by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Editor

Lexington, KY — A trio of Bluegrass Stakes for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers were on the Saturday afternoon card at The Red Mile for a total purse of $280,000.

In the $94,000 final division, Yankee Skyscaper Partners’ Yankee Skyscaper came from far back to post a come from behind victory in a personal best 1:49. Dave Palone piloted the Artiscape-Skyfire colt to a narrow victory over Digital Z Tam (Mike Lachance). Watta Hotshot (Brian Sears) was third.

The win was the fourth in 12 starts this season for Yankee Skyscaper, who was making his debut in the Erv Miller Stable. He has now banked $272,961 this year.

“I thought if I gave him a little room, he might relax more,” said driver Dave Palone. “The quieter you can keep him, the better off he will be.

“He’s been a bit of a disappointment this year, but he does have the ability.”

Kenneth J wires field in 1:49.3

The $93,000 middle split of the Bluegrass went to Kenneth Jacobs’ Kenneth J with a wire-to-wire performance in a lifetime mark of 1:49.3. Ron Pierce piloted the Bettor’s Delight-Advantest colt to victory number eight on the campaign. He has banked $697,414 in his 14 ’07 starts for trainer Linda Toscano.

Starting from post position six, Pierce had Kenneth J flying off the gate and he immediately grabbed a lead that he would never relinquish through fractions of :28.3, :55.4 and 1:23.1. Kenneth J used a strong final quarter of :26.2 to reach the wire in the 1:49.3 clocking. Real Class (Dave Palone) was second and Forensic Z Tam (Pat Lachance) was third.

Saturday’s win was Kenneth J’s third straight success at The Red Mile. As a juvenile last year, he was victorious in both Bluegrass and International Stallion Stake splits. His previous career best effort was a 1:50.3 score in his I.S.S. division.

Always A Virgin scores in 1:49.1

In the $93,000 first split, Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable and Val D’or Farms Always A Virgin was a 1:49.1 winner for driver Brian Sears and trainer Joe Holloway. The Western Ideal-Neverhaveneverwill lad brushed to the front at the :55 half-mile marker and was never caught through subsequent fractions of 1:22.1 and 1:49.1. Running Book (Mark MacDonald) rallied in the stretch to finish second, while early leader Booze Cruzin (Dave Palone) finished third.

For Always A Virgin, the win was his tenth of the year in 15 trips behind the gate, while his earnings climbed to $627,463.

“He came out of it (last week’s Little Brown Jug) very fresh,” said trainer Joe Holloway. “I would have had to train him pretty tight this week anyway, so I decided it was just as easy to race him.

“This horse is in great shape. He’s a top horse. He’s very versatile and has a lot of maneuverability.”