by Nick Salvi, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — The fourth leg of the Kindergarten Classic series, a Grand Circuit event for freshman trotters, will be raced on Thursday night (Sept. 18) at The Red Mile and again the entry box was filled to the brim.

A total of 38 fillies necessitated four divisions and three of the four winners from last week return.

Bee The Queen was the fastest, scoring in 1:56 for trainer George Ducharme and owner Alfred Ross. She was a handy winner last week at a hefty $62 win price that likely will not be available on Thursday. She starts from the rail in race 13 with Corey Callahan listed to drive.

Waiting Room was just a fifth of a second slower, winning her split and rewarding her backers with an $85 win payoff. She returns for trainer Julie Miller in the seventh race (first of the Kindergarten races) with LeWayne Miller driving for owners Andy Miller Stable, Little E LLC and Lawrence Dumain.

Rules Of The Road caught the same division as Waiting Room in her return off last’s week’s $40 mutuel for Chuck (driver) and Janice (trainer) Connor, who share ownership with the Arden Homestead Stable.

Nigel Soult photo

Musical Rhythm looks to go back-to-back in his Kindergarten colt division.

The colts drew three divisions and are led by Indiana-bred Airman Batten who impressed with a :26.3 final quarter in his 1:57.1 triumph last Thursday. He’s picked up more than $166,000 while winning eight of nine starts for Paymaq Racing, Harvey Eisman and Greg Gillis. Erv Miller conditions the colt and LeWayne Miller has been the driver for all the colt’s races.

Musical Rhythm looks to go back-to-back and provides the main challenge to the above mentioned Airman Batten in the 14th race. He closed out a 1:56.4 score with a :27.1 final panel from just off the pace for driver Scott Zeron who is back in town to steer for trainer Tony Alagna. Tony trains him for Mystical Marker Farms, In The Gym Partners and Joe Sbrocco.

Wicker Hanover returns off a successful Lexington debut for Red Mile specialist Noel Daley. Wicker Hanover broke his maiden in that one and Kyle Bolon will do the driving for Christer Haggstrom Racing in the 15th race.

The Kindergarten series then goes on hiatus until the fifth and last leg at Vernon Downs on Friday (Oct. 17) in anticipation of the $240,000 (est.) finals on Nov. 1 at Vernon.

First post is 7 p.m. for the 16-race card. The Red Mile will then be dark until the Grand Circuit meet begins on Thursday (Sept. 25).