by Kenneth Terpenning, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Lexington, KY — The Red Mile’s clay oval was super fast Saturday night (September 22) with three races timed in 1:50 or better.

Included in those miles were wins by Pop Z Pop in a division of the John Simpson Memorial for 3-year-olds in a final time of 1:50, with a last quarter of :26.4, and also a victory by Cinderella Guy in another division of the John Simpson Memorial in 1:49.1, with a last quarter in :27.3.

The twist of the night came when Most Happy Keene, owned by Douglas Bartley, along with Bill and Elizabeth Keene, who were recently featured on the USTA’s Web site, was victorious in a time of 1:49.4, last quarter in :26.2, in a $3,300 conditioned pace. That was a new lifetime mark for the 4-year-old gelding by Pro Bono Best, out of Ariel Keene, by Abercrombie. He was guided to victory by Andy Miller.

Following a trip to the winner’s circle for his picture, Most Happy Keene decided he was not done racing and got away from his handlers in the winner’s circle and went an extra three-quarters of a mile on his own before being caught. It was a scary few moments for the owners of the newest sub-1:50 miler in harness racing.

Later on Saturday night, Duck Hook, a 4-year-old horse by Jate Lobell-Dancingonmoonlight-Artsplace, also guided by Andy Miller, and owned by Bill and Elizabeth Keene, as well as Brad Bell, another recently featured individual on the USTA Web site, narrowly missed winning in the Open II. He was second by a hard fought head to All American Union, a 3-year-old colt out of Artsplace-Unaccountaball-Presidential Ball, and owned by James Lough of Ohio and Robert Johnson of Florida. The final time of the race was 1:52.4, with a last quarter in :27.3.