by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Sent off the as the 1-5 favorite, Broadway Donna lost stride in her attempt to sweep by pacesetter Fad Finance, who won one of the three divisions of the $188,200 Bluegrass Stake for 3-year-old trotting fillies in 1:53.1 on Sunday (Oct. 2) at The Red Mile.

Nigel Soult photo

Fad Finance illustrates her talent after stepping out competition in the Empire State to contest Grand Circuit events in Kentucky.

Trotting a quarter in :28.1 and a half in :56, Fad Finance led Unica Steed, Gracie Hanover, and Broadway Donna into the far turn. Broadway Donna progressed towards Fad Finance to match strides with her at three-quarters, timed in 1:24, before stalling in her bid in the stretch and losing stride. Gracie Hanover circled around Broadway Donna, lunging to take second while Fad Finance remained in control. Unica Steed finished third.

Owned by Purple Haze Stables LLC, Marc Goldberg, and Rojan Stables, Fad Finance, by Credit Winner out of the Sierra Kosmos mare Armbro Vanity, won her tenth race in 21 starts, earning $306,556 for her career. She is trained and was driven by Trond Smedshammer and paid $12.00 to win.

“I didn’t know how much David (Miller on Broadway Donna) had left, so it certainly made me feel better when she jumped,” Trond Smedshammer said. “Then Ake (Svanstedt on Gracie Hanover) came late, but my filly has felt good all day today. She gave a real good effort. She can win in (1):54 at Saratoga, so the big track doesn’t really pick her up that much, but (The Red Mile)’s nice. I was able to pull her shoes off for the first time today. It’s always nice over the clay here.”

Ginny Weasley circled by the 1-5 favorite Celebrity Eventsy and drew away to win her division of the Bluegrass Stake in a lifetime best of 1:53.1. Celebrity Eventsy grabbed the front from Ultimate Shopper and cleared through a :28.1 opening quarter. Ginny Weasley, trotting in third, was hesitant to pull first over, eventually committing to move outside after a :57 half mile, carrying with her Southwind Hope second over and Double Exposure third over. Ginny Weasley brushed by Celebrity Eventsy after a 1:26 third-quarter and kicked away from the field as Celebrity Eventsy faltered. Southwind Hope moved into second while Double Exposure came down the center of the track to take third.

Winning her sixth race in 18 starts, Ginny Weasley, by Andover Hall out of the Donerail mare Donepunk, has earned $159,763 for owner Torp Trotting Inc. She is trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt and paid $9.00 to win.

Losing the lead in the backstretch, Side Bet Hanover found room to trot up the pylons in the stretch to win the final division of the Bluegrass Stake in 1:53.1. Side Bet Hanover led through a :28 first quarter before Gin And Lindy tipped first over from fifth and brushed to the lead after a :56 half. Into the far turn, Gin And Lindy held control as Womans Will advanced first over, keeping Side Bet Hanover in the pocket, from third after they trotted three-quarters in 1:24. Gin And Lindy drifted off the rail into the stretch. Womans Will took the lead to her outside while Side Bet Hanover emerged up the pylons into second, soon sprinting past Womans Will to claim victory. Wildflower closed down the center of the track to finish third.

Side Bet Hanover, by Donato Hanover out of the Muscles Yankee mare Sea Level Hanover, won her fifth race in 18 starts, earning $175,336 lifetime for owner Srf Stable. Trained by Jonas Czernyson and driven by Corey Callahan, she paid $9.00 to win.

“(Gin And Lindy) was starting to get a little leg weary in front of me and I had plenty of trot,” Corey Callahan said. “I was hoping I could shake free because she was so good in her last start up in Canada (in the Elegantimage); she didn’t get any room, but she found room today and shot by very strong. I’m sure she’ll be back next Sunday and hopefully she’ll give us a good run.”