by Nick Salvi, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — The Grand Circuit rolls into Lexington, Ky., with the third leg of the Kindergarten series for 2-year-old trotters at The Red Mile on Thursday (Sept. 10).

Two $10,000 divisions for both fillies and colts are on the bill with the girls splitting neatly into a pair of eights in races five and seven.

The Jimmy Takter stable houses likely favorites in each, with Haughty coming into the first division off a 1:56 win in leg two at Tioga Downs ten days ago. Trainer Jimmy Takter is listed to drive the filly for owners Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband.

Takter may well be driving the favorite in the seventh too, as Hollywood Hill brings impressive credentials into her split having won three of her five career outings for owners Goran Falk and Christina Takter.

The colts compete in races six and nine with Tioga track record holder Jack Vernon a clear choice in the sixth for owner Miller’s Stable, trainer Randy Beeckman and driver Corey Callahan.

The ninth race is more of a puzzle with several lightly raced prospects developing into contenders as the second half of the stakes season gets underway.

Racing begins at 7 p.m. at The Red Mile on Thursday. Live racing continues through Sept. 19, breaks for Jug week then returns with the fortnight of Grand Circuit racing with a Wednesday through Saturday schedule beginning on Sept. 30.

The first week is a 7 p.m. post time and week two is a 1 p.m. matinee each day. The Lexington Selected Yearling Sale begins on the evening of Monday (Oct. 5) and continues through Friday night (Oct. 9). Catalogues are available.

Also of note, nominations to the Grand Circuit Late Closers must be postmarked by Sept. 15. The form is available here.