by Ray Cotolo, for Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Sent the 1-9 favorite, Nancy Johansson trainee Kissin In The Sand floated towards the front past the quarter and progressed under minimal pressure to a 1:50 score in the $126,000 American Ideal Bluegrass 3-year-old filly pace, sponsored by Brittany Stallion Management, on Saturday (Sept. 29) at Red Mile.

Nigel Soult photo

Kissin In The Sand cruises to an easy win at Red Mile on Saturday evening.

Baron Remy rushed to the lead from the center of the track with Double A Mint pushing for position towards the inside and Kissin In The Sand unhurried into third. Kissin In The Sand cleared command following a :28 opening quarter and quickened the pace as Cuts Like A Knife, parked from the start, continued first-over into second and through a :55.2 half.

Cuts Like A Knife faltered into the final turn, leaving a gap for Baron Remy to pull out of the pocket while also forcing second-over Dance Blue three-wide. Kissin In The Sand faced no challengers past three-quarters in 1:23.2 and scooted clear into the lane under pursuit from Baron Remy, who held second from Dance Blue rallying through the center of the track. Double A Mint shot through the pylons for fourth and I’m Trigger Happy rounded out the Super High-Five.

Owned by Marvin Katz and Hatfield Stables, Kissin In The Sand, a daughter of Somebeachsomewhere, won her ninth race in 13 starts this season and her 16th in 27 overall while surpassing $900,000 in career earnings. Scott Zeron drove the $2.20 winner.

Grand Circuit action continues at The Red Mile on Sunday (Sept. 29) with the first matinee card of the meeting. The program features sophomores in stakes action as the filly trotters compete in three divisions of the $206,000 Cantab Hall Bluegrass Stakes (sponsored by Hanover Shoe Farms & Brittany Farms), the colt trotters in two splits of the $242,000 Explosive Matter Bluegrass Stakes (sponsored by the Explosive Matter Syndicate & Hanover Shoe Farms) and the colt pacers contest in two divisions of the $183,000 Somebeachsomewhere Bluegrass Stakes (sponsored by the Somebeachsomewhere Syndicate & Hanover Shoe Farms).

The Pick-5 had no winners on Saturday night, carrying $3,328.87 into the pool Sunday. Sunday’s Pick-5, a 50-cent minimum wager covering races two through six, will have a $15,000 guarantee.

First-race post Sunday is slated for 1 p.m.