Lexington, KY – Ron Burke trainee Pyro survived a heated clip to take the quickest of two $30,000 Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS) divisions at The Red Mile on Saturday (September 7).

Ron Burke trainee Pyro won the fastest of two $30,000 Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS) divisions at The Red Mile on Saturday. Nigel Soult Photo.

Pyro sat third while Tony Alagna-trainee U S Captain cleared command from post seven before a :26 first quarter. Driver Elliott Deaton then tipped Pyro from third and circled to the front up the backstretch while U S Captain’s stablemate, odds-on favorite Captain Ahab, rushed uncovered towards the top nearing a :52.3 half.

Captain Ahab failed to clear the lead from Pyro circling the final turn and began to backtrack past three-quarters in 1:21.2. Odds On Boca Raton circumvented his tiring stablemate entering the stretch and gave chase while U S Captain slipped from the pocket to challenge the leader late. Pyro kept a neck in front at the finish while U S Captain and Odds On Boca Raton settled for second and third, respectively.

Returning $29.80 to win, Pyro collected his fourth victory from 15 starts this season and his sixth from 28 overall, earning $121,491. The Sweet Lou gelding—bred by Diamond Creek Farm LLC—races for owners Burke Racing Stable, Larry Karr, Phillip Collura and Weaver Bruscemi.

Dancin Lou darted from a pocket trip to deliver as the odds-on choice in the other KYSS colt split, winning in 1:49.2.

Leading the field past a :28.2 first quarter, Dancin Lou yielded command to Can’t Beach That, who brushed uncovered from fourth moving to a :55 half. He slowed the tempo approaching three-quarters in 1:23 but failed to withstand a stretch bid from Dancin Lou, who pounced from the pocket to win by 1-1/2 lengths. Can’t Beach That settled for second while Major Deception, stalking the top two, held third.

Bred by Anvil And Lace Farm, Dancin Lou won his eighth race from 13 starts this season and his ninth from 23 overall, earning $120,203. Tahnee Camilleri conditions the Sweet Lou colt for owners David Kryway and 1362313 Ontario Ltd. Marcus Miller drove the $3.20 winner.

Sent the 1-9 favorite, Beautyonthebeach now nears a potential KYSS sweep as she collected her third-consecutive victory in preliminary competition when taking the sole $30,000 dash for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

Driver Elliot Deaton dashed the heavy-betting choice to the top from post eight moving to the first turn and faced little challenge from there. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere set fractions of :27.2, :55.1 and 1:23.2 on the lead while only enduring mild far-turn pressure from stablemate Prescient Beauty, who quickly gave way turning for the finish. Beautyonthebeach widened to a 4-1/4 length victory at the finish while chased by pocket-sitter Summer Charm. Alii Nui took third.

A homebred for James Avritt Sr., Beautyonthebeach won her fourth race from 11 starts this season and her ninth from 24 overall to increase her lifetime earnings to $349,873.

The Red Mile will host the $250,000 KYSS finals and $50,000 consolations over two nights: Saturday (September 14) and Sunday (September 15). A double draw will occur for both cards on with the entry box closing Wednesday (September 11) at 9:30 a.m. The Saturday card, featuring the consolations, begins with first-race post at 7 p.m. (EDT) while the Sunday card, featuring the KYSS finals, starting at 3 p.m.