by Gabe Prewitt, publicity director, The Red Mile

Lexington , KY — Freshmen were back in action on the Monday night (August 17) card at The Red Mile with eight divisions of the second leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes for 2-year-old trotters and pacers.

The 2-year-old filly pacers were headlined in the 13th race, a $15,000 division of the KYSS, which set up a showdown between the 4-5 post time favorite Sand Windsor (David Miller) and the recent $100,000 private purchase and first leg winner, Best Boss (Michel Lachance).

Best Boss rallied on the outside for a 1:53.3 score in her KYSS division.

The two fillies did not disappoint as they hooked up around the final turn for a scintillating stretch drive, with Best Boss getting up in time for a head victory in 1:53.3. The daughter of Cambest-Head Of The House is trained by Richard Ringler and was making her first start for new owners M & M Harness Racing LLC, Ira Rosenblum, and Pat Lachance. The win was the second in a row in the KYSS for Best Boss, with her 5-2 price being considerably less than the 100-1 shocker she turned in during the opening leg.

The other $15,000 KYSS division for 2-year-old filly pacers was taken by Houlihan (Brad Hanners), a daughter of Real Desire-Special Addition. Houlihan left alertly from her outside post eight and tucked in second in the early going only to be shuffled back as the field raced through the final turn. Hanners finally shook loose in the stretch and flew up on the outside with a :27.4 final quarter to post a half-length victory in 1:55. Bret Shultz trains the filly for the local connections of Charles “Cotton”, Julie, and Francene Nash.

Nigel Soult photo

High Def Z Tam’s 1:53.3 score was the fastest of the 2-year-old colt pace splits.

High Def Z Tam (Michel Lachance) turned in the fastest KYSS 2-year-old colt pace mile, stopping the timer in 1:53.3. The gelded son of Real Desire-Caribbean tucked in seventh in the early going and circled up five-wide at the head of the lane to swoop the field en route to a four length victory. High Def Z Tam is trained by Richard Ringler for Z Tam Racing LLC and Pat Lachance.

The other $15,000 KYSS division for 2-year-old colt pacers was taken by Main A Dieu Too (David Miller). The son of Cambest-Great Georgia flashed speed off the gate to lead the field past the opening quarter in :29 seconds, was shuffled back to third past the half in :56.2, and moved back out first-over around the final turn to eventually draw clear with a 2-3/4 length victory in 1:54.3. Main A Dieu Too is trained by Fred Grant for Russell and Elaine MacKinnon.

Trainer Jeff Smith conditioned winners of both $15,000 KYSS divisions for 2-year-old colt trotters. The first was taken by Quantum Lightning (Brad Hanners), as he moved to the lead down the backstretch and never looked back to post his third consecutive Red Mile victory with a 3-1/4 length score in 1:59.2. The son of Like A Prayer-Italiana Chip is owned by Terry and Cynthia Kinsley.

Those same connections found themselves in the winner’s circle once again as Victor’s Future (Brad Hanners) overcame an 18 length half-mile deficit by trotting a :28.1 final panel to get up in time for a half-length victory in 1:59.3. The son of Valley Victor-Baby Bella also took the opening leg of the KYSS ten days ago, and is setting the stage for quite the potential KYSS showdown in the $300,000 final on September 6 with his stablemate, Quantum Lightning. Victor’s Future is also owned by Terry and Cynthia Kinsley along with James and Fred Everhart.

The first of two $15,000 KYSS divisions for 2-year-old filly trotters was taken by Felicity Hall (Michel Lachance) in 2:01.1. The daughter of Like A Prayer-Favorite Hall improved her unblemished career record to two-for-two for trainer Fred Grant, and is owned by the Walnut Hall Limited.

Just A Valley Gal (Joe Putnam) added her seventh victory in only nine career starts in the other $15,000 KYSS division for 2-year-old filly trotters. The daughter of Valley Victor-Just Having Fun led the field gate-to-wire and was never headed as she hit the wire a length in front in 2:00.3. Stacey Ruddick trains the filly for Jack Holton.

Racing action continues at The Red Mile on Thursday evening, August 20, with five divisions of the KYSS for 3-year-old trotters and pacers as they battle for a spot in the $2.4 million night of champions coming up on Sunday, September 6. First post for the 18-race card is at 6:30 p.m.