by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Huntsville and Downbytheseaside were the quickest winners of the four divisions of the $262,000 International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday (Oct. 8), winning in 1:49 to equal the world record set by Sweet Lou at Woodbine Racetrack in 2011. Dragnet Alert tipped off the rail and swung down the center of the track to upset at 18-1 in 1:49.2, a world record for 2-year-old pacing geldings that tops the previous mark of 1:49.3 set by Sheer Desire in 2008 at The Red Mile.

Dragnet Alert sets a new record of 1:49.2 for 2-year-old pacing geldings in Grand Circuit action on Saturday at The Red Mile with his second career victory.

Sweeping to command after Rock The Boat set a :27 quarter, Huntsville led to the half-mile and three-quarters in :55.2 and 1:22.1. R J P, tracking Huntsville’s backside brush, found room to tuck into the pocket at the top of the stretch, while Fear The Dragon chased Huntsville from first over. He took second from R J P while driver Tim Tetrick encouraged Huntsville to pace to the line, finishing about three lengths clear of Fear The Dragon.

Hunstville, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the Western Hanover mare Wild West Show, won his fourth consecutive race and his fifth race overall this season in eight starts, earning $293,234 for owner/trainer Ray Schnittker along with partners Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo, and Steven Arnold. He paid $2.80.

Downbytheseaside rushed to the top, taking the lead from Eddard Hanover after a 27:4 first quarter. He blazed through the rest of the mile, pacing a half-mile in :53.4 and three-quarters in 1:22.3. Boogie Shuffle attempted to pursue the leader from first over, while Eddard Hanover slid by rivals towards the pylons. Downbytheseaside remained in front by about two lengths over Boogie Shuffle and Eddard Hanover.

Sent off the 3-5 favorite, Downbytheseaside, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the Allamerican Native mare Sprig Hanover, won his sixth race in 10 starts, earning $239,706 for owners Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco and Richard Lombardo. Trained by Brian Brown and driven by David Miller, he paid $3.20 to win.

“I was a little worried; I knew we were going too (fast) at the quarter,” David Miller said. “Rolling up the backstretch, when (the half) flashed up :53, I was like ‘Oh boy, that’s not good.’ He’s a strong horse. He did settle down for the third quarter but then he had (Scott) Zeron (on Boogie Shuffle) come at him. He had enough to fight him off. It was impressive. Brian told me the first time I drove this horse that this was his best horse and I told him he was crazy.”

“He has been getting a little bit grabbier every week,” Brian Brown said, “so we tried to change some things. I was more worried at the half than David was, but I was surprised that the horse had that much fight in him.”

USTA/Mark Hall photos

World champion Downbytheseaside equals another world record with a 1:49 score in his International Stallion Stake division on Saturday at The Red Mile.

Drafting behind a blazing pace set by Filibuster Hanover, Dragnet Alert set fractions of :27.2, :54.2, and 1:21.4, Filibuster Hanover held an uncontested lead. Odds On Delray, the 1-2 favorite, sat in the pocket while Dragnet Alert raced third. At the top of the stretch, Odds On Delray edged off the pylons and was tracked by Dragnet Alert. Midway through the stretch, Dragnet Alert moved towards the center of the track and passed Odds On Delray, who took second, and Filibuster Hanover held on to third.

By Dragon Again out of the Jenna’s Beach Boy mare Jettin Jenna, Dragnet Alert won his second race in seven starts, earning $58,463 for owner Crawford Farms Racing. He’s trained by Chris Oakes, was driven by Brian Sears, and paid $29.80 to win.

“We bought him in early July,” Albert Crawford said. “Chris (Oakes) gave us a call; he spotted the colt and really liked him. He asked if we were interested and we were.”

“I thought he had this type of speed,” Chris Oakes said. “He was coming quarters of :26.2 at The Meadows, which is pretty solid; it’s not a real fast track. When I got the colt, he was sick, so I had no choice but to quit with him for over a month, and he’s coming around nice now.”

Chip Walther paced down the center of the track to win the second ISS division in 1:50.3 at 41-1. Blood Line pulled first-over from fourth around the first turn, taking the lead from Normandy Beach after a :28.1 first quarter. Leading through a half in :55.4 and challenged at three-quarters in 1:24 by Point Somewherelse from first over. Blood Line tried to hold control through the stretch, but was passed by Normandy Beach sliding up the rail, Mcthriller towards the center of the track, and Chip Walther from Mcthriller’s inside. Chip Walther grabbed the front, while Normandy Beach finished second and Mcthriller was third.

The Erv Miller-trained colt by Art Major, out of the Western Terror mare Bittorsweet Terror, won his second race in 11 starts, earning $63,111 for owners Ervin Miller Stable, Paymaq Racing, Nick Surick Stable, and Louis Willinger. Driven by Marcus Miller, he paid $84.80 to win.

“The other night, when the track was off, Marcus and Nick were pretty confidcent that the horse would race good,” Erv Miller said. “But the horse has been getting better in the last three weeks; he had a bit of a bad go in New York. Getting onto the mile track really helped him. He’s one of those horses that when he’s good he’ll go by somebody. He may not be good enough, but when he was following the horse that kept carrying him I thought he’d be pretty good.”

Live racing will conclude on Sunday (Oct. 9), which includes the $100,000 Allerage Filly and Mare Pace, $101,000 Allerage Open Trot, $138,000 Allerage Open Pace, two divisions of the $213,500 Glen Garnsey Memorial, two divisions of the $416,000 Tattersalls Pace, two eliminations and two heats for the $312,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity, and the $431,000 Kentucky Futurity, where Marion Marauder races to be the ninth winner of the Trotting Triple Crown.

Sunday’s card also features a mandatory payout Pick-5 carryover of $5,289.36. The first race goes to the post for The Red Mile’s closing card at 1:00 p.m.