from the USTA Communications Department

Lexington, KY — Three divisions of 2-year-old filly pacers were in the spotlight on Friday at The Red Mile in the $256,000 International Stallion Stakes.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Parlee Beach captured the ISS opening division in 1:51 over Nikki Beach.

Patrick Ryan’s Parlee Beach won a tight photo over Nikki Beach in capturing the $85,000 ISS opening division in a time of 1:51. Ron Pierce was in the bike for trainer Bob McIntosh as the daughter of Somebeachsomewhere-Countryview Miss won for the fourth time in nine lifetime starts, hiking her 2012 bankroll to $180,947.

Parlee Beach was the fastest out of the gate and took the field to the opening quarter in :27.3. She yielded to Nikki Beach down the backstretch and that lass put up middle panels of :55.4 and 1:24 with Parlee Beach sitting in the garden spot.

Turning for home, Parlee Beach pulled off the wood and she and Nikki Beach put on a terrific battle to the wire with Parlee Beach ($6.40) just getting up in a tight photo. Miss Madi M picked up the show dough.

“I talked to Ron before the race,” said winning trainer Bob McIntosh. “We’d been backing her off and hadn’t really left in quite a few starts, so I said she’s got a little gate speed, might as well use it. She responded with a good race.

“She’s a pretty special filly. She won in (1):50.4 well in hand. She went through a little streak there where she wasn’t quite herself, but today it looks like maybe she’s moving in the right direction now.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Authorize came from well off the pace to win the second division of ISS in a lifetime best 1:51.1.

In the $85,000 second division, Authorize came from way back to upset heavily favored I Luv The Nitelife in a lifetime best of 1:51.1. Dave Palone was in the bike for trainer Tony Alagna as the daughter of Western Ideal-CPA won for the fifth time in 11 lifetime starts. Owned by Brittany Farms and Brian Monieson Revtrust, Authorize paid $17.40 to win and lifted her 2012 earnings to $170,165.

Mattie Terror Girl was in front at the :27 opening panel and then yielded to I Luv The Nitelife who cut middle fractions of :54.3 and 1:23.1.

Heading for home, Authorize found racing room on the far outside and paced by the leader to hit the wire a coimfortable winner. I Luv The Nitelife held for second with Mattie Terror Girl third.

“I was trying to keep my eye on Brian (Sears on I Luv The Nitelife),” said Palone. “I knew they were going pretty good. She’s got one wicked run if you can save her coming off the turn.

“You couldn’t have scripted any better for me. She did fire home good. I know that she’s come home in :25.4, so if you can conserve her for one big run, it can work out. This is the perfect place for her.”

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Hit The Curb won the third ISS division in a three horse photo in 1:51.2.

The $86,000 third division saw W Springtime Racing Stable’s Hit The Curb win a tight three horse photo in a time of 1:51.2. The daughter of Art Major-Student Driver lowered her mark by more than three seconds in edging Novascotia Hanover and Art Ideal. Jim Morrill, Jr. was in the bike for trainer Mark Harder as Hit The Curb paid $35.80 to win.

South Pacific and Dave Palone cut the fractions in this mile, taking the field to the quarter in :27.4, the half in :55 and the three-quarters in 1:23.

Hit The Curb sat third throughout the mile, then found racing room in the strech and headed to the front with Novascotia Hanover on her outside and Art Ideal coming up the inside. At the wire it was Hit The Curb on top in a tight photo over Novascotia Hanover, with Art Ideal third. South Pacific faded to sixth.

“She was great training down all year,” said owner Skip Spring, “but when we got to the races she got warm on us and we had a difficult time keeping her under control. She was beating herself. Today we were determined to get her in a hole somewhere and see if she could come, and she did. Speed has never been a problem for the filly, just rating her.

“It’s just luck. We followed the same path with Hit The Curb as we did with Bunny Lake. We put just basically in the New York Sire Stakes. We came down to Lexington to test them against the really good fillies and see how we could compete. It looks like we may be going to the Breeders Crown.”