Always B Miki dominates Tattersalls division
October 4, 2014,By Kimberly Rinker for The USTA
Lexington, KY — Always B Miki turned in a spectacular 1:49.3 performance for driver David Miller to win the first division of the $218,300 Lis Mara Tattersalls Pace for 3-year-old pacing colts at Lexington’s Red Mile on Saturday afternoon (Oct. 4).
USTA/Mark Hall photo
Always B Miki cruised to a 1:49.3 win in the 1st division of the Tattersalls Pace on Saturday at The Red Mile.
The son of Always A Virgin is conditioned by Joe Holloway for owners Roll The Dice Stable, Val D’Or Farms and Bluewood Stables. The bay horse had stopped the timer in 1:47.4 at Lexington just one week prior, and pushed his seasonal earnings to $541,482 with the win, his ninth of the season in 16 tries. Lifetime, he’s amassed $676,866 for these his from 11 career victories.
“I didn’t want to let the other horse get a shot of getting a soft second quarter, so I moved my horse,” said Miller. “And he pretty much did that sprint on his own. He finished up well and really took off when I asked him. He does get on a line here and there but it really doesn’t affect him much.”
Tim Tetrick took He’s Watching right to the front, holding the field steady at early fractions of :27.4 and :54, before Always B Miki surged ahead and opened up a seven length lead on the field to the 1:21 three-quarters. Though the five rivals gained ground on him, Always B Miki gamely strode to the wire, holding off late challenges by Capital Account (Brett Miller), second and Caviar Luca (Brian Sears), third.
Always B Miki was bred by Roll The Dice Stables and is the fifth foal out of his Artsplace dam Artstopper, and is a half-brother to Yagonnakissmeornot (by The Panderosa) p,5,1:49.4 ($714,154).
The second division of the $218,300 Lis Mara Tattersalls Pace for 3-year-old pacing colts went to JK Endofanera and driver Yannick Gingras in a spectacular stretch duel that saw the youngster prevail by a nose over the hard-trying Winds Of Change (Brett Miller) in 1:49.1.
The son of Art Major-Presidential Lady-Presidental Ball is owned and was bred by the Three Brothers Stable and is conditioned by Ronnie Burke.
“He’s probably not his best on the front, but I didn’t want to give another a horse a trip, so I didn’t mind moving him when I did,” Gingras said. “He’ll be going to the American-National in Chicago next week.”
Melmerby Beach (Paul MacDonell) took the field to an opening :26.4 panel, before being headed by JK Endofanera at the :54.2 half. The field paced evenly to the three-quarters in 1:22.2 as Let’s Drink On It paced first up to challenge JK Endofanera. These two pacers battled through the stretch, with Winds Of Change and Somesizesomestyle charging late. JK Endofanera kept his nose in front of Winds Of Change under the finish line. Somesizesomestyle was third with Let’s Drink On It fourth.
JK Endofanera upped his career earnings to $1,188,575 with the win, the 12thof his career. His 2014 earnings now stand at $816,725 from eight seasonal victories.
This bay colt is a full brother to the 2-year-old filly pacing sensation JK She’salady p, 2, 1:50.1s ($421,025) and to JK Fine Art p,4,1:50.2f ($374,102).