by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager

Lexington, KY — The Friday night (September 30) card at The Red Mile featured a pair of $134,700 divisions of the Bluegrass Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers.

American Jewel ran her unbeaten streak to eight with a 1:52.1 triumph.

American Jewel remained perfect in eight lifetime starts when she captured the $134,700 second division in a time of 1:52.1. Owned by Brittany Farms and trained by Jimmy Takter, the daughter of American Ideal-Trim Hanover was driven to victory by Tim Tetrick. Her share of the purse improved her bankroll to $656,066.

Starting from post position nine, American Jewel got away in the middle of the pack as Podges Lady (Yannick Gingras) took the field to the opening quarter in :27.4. Notreadytobenice (John Campbell) popped out of the pocket down the backstretch and was the new leader at the :56.2 half-mile marker.

Shelliscape (Randy Waples) was the first to move heading to the final turn and American Jewel followed that cover. She then went three wide at the 1:24.4 three-quarter pole and powered to the lead at the top of the stretch.

From there only the final margin was in doubt as American Jewel rolled to the wire an easy winner. Podges Lady came back to finish second while Shelliscape wound up third.

In the winner’s circle following the race, trainer Jimmy Takter was asked to compare American Jewel to See You At Peelers, who enjoyed a perfect season in 2010 as a freshman on her way to a Dan Patch Award.

“Both of those horses, I am extremely fortunate to get great fillies back-to-back. You know you hate to compare champions to champions. This is definitely a champion also. She’s just so effortless and I just love this horse.

“This wasn’t as tough of a mile as it could have been, so it’s poosible she’ll race back here next week. We’ll have to decide that.”

Nigel Soult photos

Destiny’s Chance found room in the lane to post a narrow victory in a time of 1:52.

In the opening division, Randy Ringer’s Destiny’s Chance overcame post 10 to win a tight photo finish in a time of 1:52. Yannick Gingras was in the bike for trainer Ron Burke as the Four Starzzz Shark-Four Starz Sands miss posted her fourth win in 10 lifetime starts, improving her career bankroll to $178,363. She lit up the toteboard by paying $63.00 to win.

There was plenty of movement in this race as Big McDeal (Jody Jameison) left hard and took the field to the opening quarter in a swift :26.1 with Destiny’s Chance finding the pocket. But heading down the backstretch, Dave Palone pulled Marty Party to the outside and she powered past pacers to the front in a :54.2 half-mile.

Marty Party was still in command at the 1:23.1 three-quarter pole, but was now facing the first over challenge from the overwhelming favorite Economy Terror (Brian Sears). Down the stretch Economy Terror took over the lead but could not hold off the fast closing Destiny’s Chance, who squeezed though a small opening to score in the lifetime best clocking of 1:52. Economy Terror held second over Marty Party.

“After the first quarter I thought I was kind of cooked a little bit,” said driver Yannick Gingras. “You know :26.1 here is tough and I was part of it, so that’s the problem. You don’t mind them going :26 if you’re sitting in the back.

“I didn’t like my chances at that point, but she’s a nice filly and in the last three starts she’s really improved tremendously. I thought she had a shot tonight but not after the :26.1.

“There was a big hole for a while (down the stretch), but it was getting smaller and smaller as I was getting closer to it. Fortunately it was just enough room. She still felt good around the last turn and I had to grab a pretty good hold of her when it was getting tight, but she dug in late and put her nose in front.”

The remaining division will be contested later tonight.