by Ray Cotolo, for Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Commandeering the field after the half, 2-1 favorite Dover Dan blew away his competition in the second of three divisions for the $216,300 Explosive Matter Bluegrass 3-year-old colt and gelding trot, presented by the Explosive Matter Syndicate and Hanover Shoe Farms, romping by 8-3/4 lengths in 1:51.3 on Sunday (Oct. 1) at Red Mile.

Sophomore filly trotting giant Ariana G continued her reign over the division, taking the second of three divisions of the $183,900 Cantab Hall Bluegrass 3-year-old filly trot, sponsored by Hanover Shoe Farms and Brittany Farms, by 4-1/2 lengths in 1:52.2.

Dover Dan wins by 8-3/4 lengths at Red Mile on Sunday.

Getting away fourth, Dover Dan made his move for the top following a :28.1 quarter set by Shake It Off Lindy. Tracking the backside brush by New Jersey Viking prior to a :55.2 half, Dover Dan progressed uncovered to take the lead into the final turn, gaining a wide lead while New Jersey Viking faltered at the rail in second.

Past three-quarters in 1:23.1, Dover Dan continued to grow his lead in the stretch, finishing clear of Snowstorm Hanover, rallying from the center of the track, in second and Rubio, sneaking up the inside, in third.

Owned by William Wiswell, Jean Goehlen, and Eugene Schick, Dover Dan, by Andover Hall from the Royal Troubador mare Cr Kay Suzie, won his ninth race in 27 starts, earning $510,695. Trained by John Butenschoen and driven by Corey Callahan, he paid $6.60 to win.

Trainer Frank Antonacci took the other Bluegrass divisions, winning the first with Lindy The Great in 1:52.1.

Going the quarter in :27.3 and a half in :55.3, Lindy The Great expanded his lead over pocket-sitter Jake moving around the far turn, holding a four-length advantage over Jake and Moonshiner Hanover, first over in third, at three-quarters in 1:23.4.

Cruising in the stretch, Lindy The Great’s lead diminished as Guardian Angel As weaved into contention off a rail trip, reeling in the leader coming to the line while Bill’s Man followed suit, rallying from second-over into third. Guardian Angel As, marching to try and overtake Lindy The Great in the final strides, was a neck shy of victory, while Bill’s Man, the even-money favorite, finished a length behind in third.

Winning his fourth race in 11 starts, Lindy The Great, by Crazed out of the Muscles Yankee mare Highscore Kemp, has amassed $127,033 in earnings for owners K R Breeding LLC and Robert Rudolph. Driven by Scott Zeron, he paid $25.80 to win.

Antonacci’s other win came with International Moni, who gained control in the stretch and bested 7-5 favorite What The Hill in 1:51.4.

What The Hill, Long Tom, and Devious Man vied for the early lead, with Long Tom and Devious Man yielding to What The Hill through a :27 quarter. Unchallenged on the front, What The Hill hit the half in :54 seconds while International Moni, trotting fifth, moved first-over, soon matching strides with the tempo setter at three-quarters in 1:23.1 before overtaking him into the stretch.

International Moni trotted clear from a wall of horses, with King On The Hill closing towards the center of the track to take second, while Devious Man weaved off the rail and through horses to take third.

Owned by the Moni Maker Stable, International Moni, by Love You out of the Speedy Crown mare Moni Maker, won his seventh race in 22 starts, earning $482,442. Driven by Scott Zeron, he paid $10.60 to win.

Nigel Soult photos

Ariana G won her 19th race from 23 starts.

Ariana G glides in Bluegrass filly trot

Going as the 1-9 favorite, Yannick Gingras floated Ariana G towards the top, wide before clearing the lead past a :28.4 opening quarter. She remained in front on an uncontested lead, going a half in :57.1 and three-quarters in 1:26 before drawing away from pocket-sitter Fine Tuned Lady, who finished second, and Dream Together, chasing in third.

Winning her 19th race in 23 starts, Ariana G, by Muscle Hill out of the Cantab Hall mare Cantab It All, is a homebred for owners Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, earning them over $1.5 million in her career. Trained by Jimmy Takter, she returned $2.10 to win.

Thats All Moni, also trained by Jimmy Takter, took the first division of the Bluegrass filly trot in 1:52.2.

Evelyn set the pace, going fractions of :28 and :56.1 unchallenged on the lead. Highland Top Hill, sitting third, edged first-over moving into the turn, marching toward the pacesetter at three-quarters in 1:24.3 while carrying Thats All Moni into contention from second over.

Circumventing stalled cover, Thats All Moni rallied wide in the stretch, overtaking Evelyn and striding to a two-length lead over Overdraft Volo, pulling out of the pocket to take second, with Evelyn fading to third.

By Cantab Hall from the Pine Chip mare Mom’s Millionaire, Thats All Moni, won her ninth race in 21 starts and has earned $455,914 for owners Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, and Al Libfeld. Driven by Tim Tetrick, she paid $4.80 to win.

Sweeping first-over around the final turn, Ice Attraction held off 8-5 favorite Dream Baby Dream to win the final Bluegrass filly trot at 10-1 by a nose in 1:52.4.

Trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt positioned Ice Attraction fourth off a :28.2 quarter set by Feed Your Head. After a :57 half, Ice Attraction committed first over, drawing alongside Feed Your Head after a 1:25.1 third-quarter and took a narrow lead into the stretch.

As Feed Your Head dropped out of contention, Dream Baby Dream rallied from third over, overtaking pocket-sitter Treviso in third and rushing toward Ice Attraction trotting to the line, with Ice Attraction holding a slight advantage on the line while Treviso chased two lengths back in third.

Returning $22.20 to win, Ice Attraction, by Muscle Hill out of the Conway Hall mare The Ice Queen, won her seventh race in 23 starts, earning $213,772 for owners Ake Svanstedt Inc., Douglas Sipple, Mal and Janet Burroughs LLC, and Little E LLC.

Grand Circuit racing continues at Red Mile on Thursday (Oct. 5) with the International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters. First race post is 1 p.m. EDT.