Lexington, KY — On Monday (July 28), freshman male trotters take center stage at the Red Mile with the first $80,000 leg of the Kentucky Championship series, three $30,000 first-round legs of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, two $15,000 first-round divisions of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series, and two $10,000 first-round legs of the Kentucky Wildcat Series. These colts and geldings seek to join last year’s Kentucky champion, Super Chapter, to go down in the red clay oval’s vaunted history books.
San Patricio seeks to rebound in Kentucky Championship Series
Once again, pedigree power is on display as seven talented males will be on the gate for first-round action in the Kentucky Championship Series. San Patricio (Tim Tetrick) will leave from post position three for conditioner John Butenschoen and is 7-2 on the morning line in the sixth race on a 14-race card.
The son of Swan For All-Kaikoura is 3-2-0-1 in his fledgling career and enters this event off a third-place finish in the $100,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes Final for this division contested at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel on July 14 as the public’s second selection.
Bred by Tony Holmes and Walter Zent, San Patricio is the first foal out of his dam, who is a full sibling to Fast As The Wind (Kadabra, $833,274) and Evening Stroll ($147,467). Kaikoura is also a half-sister to Windy Corner (Yankee Glide, $207,576).
Wind Stroll (Muscle Mass), Kaikoura’s dam, is a half-sister to world champion Guccio (Yankee Glide, $1.02 million), Lagerfeld (Yankee Glide, $804,050), Grizz Wyllie (Father Patrick, $120,918) and Admiring (Walner, $133,650). She is a full sister to Tosca ($118,754).
San Patricio was purchased privately by his breeder, June Zent and Timothy Thornton.
The gelding has a lifetime mark of 1:56.1 and has earned $37,500 in purse money.
San Patricio, however, has some other regally bred rivals to trot past. Silverstein (David Miller) will commence his mile from post position six for trainer Matthew Burkholder and is 9-2 on the morning line.
By Chapter Seven and out of the mare Shining Brightly (Muscle Hill), the colt possesses a resume of 3-0-2-0 and has amassed $37,000. His dam is a daughter of On The Bright Side (Cantab Hall, $270,211) and is a full sister to Bright Side Up ($112,258) as well as a half sibling to Sunshine Delight (Credit Winner, $354,847).
Silverstein’s third dam is dual Dan Patch Award winner Passionate Glide.
The colt was bred by Brittany Farms and was purchased for $80,000 at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by Dark Horse Farm.
Neighver Punt (Dexter Dunn) is 5-2 on the morning line and drew post position five. The son of Bar Hopping-Twice Is Right is conditioned by Marcus Melander. The colt captured his debut at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania on June 30, then was second at the Meadowlands on July 18 to It Could Be Worse (Captain Corey).
Neighver Punt has earned $18,255 and is the fifth foal of racing age from his dam. All are winners. Twice Is Right (Donato Hanover) is a half-sister to Temporal Hanover (Walner, $972,166) and Hill Street (Muscle Hill, $149,607).
Sold under the name Bourbon Smoke at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Neighver Punt was purchased for $25,000 by Courant Inc.
Commonwealth Series offers plenty of promise
Exactly (Mattias Melander) was slotted in post position three for the first of three Kentucky Commonwealth Sire Stakes divisions. The son of Bar Hopping-Gracefilly Hanover is 7-2 on the morning line for Mattias’ brother, Marcus, in the first race of the day.
The colt is 3-1-1-0 and has earned $30,000. He was bred by Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz. Exactly was a $180,000 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase by Mantorp LLC, Heights Stable, Joseph King and K Kjellgren Livs AB Inc.
His dam, who is by Chapter Seven, is a half-sibling to Game On Hanover (Donato Hanover, $144,772), Goosebump Hanover (RC Royalty, $256,520), Perfect Spirit (Andover Hall, $653,919) and Gates Hanover (Walner, $126,597).
In the second Commonwealth division, which is race three, Lethal Legacy (Todd McCarthy) drew post position three and is 9-2 on the morning line for trainer Carter Pinske.
The son of Muscle Hill-Lady Lakewood is 2-0-1-1 and has collected $14,800 in purse money. Bred by James Wilhite Jr., Lethal Legacy was a $140,000 selection for his trainer’s stable and Hazy Holdings LLC.
Lady Lakewood (Kadabra) is also responsible for producing Selfie Queen (Muscle Hill, $479,882). Her second dam is dual Dan Patch Award winner and O’Brien Award winner Cameron Hall (Garland Lobell, $1.81 million).
In the seventh race, An Honest Buck (Tetrick) will begin his mile from post position six in a field of eight and hails from the shed row of Scott Di Domenico. The son of International Moni-Honorable Daughter is 5-2 on the morning line.
The gelding is 2-1-0-0 and has earned $15,000.
An Honest Buck is out of world champion and Dan Patch Award winner Honorable Daughter (Malabar Man, $979,236). He is a half brother to Honor And Serve (Donato Hanover, $441,320), Honor Above All (Muscles Yankee, $178,783), Bet Big On Blue (Muscle Hill, $128,072) and Worthy Of Honor (Cantab Hall, $293,518).
Sold for $62,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale as I’ve Got People, An Honest Buck was bred by Carter Duer. He is owned by Joe Faraldo and Triple D Stables Inc.
Golden Rod and Wildcat Series showcase potential talent
The two $15,000 divisions of the Golden Rod Series and two divisions of the Wildcat Series possess their own entrants with possible star quality.
The Golden Rod legs, which are races two and five, have nine and 10-horse fields, while the Wildcat Series, races nine and 12, feature fields of seven and eight.
Racing will continue through Sunday (Oct. 5), following a Sunday-through-Wednesday schedule. Fans and horsepeople can look forward to 5:05 p.m. post times on Sundays, and 1 p.m. post times on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout the meet.
The Red Mile is pleased to announce the return of Sunday Night Lights presented by Crawford Farms. Sunday Night Lights will bring a new level of energy to the track and will feature championship racing alongside themed events, live music, family-friendly entertainment, and drink and dining specials.
The Red Mile’s clubhouse will be open for dining each Sunday evening during live racing and will offer a variety of delicious menu items. Guests are encouraged to make reservations by calling 859.255.0752.
Guests can swipe their driver’s license at the on-site kiosk in the clubhouse for a chance to win prizes worth up to $500.
Guests can receive a free t-shirt with the purchase of a live racing program while supplies last.
The Red Mile will once again feature industry-low takeout on the pari-mutuel side of things while offering fans a full buffet of wagering options, including bookend daily double wagering, exacta and trifecta wagering, 20-cent superfectas, Pick-3, Pick-4, Pick-5 and Pick-6 offerings, and the Super Hi-5.
For more information on the upcoming draw schedule, promotional events, the live racing calendar, or free racing program pages, visit www.redmileracing.com.