by Nicole Kraft, communications director, U.S. Trotting Association

Lexington, KY — Tell All proved his Little Brown Jug triumph was no fluke as he rocketed wide down the stretch in the third and final Tattersalls division, and beat Kenneth J to the wire in a lifetime best 1:48.3.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Tell All rocketed down the stretch in the third and final Tattersalls division, and beat Kenneth J to the wire in a lifetime best 1:48.3.

Driver Jody Jamieson was unhurried with Tell All as the field left the gate, content to get away fifth as Mister Delaware went for the lead and Kenneth J sat the pocket second through the first quarter in :27.2 and the half in :54.2.

Ron Pierce popped Kenneth J from the pocket as the field headed to three-quarters in 1:22.2 and looked a winner, but Jamieson had Tell All second-over and closing. They surged to the lead in deep stretch and did not look back.

Burgess put a Murphy blind on the left and a burr headpole in an effort to curb Tell All’s desire to crank around his head, and it seemed to do the trick, and he raced straight and true for the wire.

“He loves this track,” said Blair Burgess, who trains Tell All for the My Desire Stable, which includes his father, Robert, and wife, Karin. “I wish we could take this track with us.”

Burgess, who said he is next pointing the son of Real Desire for the Breeders Crown, credited Jamieson for a continuing job well done.

“He has done a great job,” said Burgess. “That was evident in the Jug — you couldn’t drive any better than Jody did in the Jug.”

Won The West in 1:49.1

Won The West split horses in deep stretch and posted an upset win in the second $190,000 division of the Tattersalls Pace Saturday at The Red Mile.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Won The West posted an upset win in the second $190,000 division of the Tattersalls Pace.

For the gelded son of Western Hanover it was his 14th win in 24 starts, and set a lifetime best of 1:49.1.

Driven by Greg Grismore for the Mickey Burke Stable and owners Strollin Stable, William Robinson and James Koehler, Won The West was sent off at odds of 9-1. He was second in the early going as Hot Rod Mindale took them to the first quarter in :28.2, and maintained his rail position when Southwind Lynx rallied up to take the lead before the :55.1 half.

Forensic Z Tam looked like he could be a winner off the three-quarters in 1:22.4, and Always A Virgin staged a wide, late rally, but Grismore split horses with Won The West and beat Hot Rod Mindale and Southwind Lynx to the wire.

“This horse manages to find his way there,” said Ron Burke. “He’s had chances, but a lot of times he hasn’t had the right trips. It was nice to see him get the right trip today.”

Yankee Skyscaper takes opener in 1:49

Yankee Skyscaper made it two in a row for new trainer Erv Miller, as he captured the $190,000 first division of the Tattersalls Pace Saturday at the Red Mile in 1:49 — equaling his lifetime mark.

The son of Artiscape, owned by Yankee Skyscaper Partners, last week won a Bluegrass Stake division for driver Dave Palone, and now has earnings of more than $900,000 lifetime.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Yankee Skyscaper captured the $190,000 first division of the Tattersalls Pace Saturday at the Red Mile in 1:49.

Yankee Skyscaper left from the rail and sat fourth, gapped by about four lengths, as Pandora’s Sox took them by the first quarter in :27.2. Digital Z Tam was first to challenge for the lead, but Artriverderci grabbed the top from him as the field crossed the half in :54.4.

Artriverderci carried them to the three-quarters in 1:23, but when Yankee Skyscaper pulled first-over, it was all over. The bay colt paced home strongly and opened up four lengths by the time he hit the wire.

“I tried to make changes that I thought might help him,” said Miller of his new charge. “Mainly, we tried to keep him quiet.

“Dave kept the horse quiet by staying off the gate a little. If he gets off too quick, he gets fired up.”

Miller said Yankee Skyscaper, a $60,000 yearling out of the Jate Lobell mare Skyfire, will next head east for the James B. Dancer Memorial at Freehold.