by T.J. Burkett, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Kentucky Sires Stakes champion Debbie Hall used a late surge between horses to win her $77,600 Bluegrass division in 1:55.1 on Tuesday afternoon, September 25, at The Red Mile.

Nigel Soult photo

Debbie Hall (8) slices through to win a Bluegrass division in 1: 55.1 at The Red Mile.

Debbie Hall, a 2-year-old trotting filly owned and co-bred by Walnut Hall Ltd., sneaked between runner-up Timeless Winner and Along The Way at the wire to win with driver Dave Palone aboard for trainer Fred Grant. She has now earned $178,800 in purses in six lifetime starts.

Dan Shetler Jr., Bowl Stables and Mitchell S. Rosenthal co-bred Debbie Hall.

Debbie Hall, by Like A Prayer, traded wins with Global Glamour, the “pink filly”, throughout the Kentucky Sire Stakes legs and $200,000 final. Palone, who drove Global Glamour in the Kentucky Sire Stakes, picked up the catch-drive on Debbie Hall in the Bluegrass after regular driver Mike Lachance opted to drive third-place finisher Along The Way.

“Dave (Palone) was tickled to death when he got off the bike,” said Grant. “He said now he knows why he couldn’t beat this filly with Global Glamour.”

Global Glamour finished fourth in another Bluegrass division, which was won by No Pain No Gain and David Miller in 1:55.3. Jonas Czernyson trains No Pain No Gain, a filly by Muscles Yankee, for White Creek Stables.

Bella Verde won her third-straight start with her 1:56 Bluegrass division score. Lachance drove the Broadway Hall youngster for trainer Ron Gurfein and owner Ira Kristel. Bella Verde also won the Hayes and John Simpson Memorial.

Muscles Joy came roaring home to win her $78,600 Bluegrass division over Alphabet St and Yannick Gingras in 1:56.1. Brian Sears drove Muscles Joy, a Muscles Yankee filly, for trainer Randy Beeckman, who co-owns the three-time winner with Miller’s Stable and John Tronco.

Muscles Joy was coming off a runner-up finish to Bella Verde in the John Simpson Memorial.

“She had been a little grabby lately but since she’s been here (in Lexington) Brian (Sears) has been able to sit in the hole with her and she’s done well,” Beeckman told announcer Sam McKee in the winner’s circle.

Star Gazer came from Quebec to capture her $77,600 Bluegrass division in 1:56. Ron Pierce drove the Conway Hall filly for trainer R. Dustin Jones and owner Hudson Standardbred Stable. Star Gazer has made $52,205 in purses thus far, but was a $65,000 yearling purchase. Jones said she was well worth it.

“She had really good breeding and perfect conformation so we thought she was a steal at that price,” he told McKee.

On Wednesday, Sept. 26, five Bluegrass divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies will go to post, headlined by She’s A Great Lady winner A And G’s Confusion. Post time is 12:30 p.m.