from The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — The annual Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Night, featuring eight $175,000 finals for 2 –and 3-year-old pacers and trotters, is set for Sunday (Aug. 30) at The Red Mile.

The night is a great opportunity for fans in the Bluegrass State to see the “new” Red Mile, which has been undergoing renovations that include a newly-remodeled simulcasting area and a soon-to-open area for 906 Historical Racing machines.

All four KYSS 2-year-old champions will be on the track in their respective finals on Sunday night in hopes of repeating.

Although the 2014 2-year-old colt trot champ Cinnabar Hall was winless in 10 starts heading into this year’s KYSS action, the son of Groton Hall has swept his two preliminaries as he is the odds-on favorite to repeat. Reigning filly trot champ Armatrading scored a career-best 1:55.4 victory in round two of the KYSS as she hopes to defend her title.

Cielle, who won last year’s 2-year-old filly pace final, is still searching for her first win in 2015, but the daughter of Third Straight has a second and third in the KYSS prelims. The one to beat in the final for 3-year-old filly pacers is Twilight Princess, who has swept her way into the final and has the continent’s leading dash-winning driver Aaron Merriman in the sulky.

Merriman will also drive defending colt champion Bestbestraight in the final for 3-year-old pacers, with the son of Third Straight posting a win and fourth in the opening two legs. Formidable competition should come the way of Tail Gunner Hall, who has six wins and four seconds in 10 starts this year. Also a son of Third Straight, Tail Gunner Hall scored a career-best 1:52 win in a Kentucky Fair contest earlier this month at The Red Mile, and he comes into the KYSS final off a 1:53.2 win in the second KYSS round.

In the 2-year-old finals, prelim winners Cavalcade Hall and Barryscourt will meet up in the colt trot, as will Kentucky Hall and Abbieville in the filly trot. Prelim winners Lakeisha Hall and Bellatricks will square off in the filly pace, while Cracker Cam, who swept his way in the opening rounds for freshman male pacers, is heavily favored in the final.

Nearly 200 televisions have been added to the renovated wagering and simulcasting area, with harness, Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred signals available. The area includes added wagering windows and self-serve units. Also, new, appetizing food service options are available.

Two guaranteed Pick-4 pools will be available for wagering. There will be a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 on races seven-10, with a $7,500 guaranteed Pick-4 on races 11-15. If there are no winning tickets on the first Pick-4, there will be a carryover into the second Pick-4.

Post time for the first race is 7 p.m. Admission and parking are free.