Lexington, KY – On Sunday (Aug. 24) Sunday Night Lights, sponsored by Crawford Farms, will host a 15-race card at The Red Mile with the spotlight on two 80,000 third-round legs of the Kentucky Championship Series for sophomore trotting fillies and their male counterparts on the pace.
Trotting fillies square off in Kentucky Championship Series
This field of seven is loaded with ability and features two fillies stepping up in class after presumably a prep in the Kentucky Commonwealth Series on Aug. 12. Winnpanzee (Yannick Gingras) came out with the victory in a lifetime best of 1:52.3 over 2024 Kentucky champion Aperfect Annie (Todd McCarthy), but as stated, the five other foes in the field can trot their way to the winner’s circle.
Winnpanzee drew the rail and is 6-1 on the morning line. The daughter of Gimpanzee-Winndevie is trained by Ron Burke and is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Brad Grant and Weaver Bruscemi.
The filly was winless as a freshman but has compiled a record of 15-3-5-2 in her career with $75,820 in her bank account.
Bred by Ola Yoder, Winnpanzee is the first foal out of her dam, a Breeders Crown and New York champion who amassed $787,682 in her career.
After reeling off two consecutive triumphs to commence her 3-year-old season, Aperfect Annie traveled to The Meadowlands where she encountered a bit of trouble. She was eighth-placed-seventh in a $141,000 division of the Del Miller Memorial, third in her $50,000 Hambletonian Oaks elimination and a sixth in the $500,000 final.
Trained by Carter Pinske, who captured the 2023 Kentucky Filly Futurity with Mommamia Volo, Aperfect Annie will commence trotting from post position seven and is 8-1 on the morning line.
The daughter of Googoo Gaagaa-Asixpakfromperfect will be steered by Todd McCarthy. She was bred by Robert Detweiler and purchased by Pinske Stables, Melvin Hartman and Andray Farm for $70,000 at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
Aperfect Annie has banked $400,360 with a resume of 16-5-5-1.
Luna Lovegood (Dexter Dunn) annexed her first win in five starts since capturing the $116,600 Matron Stakes last fall when she took the second leg of this series last week over rival R Lady W (Scott Zeron) in 1:53.1.
The daughter of Gimpanzee-Southwind Venus resides in the barn of Marcus Melander and was one of the leaders in her division in 2024. She has experienced some issues with staying flat this season, but if those problems are in her rearview mirror, this filly is a fierce foe.
Bred by Blue Chip Farms and Stefan Melander, Luna Lovegood was selected for $100,000 at the 2023 Standardbred Horse Sale by Holly Lane Stud East.
She has earned $422,010 in her career, with a resume of 14-6-1-1.
Luna Lovegood will start her mile from post position five and is 7-2 on the morning line.
Burke sends out two in male pacing Championship Series leg
A competitive field of eight male pacers will head to the gate for the second Championship contest of the evening. Captain Arturovico will now have the services of Dexter Dunn after a private purchase by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Larry Karr and Phillip Collura after two consecutive third-place finishes in this company for previous owner/trainer Rodney DeBeck.
The son of Captaintreacherous-Tilikum was sent through his paces this season in the Kentucky Sire Stakes at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel in addition to the Kentucky Proud Series on the fair circuit.
Bred by Randy Zane, the gelding was originally purchased for $50,000 at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. His record is 24-9-5-2, and he has earned $123,909.
Captain Arturovico is 6-1 on the morning line.
Gingras will hold the lines for Burke’s other contender, the aptly named Harrisburg Heist. The son of Downbytheseaside-Cashaway is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services Inc., Phillip Collura and Weaver Bruscemi. He was bred by Brittany Farms and Marvin Katz.
The gelding was winless in nine starts at 2 but has compiled a record of 11-7-2-0 this season with lifetime earnings of just over $200,000.
Harrisburg Heist is on a two-race win streak and will return from Eldorado Scioto Downs, where he won a $100,000 Ohio Sire Stakes race with a new speed badge of 1:49. He won a division of the second leg of the $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series in his previous engagement.
With the swiftest final time in this field, the gelding drew post position six and is 7-2 on the morning line.
Fallout (Tim Tetrick) is 9-2 on the morning line for trainer Tony Alagna. The son of Captaintreacherous-Aria Hanover only has one win from eight starts this year but was fourth in the $656,000 Meadowlands Pace. Last year, he won the $740,000 Metro Pace and was third in the $700,000 Breeders Crown Final in addition to his win in a $100,000 International Stallion Stake division over this surface.
Bred by Brittany Farms, the colt brought the gavel down for $250,000 for Robert LeBlanc, Pryde Stables and Caviart Farms.
The colt will leave from post three. He has a career record of 19-5-5-2 and has amassed $647,180 in purses.
Racing will continue through Sunday (Oct. 5), following a Sunday through Wednesday schedule. Fans and horsemen can look forward to 5:05 p.m. post times on Sundays, and 1 p.m. post times on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays throughout the meet.
For more information on the upcoming draw schedule, promotional events, the live racing calendar, or free racing program pages, please visit www.redmileracing.