by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager

Lexington, KY — Grand Circuit action resumed on Friday (Oct. 15) at The Red Mile with four divisions in the $354,000 Bluegrass for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Big Rigs won the opening division with a wire-to-wire performance in 1:56.1.

The opening $88,500 division went to Miller’s Stable Inc., DM Stables and Ed Mullinax’s Big Rigs with a wire-to-wire performance in 1:56.1. Tim Tetrick was in the bike for trainer Kelly O’Donnell as the Andover Hall-Filly At Bigs colt won for the fourth time in eight lifetime starts, lifting his earnings to $131,444.

Starting from post four, Big Rigs went right to the top and cut moderate fractions of :29.2, :59.4 and 1:29.1 before coming home in a quick :27 to reach the wire on top in 1:56.1. JR Alber (Ron Pierce) was second and Way Back When (David Miller) finished third.

“What a nice colt,” said driver Tim Tetrick of Big Rigs. “I was really honored when they asked me to drive. The fractions were soft for him and he won easy enough.”

The second division went to Robert Burgess and Karin Olsson Burgess’ Blue Porsche and driver Trevor Ritchie in a lifetime best 1:55.1. The Glidemaster-Machita colt scored for the third time in six career starts. He has now banked $98,743 for trainer Blair Burgess.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

The second division went to Blue Porsche and driver Trevor Ritchie in a lifetime best 1:55.1.

Blue Porsche came from off the pace to defeat Luckycharm Hanover (John Campbell) and Opening Night (Brian Sears). Orlando (David Miller) who was on top though opening fractions of :28.2 and :57.2, finished fourth.

Driver Tim Tetrick won his second division of the 2-year-old colt trot when he captured the $88,500 third division with Fashion Farms’ Spring Goal in a lifetime best 1:56 clocking. The win was the third in six lifetime starts for the homebred Yankee Glide-Maragoal Miss colt, who added $44,250 to his bankroll which now stands at $53,920.

Spring Goal rallied from off the pace in the stretch to defeat High Pan Tolerance (Ray Schnittker) and Fort Valley AS (Andy Miller).

“He’s kind of a big colt,” said trainer Jim Campbell of Spring Goal. “He’s really good gaited and he didn’t disappoint us today. The colt really dug in when Timmy asked him.”

The $88,500 final division resulted in a stakes double for Fashion Farms and Jim Campbell as Neal pulled off the wood heading to the three-quarter pole, grabbed the lead in the lane, and then pulled away to an impressive 1:54.4 score, a national season’s record for a freshman trotting colt on a mile track.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

The $88,500 final division went to Neal, who grabbed the lead in the lane and then pulled away to an impressive 1:54.4 score, a national season’s record.

Brian Sears piloted the Credit Winner-Lavern Lavec colt to his fourth win in 10 trips behind the gate. His share of the purse lifted his career earnings to $256,248.

“He’s had a lot of bad luck in the bigger races,” said driver Brian Sears, “but he got over this track very well.”

Kash’s Cantab and driver John Campbell cut the early fractions in this race, taking the field to the quarter in :28.2, the half in :58 and the three-quarters in 1:27.3. Neal sat fourth for the opening half-mile, then came first over at the three-quarter pole. He drew clear in the lane and then was never challenged. Mythical Hall (Ron Pierce) came on to be second, with Not Nice (Yannick Gingras) third. Kash’s Cantab faded to fourth.