Lexington, KY – On another hot and humid Sunday (Aug. 17), Brandon Blvd once again strutted his stuff at The Red Mile to remain a perfect four-for-four in his young career with a 1:50.1 triumph in the $80,000 third round leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for 2-year-old male pacers.
The 15-race card also consisted of two $30,000 divisions of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, three $15,000 divisions of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series and two $10,000 divisions of the Kentucky Wildcat Series. All sire stakes events were third-round legs for freshman male pacers.
Brandon Blvd soars in Kentucky Championship Series
With Tim Tetrick holding the lines, Brandon Blvd outlasted a sizzling :25.4 final quarter from a closing Ubrute (Yannick Gingras) to remain undefeated. Funky Buddha (Todd McCarthy) relinquished the lead at the top of the lane and finish third.
Commencing his journey from post position seven in the field of eight, Tetrick positioned the son of Downbytheseaside-Alexis Faith in fourth position right off the gate as longshot Treacherous (David Miller) shot to the lead from post five and established the first split of :27.1. His time in command was short-lived as Funky Buddha assumed that spot going to the half in :55.1. He continued on top through three-quarters in 1:23.4 but Brandon Blvd was on the move and had advanced to second at that juncture.
Ubrute was also making his own move from sixth at the half-mile pole and was in third as the field made their final bid to the finish line. As Funky Buddha slowed from his earlier efforts and Ubrute paced closer, Brandon Blvd simply proved best.
Trained by Andrew Harris, Brandon Blvd has only seemed to improve with each start and has won races on the lead as well as off the pace.
Bred by Crawford Farms, the colt is owned by his conditioner, William Pollock and Bruce Areman. He became the second in as many foals out of his dam to bank more than $100,000 and he paid $3.46 to win as the public’s selection.
Toby Ornot Toby, Captain Apple win Commonwealth Series divisions
Tetrick picked up his first of two sire stakes wins with Toby Ornot Toby in the first division of this series in 1:51.1 at odds of 13-1. Favorite Winnercircleseeker (Yannick Gingras) was second and Coup Station (Atlee Bender) rounded out the trifecta.
A son of Tall Dark Stranger-Mackie Hanover, Toby Ornot Toby is trained by Scott DiDomenico and this was his first victory in five starts.
The gelding was bred by Spring Station Bloodstock and was a $40,000 selection for Oompa’s Farm and Joseph Barbera at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
Toby Ornot Toby provided $28 to his supporters.
Captain Apple and Dexter Dunn won the second division in 1:51.4. Drink To That (Scott Zeron) was second with favorite Papi Rick (Andrew McCarthy) collecting the show spot.
Trained by Chris Ryder, Captain Apple was the second choice and broke his maiden his third start. He dead-heated for fifth in the second round of this series and was third in his debut in the same company.
A son of Captaintreacherous-Apple Hanover, Captain Apple was bred by Let It Ride Stables and J L Benson Stables. The colt brought down the gavel for $40,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale for his trainer, Lisa Ezzo, Alan Johnston and Let It Ride Stables.
Captain Apple paid $6.24 to win and has now earned $19,350.
Five divisions of the Golden Rod and Wildcat Series continue stakes action
Push Up (Andrew McCarthy, $19.02), Thiago Hanover (Gingras, $3.30) and Kiss In The Sky (Dunn, $22.38) won their respective divisions of the Golden Rod Series.
Be Sting (Dunn, $4.24) and Lou’s Rodeo (A. McCarthy, $3.58) had their pictures taken for their victories in the Wildcat Series divisions.
Racing will continue through Sunday (Oct. 5), following a Sunday through Wednesday schedule. Fans and horsemen 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.
For more information on the upcoming draw schedule, promotional events, the live racing calendar, or free racing program pages, please visit www.redmileracing.