexington, KY — Overcast skies greeted Red Mile patrons on Sunday evening (Sept. 20) as rain showers soaked the Lexington oval earlier in the afternoon, but that did not slow down the action on the track in the featured $228,500 Moni Maker Final for 3-year-old trotting fillies.
Sirenuse (Matt Kakaley) fired off the wings protecting her rail position as the fillies scrambled for good early position into the first turn. She continued to lead the field of ten through a hot opening quarter of :26.2, but the quick early pace was not enough to discourage the action as Celebrity Athena (Marcus Johansson), an elimination winner a week before, was up to take control past the half-mile marker in a blistering :54.2.
The wicked pace continued as the other elimination winner, Broadway Schooner (Peter Wrenn), was up to clear to the lead as the field entered the final turn. The Hambletonian Oaks champion and 4-5 favorite continued to lead the field through three-quarters in a remarkable 1:22.4, as the daughter of Broadway Hall-Pine Schooner was looking for her fifth consecutive victory.
![](http://ustrottingnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/33838-southwind-wasabi0920.jpg)
Nigel Soult photo
Southwind Wasabi stopped Broadway Schooner by 1-1/2 lengths in the Moni Maker Final.
Broadway Schooner took a two length advantage into the stretch drive, but the hot pace took its toll as Southwind Wasabi (Michel Lachance) fanned widest of all and rallied by the leader with a :29 second final quarter, hitting the wire in an impressive 1:52.4, a lifetime best. The filly was still tenth and last past the half-mile marker and seventh in the cover flow as the field passed by three-quarters before rallying for the victory. Broadway Schooner held on gamely off the taxing fractions to hold the place spot, while 31-1 longshot Seaside (Dan Noble) re-rallied for third after being second in the early going and being shuffled all the way back to eighth at the head of the lane. Another longshot, the 55-1 Wedding Dress (Luke McCarthy), used a second over trip to take fourth.
The winner, a daughter of the late Windsong’s Legacy, is trained by Chuck Sylvester, who also co-owns along with Neal Goldman, Margaret Dey and Jerry Silva. The filly added the $228,500 Moni Maker Final to a resume that already included the $180,000 American- National, and pushed her career earnings to just shy of $434,000.
Racing action continues at The Red Mile on Monday evening (Sept. 21) with eight divisions of the John Simpson Memorial Stakes, including an appearance by Peter Haughton winner Holiday Road and regular driver Brian Sears. First post is at 6:30 p.m.