by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Editor

Lexington, KY — Bob and David Anderson’s Pampered Princess proved she is still the queen of the 3-year-old filly trotting class as she posted a lifetime equaling 1:53 score in a $91,000 Bluegrass division on Friday afternoon (September 28) at The Red Mile.

John Campbell put the Andover Hall lass on the lead at the :27.4 opening panel and she was never headed through fractions of :56.3, 1:25.4 and 1:53. The victory was her sixth in 10 trips to the post this year. Pampered Princess has now earned $804,021 this year and $1,430,265 lifetime.

Pampered Princess was in command throughout the mile, then had to withstand a strong challenge in the stretch from Possess The Magic (Mike Lachance). That filly began to tire nearing the finish line and was eventually passed by Spice Queen (Andy Miller). However, Spice Queen went on a break a few steps prior to the finish and although she finished second, she was set back to third for a lapped on break at the wire. Possess The Magic finished third, but was placed up to second.

“This filly is class,” said trainer Jimmy Takter in the winner’s circle after the race. “I was very happy with her performance today.”

Pampered Princess will race next week at The Red Mile. The only question is whether or not she will take on the colts once again in the Kentucky Futurity or race against the girls in the Filly Futurity.

“It’s up to the owners,” said Takter. “But we’ll probably go against the fillies.”

Falls For You wins in 1:54.1

Front end speed continued to hold up on Friday afternoon at The Red Mile as Falls For You gained command on the backstretch and rolled to an easy 1:54.1 score in the $90,000 second division of the Bluegrass Stakes for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Friday afternoon at The Red Mile.

Owned by Atlantic Trot Inc., Fair Winds Farm Inc., Ted Gewertz and Willow Pond LLC, the Yankee Glide sophomore is trained by Trond Smedshammer and was driven to victory by Brian Sears. The victory was her fifth in 11 starts this season, lifting her ’07 earnings to $281,992.

“She fit well in here,” driver Brian Sears said. “She’s raced really good in her last two starts.”

Falls For You was a 1:53.4 winner in her previous start, the $178,000 Moni Maker Final at The Red Mile on September 16.

Right On Renee (Dave Palone) was quickest off the gate and took the field to the opening quarter in :29, with Charmaine AS (Andy Miller) in second and Falls For You third.

Sears made a quarter move to the lead with Falls For You and she gained command heading to the :57.2 half-mile marker. She was never in jeopardy the rest of the way, reaching the three-quarter pole in 1:26.4 and then cruising home to the wire in 1:54.1. Sing Me To Sleep (Jim Doherty) rallied in the lane to finish second, while Right On Renee was third.

Flash Lightning wins first division

Lightning Stable’s Flash Lightning took over the lead just past the first quarter and was never caught as she captured the opening division at The Red Mile.

Ron Pierce was in the bike for trainer Anthony Mannino as the daughter of Dream Vacation won for the fifth time in 15 season’s starts, with her share of the $91,000 purse lifting her 2007 earnings to $159,318. Flash Lightning, who captured a John Simpson Stake division last week at The Red Mile, lowered her mark to 1:52.4 with the victory over Radiant Lindy (Brian Sears). Vulcanize (John Campbell) finished third.

“She felt real comfortable,” driver Ron Pierce commented after the race. “She trotted real smooth.”

Vulcanize left hard out of the eight hole and gained the lead just past the opening quarter in :27.4. Flash Lightning was in the pocket at that point, but not for long as Pierce pulled off the wood and reclaimed the lead down the backstretch.

“It seemed like the thing to do,” added Pierce. “This mare kind of floated to the top, although I wasn’t happy with her (Vulcanize) on my back.”

Flash Lightning reached the half-mile marker in :56 and continued to lead to the three-quarters in 1:25.3. Turning for home, Vulanize couldn’t keep up and Flash Lightning cruised to the finish line an easy winner thanks to a nifty final quarter in :27.1.

Radiant Lindy, who was fourth for most of the mile, rallied late to finish second, while Vulcanize had to settle for the show dough.