by Nick Salvi, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — The Kindergarten Trotting Series continued on Thursday evening (Sept. 17) at The Red Mile.

Mavens Way won the opening division for colts in a time of 1:55.3.

The colt divisions began the evening with Mavens Way scoring a $37.20 upset for young Oskar Florhed, taking a nice record of 1:55.3 in the process. The son of Muscle Hill from Doris Deo sat close up early then wore down Dominion Beach in the shadow of the wire for the win. He is trained by Ake Svanstedt for his own interests along with partners Mal and Janet Burroughs and T L P Stable.

Charlie Norris worked out a perfect pocket trip for Cloud Nine Hanover in the next division for a huge $54.40 upset after favored Southwind Flash broke on the final bend. Charlie trains the son of Muscle Massive-Carmita who was winning for the first time on behalf of his wife Carrie, Acadia Farms and G&B Racing. Celebrity Express rallied from well back for the place. The time of the mile was 1:56.1.

Hollywood Highway struck a blow for favoritism, winning right back for Dave Palone in a new record of 1:55.2 in the third and last colt split. He is by Muscle Massive-L A Freeway and has found his best form here on the clay for trainer Staffan Lind. Marvin Katz and Al Goldband share the ownership.

Nigel Soult photos

Haughty scored in 1:55.4 for driver Dave Palone.

Palone won the very next race with Haughty, who has clearly been the class of the Kindergarten filly races in Lexington. Jimmy Takter conditions the winner, a daughter of Donato Hanover-Letsjustalkaboutme, and had the second place finisher as well in Hollywood Hill. Haughty was well within herself tonight in a measured 1:55.4 tally. She races for the ownership group of Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband.

Howie Okusko, Jr steered Sweet Ashley T to yet another upset in the last of the Kindergarten races, returning $38.60 to her small legion of backers. The Conway Hall-Rucoucou filly took a 1:56 record in the process for trainer Homer Hochstetler who owns her with South Of The Tracks Racing.

The Kindergarten goes on hiatus until leg five, set for Oct. 23 at Vernon Downs, with the finals the next week.

Red Mile racing resumes on Saturday before going dark for a week. The Grand Circuit kicks off on Wednesday (Sept. 30), racing at 7 p.m. through Saturday (Oct. 3), then matinee racing the following Wednesday through Saturday.

Find all the info you’ll need on all things Red Mile on the website.