Lexington, KY — On a sunny Tuesday (Aug. 26), Ubrute put an end to Brandon Blvd’s undefeated record while breaking his maiden in 1:50.1 in the $80,000 fourth-round leg of the Kentucky Championship Series at the Red Mile. The 14-race card offered also two $30,000 fourth-round legs of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, three $15,000 fourth-round legs of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series, and two $10,000 fourth-round legs of the Kentucky Wildcat Series for 2-year-old male pacers.
Ubrute hands Brandon Blvd his first loss in Championship Series
In Ubrute’s case, the fourth time was the charm. Steered by Yannick Gingras, the son of Tall Dark Stranger-Warrawee Ubeaut kept to the task and defeated the favored Brandon Blvd (Tim Tetrick) for the first occasion in their brief careers. Funky Buddha (Todd McCarthy) was third.
Away from post position four in the field of seven, Ubrute snatched the pocket spot right off the gate as Brandon Blvd went straight to the top from post position five. Brandon Blvd led the juvenile pacers through splits of :28.1, :56.3 and 1:24.2 before Gingras simply moved his horse in the drive to the wire to go by with a last panel in :25.3 to Brandon Blvd’s :26.1. Funky Buddha closed from fourth but was no match for the top two.
Trained by Ron Burke, Ubrute has been steadily improving since breaking stride in his first pari-mutuel start in this series last month. The colt sports of a resume of 4-1-1-1 and has earned $69,600.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Hatfield Stables and Phillip Collura, Ubrute is the first foal from a Dan Patch Award winner that still holds shares the world record over the Lexington oval (1:48.3) with Looksgoodinloulou for a 2-year-old pacing filly.
The colt fetched $150,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and was bred by Burke Racing Stable, Crawford Farms Racing, J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby and Phillip Collura.
Ubrute paid $8.28 to win as the second choice.
Thiago Hanover, Drink To That come home first in Commonwealth Series
Gingras guided Thiago Hanover gate-to-wire in the first division in 1:50.4 for Burke. Downbythelakeside (Todd McCarthy) was second and favorite Captain Apple (Dexter Dunn) was third.
It was Thiago Hanover’s third consecutive win, and he stopped the clock in a lifetime best. The son of Tall Dark Stranger-Trillions Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms.
The gelding is the mare’s first foal and went through the ring for $115,000 at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale to Burke Racing Stable, Larry Karr, Knox Services Inc. and Beasty LLC.
Thiago Hanover is now 7-3-1-2 and has banked $46,600.
He paid $5.52 to win.
Scott Zeron and Drink To That won the other division by a neck in 1:51.2 over Kountry Blue (David Miller). Dunn and Show Me Your Ace were third.
It was the first win in five starts for the son of Tall Dark Stranger-Tall Drink Hanover. His bankroll now sits at $26,100.
Trained by Tony Alagna, Drink To That is the second foal out of a world champion and O’Brien Award winner, conditioned by the same individual.
Bred by his trainer’s racing stable, Marvin Katz and Riverview Racing, the colt left last year’s Lexington Selected Sale with owners Riverview Racing, Steven Head, Pryde & Alagna Stable and Caviart Farm after they signed the check for $47,000.
Drink To That paid $13.16.
Benny B Hill kicks off Golden Rod and Wildcat Series winners
Out of Breeders Crown winner Peaky Sneaky, Benny B Hill and David Miller won by a nose in 1:53.2 in the first division of the Golden Rod as the favorite ($4.30). Sea Bistro Hanover (Todd McCarthy, $25.12) and Down The Line (Tetrick, $18.52) were best in the other two divisions.
Favorites Caviart Cadet (Anibal Borjas, $4.42) and Ooglesaurus (Joe Bongiorno, $3.22) had their pictures taken in the Wildcat Series.
Racing at the Red Mile will continue through Sunday, Oct. 5, following a Sunday-through-Wednesday schedule. Fans and horsepeople can look forward to 5:05 p.m. post times on Sundays and 1 p.m. post times on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the meet.
The Red Mile features industry low takeouts on the pari-mutuel side of things while offering fans a full buffet of wagering options, including bookend daily double wagering, exacta and trifecta wagering, 20 cent superfectas, Pick-3, Pick-4, Pick-5 and Pick-6 offerings, and the Super Hi-5.
For more information on the upcoming draw schedule, promotional events, the live racing calendar, or free racing program pages, visit www.redmileracing.com.