by Ray Cotolo, for Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Undefeated now in 10 starts, Jimmy Takter trainee Manchego strolled around the track to take the second of five divisions of the $289,000 Muscle Hill International Stallion Stakes (ISS) 2-year-old filly trot, presented by Southwind Farms, on Friday (Oct. 6) at Red Mile.

Positioned fourth heading to the quarter, Manchego made her move to the front following a :28.2 quarter established by S M S Princess. She circled to the top past the three-eighths pole, from there trotting the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.3 before kicking clear of D’bomb, advancing uncovered to take second and S M S Princess relegated to third.

Manchego collected her 10th consecutive victory on Friday at Red Mile.

By Muscle Hill out of the Cantab Hall mare Secret Magic, Manchego has amassed $563,948 in earnings for owners Black Horse Racing, John Fielding, and Herb Liverman. The $2.10 winner was driven by Yannick Gingras and the final time was 1:52.4.

Hey Blondie stormed through the center of the course to take the opening ISS split in 1:53.1.

Venus Duharas grabbed the top, going a quarter in :28.3 before letting Lily Stride, sitting second, take the front into the backstretch. Hey Blondie, positioned fifth, edged first over at the half in :56.4, picking up cover from Piranha Fury moving into the far turn.

Past three-quarters in 1:25.2, Hey Blondie fanned off cover, overtaking Lily Stride into the eighth pole,. She then advanced to the line in front of Piranha Fury, who lost stride up and through the wire, giving Lily Stride second via disqualification, which placed Piranha Fury third.

Owned by Steve Jones, Mary Kinsey Arnold, Paul Bordogna, and David Mc Duffee, Hey Blondie, by Cantab Hall out of the Muscles Yankee mare Winbak Blondie, won her fourth race in nine starts, earning $168,348. Trained by Chuck Sylvester and driven by Andrew McCarthy, she paid $4.20 to win.

Winning her fourth consecutive start, Basquiat took the third ISS division in 1:52.4.

Foxy Fantasy set the tempo, going a quarter in :28.2 and a half in :56.3 before bearing first-over pressure from Seviyorum entering the turn. Clearing the top, Seviyorum led at three-quarters, with Basquiat, riding her cover into the turn, drawing alongside in 1:24.4 before powering by in the stretch. The two were clear of Southwind Angelica, who took third.

Owned by the Order By Stable, Basquiat, by Cantab Hall out of the Windsong’s Legacy mare Thatsnotmyname, won her sixth race in eight starts, earning $194,151. Trained by Takter and driven by Gingras, she paid $5.80 to win.

Looking For Zelda took the fourth division of the ISS going wire-to-wire in 1:54.

USTA/Mark Hall photos

Basquiat remains undefeated after capturing her International Sire Stakes division.

After 3-2 favorite Strawberry Hanover broke at the start, Looking For Zelda set the first quarter in :28.4. She soon underwent pressure from Deschanel, who was first-over from fourth, at the half in :57.2. Maintaining control through a 1:25.2 third-quarter, Looking For Zelda held off a late bid from Live Laugh Love and Swing It Cathy to win.

A winner of seven races from nine starts, Looking For Zelda, by Break The Bank K out of the Conway Hall mare My Winning Way K, returned $4.40 to win. She has earned $221,675 this season for owner Robert Key. She’s trained by Norm Parker and was driven by Matt Kakaley.

Grinding first-over, Nixie Volo bested 6-5 favorite Top Expectations, winning the final division of the ISS in 1:53.4.

Sitting fourth as Top Expectations went a quarter in :29.1, Nixie Volo rushed first-over in the backstretch, drawing alongside the pacesetter through a :58 half and continued to match strides through a 1:25.2 third-quarter. Nixie Volo took a slight advantage over Top Expectation in the stretch, maintaining that lead through the wire while Perfect Summer K, off a rail trip, weaved into contention to take third.

Trained by John Butenschoen, Nixie Volo, by Yankee Glide out of the Windsong’s Legacy mare No I’m Not, won her third race from eight starts, earning $71,300 for owners Kentuckiana Racing Stable, VIP Internet Stables, 83 Racing, and Eddie Gran. Driven by Corey Callahan, she paid $14.60 to win.

Grand Circuit racing resumes at Red Mile on Saturday (Oct. 7) with four divisions of the $232,000 Captaintreacherous ISS 2-year-old colt and gelding pace, presented by the Captaintreacherous Syndicate and Hanover Shoe Farms, three divisions of the $197,900 ISS 2-year-old filly pace, presented by Woodbine Entertainment Group, the $136,000 My MVP Allerage Farms Trot, sponsored by Jeff and Paula Gural, and the $119,000 Mister Big Allerage Farms Open Pace, sponsored by Muscara Standardbreds.

First race post for the Saturday program is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT.