by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — The Friday afternoon program at The Red Mile attracted three divisions for the $224,100 International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old filly pacers and four divisions for the $272,000 ISS for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

The opening freshman filly ISS split features the return of undefeated Pure Country, owned by Diamond Creek Racing. The winner of seven starts and $342,618, the Jimmy Takter-trainee won an $81,000 division of the Bluegrass over a sloppy track in 1:56.1 as the 1-9 favorite on Oct. 2. By Somebeachsomewhere out of the Western Hanover mare Western Montana, she’ll compete from post position six against Bluegrass starters Skinny Dipper, Upside Surprise, Mother Of Art, and Hug A Dragoness.

Earning $250,136 this season, Call Me Queen Be highlights the second split. Sired by Somebeachsomewhere, out of the Western Terror mare Preppy Party Girl, she finished third as the 1-5 favorite in an $81,000 division of the Bluegrass on Oct. 2. Owned by Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Dana Parham, she has won four races in seven outings this season.

Matching up with her once again is the Nancy Johansson-trained JK Fannie, who finished third to the Ross Croghan-trainee in a $127,150 division of the Kentuckiana at Hoosier Park on Sept. 26.

Bluegrass starters Kiss Me Onthebeach, Wine Snob, East Side Hanover, and Eloquent Grace also draw into this division.

The final division of the ISS filly pace gathers Bluegrass division winner Shezarealdeal and She’s A Great Lady runner-up Darlinonthebeach.

Shezarealdeal, sent off the 1-5 favorite in her Bluegrass division, won her fourth race out of eight starts with a 1:56.4 mile over the slop.

Darlinonthebeach enters this event with one win in seven starts and earnings of $167,041 this season. She was recently second in a $125,900 division of the Kentuckiana Stakes, which followed her second-place finish in the $341,250 She’s A Great Lady to L A Delight.

The first of a quartet of colt events brings back Bluegrass starters Beach Ogre, I’m Some Graduate, Mr Right Hanover, and Ideal Rocky.

In the Bluegrass, I’m Some Graduate and Ideal Rocky were sent off the 4-5 and 8-5 favorites, respectively, while finishing fourth and third, respectively. I’m Some Graduate, a colt by Somebeachsomewhere out of the Western Hanover mare Western Graduate, is owned by John Cancelliere, has won four races in six starts and earned $109,927.

Ideal Rocky, a Rocknroll Hanover colt out of Eternity’s Delight by Bettor’s Delight, owned by William Wiswell, Jean Goehlen and Eugene Schick, has won four races in 10 starts, earning $167,151.

Big Top Hanover and Owen Hanover, both entering off second-place efforts in the Bluegrass on Oct. 3, compete in the second division. Big Top Hanover, conditioned by Ron Burke for the interests of JT45 and Burke Racing Stables LLC, has won once in nine starts this year. The son of Western Ideal out of the Art Major mare Blind Ambition has earned $121,621.

Owen Hanover, by Cam’s Card Shark out of On Her Way by Abercrombie, is owned by Jerry Clark and Tammy Crescenze. The winner of two races in 10 starts, earning $69,099 in the process, is conditioned by Noel Daley.

Tony Alagna’s American Passport, winner of a Bluegrass division in 1:56.1, faces world champion Spider Man Hanover in the third round of the ISS. Winning a $23,100 division of the Standardbred at Delaware, Ohio, in a world-record time of 1:51.4, Spider Man Hanover, from the Brian Brown barn, is a Western Ideal colt out of the Art Major mare Stolly Up Bluechip, who has won four times in seven starts and earned $189,300.

American Passport, an American Ideal colt out of Star Of The Show by Four Starzzz Shark, competes for the interests of Brittany Farms, Riverview Racing, Alagna Racing and Jodi Siamis. He has won two of eight starts this year, banking $156,246.

The last ISS split features Bluegrass division winner Racing Hill and New York Sires Stakes champion Travel Playlist, who is undefeated in five starts. Winning wire-to-wire from post seven at Yonkers Raceway, the colt by Art Major out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Village Madonna has earned $234,695 in his campaign.

Racing Hill, a winner of three in seven starts, races for owner Tom Hill and trainer Tony Alagna. The colt by Roll With Joe out of the American Ideal mare Chasing Ideals has earned $83,576 this year.

The 10-race card has a first-race post time of 1 p.m.