by Paul Ramlow, assistant publicity director, The U.S. Trotting Association

Lexington, KY — The Red Mile featured a pair of $10,000 eliminations in the Allerage Farms Open Pace on Saturday, October 1. The top five in each elimination advanced to next week’s final.

In the first elimination, Brian and David Legge and Robert Stewart’s Dr No snuck up along the rail to post a 1:49.2 triumph for driver Dave Palone and trainer William Elliott. The four-year-old No Nukes stallion won for the seventh time in 18 starts this year and took his seasonal earnings to $552,593.

Dr No left strongly in this field of eight and was on top at the opening quarter in a snappy :26.1. He yielded down the backstretch to Holborn Hanover (George Brennan), who paced middle splits of :54 and 1:23. Holborn Hanover drifted off the wood in the lane, which allowed the pocket-sitting Dr No the room he needed to reach the finish line first in the time of 1:49.2. Holborn Hanover held on for second, with Driven To Win (John Campbell) finishing third. Fourth place finisher Timesareachanging and fifth place finisher Canyon Wind will also advance to the final.

The second elimination went to Ponder with a thrilling drive to the wire in a personal best 1:48.3. Jack Moiseyev was in the bike for owners Robert McIntosh Stables, C S X Stables and John Fielding. Bob McIntosh is the trainer.

There was plenty of pace in this race as Maltese Artist (Dave Palone) took the field to the opening quarter in :27.1. Boulder Creek (Brian Sears) was the new leader at the :53.3 half and was still on top at the 1:21.4 three-quarters. Boulder Creek looked to be a sure winner down the lane, but Ponder would not be denied and won a tight photo by a nose. Casimir Camotion (Patrick Lachance) was third, Maltest Artist fourth, and Articulator fifth.

For Ponder, the victory was his eighth in 25 season’s starts. He has now earned $794,652 in 2005.