by Tom LaMarra, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — All eyes — but no money — will be on Lekrem Bluegrass on Friday night when he takes on five foes in the $10,000 Kentucky Fair Stakes Final for three-year-old colt and gelding pacers at The Red Mile. It’s one of eight $10,000 finals on the 13-race program.

Owned and bred by Luel Overstreet of Henderson, Kentucky, Lekrem Bluegrass (by Dorunrun Bluegrass) seeks his seventh consecutive victory and eighth overall in 2005. Lekrem Bluegrass (that’s trainer John Merkel’s last name spelled backwards) is 15-for-26 overall with $105,940 in earnings. Dan Shetler, who won five races on the opening night program last Friday, will again drive.

Lekrem Bluegrass in June won the $100,000 Indiana Sires Stakes Final at Hoosier Park in a sparkling 1:51.3. Last week, he toured the red clay in 1:54.2 under no urging from Shetler.

Lekrem Bluegrass is barred in the wagering but will compete for the $5,000 winner’s share of the purse.

Of the other five colts and geldings in the race, it appears as though James Thomas’ Captain Jack, trained by Virgil Morgan, Jr. and to be driven by Jim Meittinis, could be the wagering favorite.

The fair finals are for two and three-year-old pacers and trotters. They are carded as the first eight races on a program that begins at 7:30 p.m.

For the first two nights of The Red Mile meet, Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30, on-track handle on live racing was up more than 40% from the comparable two days last year. Beginning on Saturday, August 6, the track’s signal will be exported around the country.