by Kimberly Rinker, USTA Web Newsroom Correspondent

Lexington, KY — A trio of Crawford Farms Bluegrass divisions for freshman pacing fillies were contested Friday night (Sept. 26) at Lexington’s Red Mile.

While all three heats provided various levels of excitement, the $96,200 third division (race eight) was especially nail-biting as 99-1 longshot Ideal Nuggets and her driver David Miller bounced off cover between horses to get up in the final yards and nip Divine Caroline (Corey Callahan) and 6-5 favorite Bedroomconfessions (Scott Zeron) by one length.

Nigel Soult photo

Ideal Nuggets lit up the toteboard by paying $249.20 to win.

The daughter of Western Ideal-Rough Sketch-Art Major notched her first career victory, returning $249.20 for a $2 win ticket. Trained by Eddie Lohmeyer for Robert and Lauren Tucker, the win propelled Ideal Nuggets’ career bankroll to $100,623.

Bedroomconfessions, a Tony Alagna-trained daughter of American Ideal-Turnoffthelights, had cruised through fractions of :27.4, :56.1 and 1:23.4 before being collared by Ideal Nuggets.

In the first $95,200 Crawford Farms division (race two), favorite Bettor Be Steppin did just that for Corey Callahan, winning in a career best 1:52 with a well-rated drive. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Two Steppin’ Sally-Western Hanover took over the lead past the opening quarter of :27.3 and set subsequent panels of :55.3 and 1:25.2 to hold off late challenges by Hillary’s Style (David Miller) and Rock Her World (Tim Tetrick).

“I had to use her a little bit to get to the lead but we got a breather in the middle,” Callahan explained. “When we were in the lane I asked her again to go on and she did with no problem. Her confidence level is on an all-time high right now.”

Bettor Be Steppin now has $209,487 in career earnings from four wins, two seconds and one third in eight lifetime trips postward.

Sassa Hanover used come-from-behind tactics to score her seventh win of the season in the $96,200 Crawford Farms second division (race four) in a lifetime best clocking of 1:51. The daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven-Sayo Hanover-Allamerican Native was driven by Yannick Gingras for trainer Ronnie Burke, who owns the filly in partnership with Weaver Bruscemi, the Panhellenic Stable Corp. and Larry Karr.

“This filly has been super consistent all season,” Gingras stressed. “She really responded well and had a good late kick when I called on her.”

Sassa Hanover sat comfortably mid-pack as She’s Heavenly (Mike Lachance) and Crescent City (David Miller) slugged it out through fractions of :28 and :56. Sassa Hanover was in front at the three-quarters in 1:24.3, before unleashing a :26.2 final panel brush to nail down the triumph. Heavenly Bride (Brian Sears) rallied for second, while Crescent City got up for third. This rugged filly now has $212,091 in career earnings.