by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Roaring To Go yielded the pocket as Idyllic Beach, sent off the 1-9 favorite, commandeered control into the far turn, sitting before pulling outside into the stretch and pacing to a 1:50.4 victory in the first of four divisions for the $294,000 Bluegrass Stake for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday (Oct. 1) at The Red Mile.

Roaring To Go demonstrated she was prepared to do exactly that with her win Saturday at The Red Mile.

Sprinting to the top heading into the first turn, Roaring To Go led through a :27.2 opening quarter, with Miss Jones sitting second and Idyllic Beach in third. Midway through the backstretch, Idyllic Beach moved first-over and sprung to the lead through a :55.3 half. Jaye’s A Lady tipped off the pylons around the far turn, but could not reach Idyllic Beach’s wheel through a 1:24.1 third quarter mile. Roaring To Go began to tip off the rail into the stretch. Slightly rough in stride, driver Brett Miller held a firm grip of her as she coasted by Idyllic Beach to win in a lifetime-best performance.

Winning her fifth race in 11 starts this year, Roaring To Go, by Art Major from the Western Ideal mare Lioness Hanover, has now earned $209,886 for owner Frank Chick. Trained by Kevin Lare, she returned $14.00 to win.

“Luck of the draw really wasn’t in my favor; I was hoping to miss her (Idyllic Beach),” Kevin Lare said. “She had been racing in New York Sires Stakes and she is not a half-mile track specialist at all. I knew the big track would really help her.”

“I keep swearing she needs a little bit more hobble,” Lare said of Roaring To Go’s gait issues. “It’s hard to tell when you’re basing off quarters in :26-and-a-piece on a half and :25-and-a-piece on the mile tracks. We’re just trying to get through the year and we’ll play with it more next year.”

Taking the lead belatedly around the first turn, Loreenas Ruffian held off all challengers as she progressed to a 1:52 win in her Bluegrass division over a track downgraded to good.
Ella Christina cleared the lead before the first turn, forcing Loreenas Ruffian, having started from post one, to pull to the outside and take the lead before the quarter-mile. Passing the quarter in :29.1, Loreenas Ruffian maintained control as Jenny’s Terror, pulling outside from third, rushed first over heading to the half before losing stride after a :56.3 half mile. She remained in front through a 1:24.4 third quarter, holding command as Someomensomewhere took second and Ella Christina raced in third.

Sent off the 2-1 second choice, Loreenas Ruffian, by McArdle out of the Ruffstuff Baker mare She’s A Ruff One, paid $6.60 to win. She won her fourth race in nine starts this year, earning $92,667 for owner/trainer/driver Charlie Norris along with partners Leonard Buckner and Rebecca Ewing.

Nigel Soult photos

Awash collected the second win of her young career in Grand Circuit action Saturday.

Awash flew down the center of a sloppy track to win the third division of Bluegrass contests in 1:53.3 at 3-2. Lady Juno led through a :29.1 opening quarter, losing the lead to Happy Hannah midway down the backstretch. Emily R Hanover, sitting restlessly in third, edged first over after a :57.2. Around the far turn, That’s The Ticket grabbed her cover as well as Awash, who was positioned third-over through a 1:26 third quarter. Emily R Hanover stalled through the stretch while Happy Hannah held onto command. That’s The Ticket moved three-wide and Awash began a rush towards the center track, soon surpassing That’s The Ticket heading to the wire. That’s The Ticket finished second, while Happy Hannah, the 4-5 favorite, finished third.

Winning her second race in nine starts this year, Awash, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the Jereme’s Jet mare Apogee Hanover, has earned $128,503 for owner Bradley Grant. Trained by Tony Alagna and driven by Scott Zeron, she paid $5.00.

Fanning three-wide into the stretch off a second-over trip, World Apart stormed down the center of the track to win the final Bluegrass division in 1:53.4 over Caviart Ally and Sky Fulla Star. Caviart Ally left for the lead into the first turn, settling for second as Sky Fulla Star pulled alongside to brush to the top heading to the quarter.-mile Timed in :28.4, Sky Fulla Star led briefly down the backstretch since Kiss Kiss, pulling first over from fourth, swept to the lead before the half-mile marker, taking control in :57.

Gallic Sea moved first over into the final turn, providing cover to World Apart heading to three quarters. Kiss Kiss held control narrowly at that point in 1:26 as Gallic Sea took a short lead. Caviart Ally and Sky Fulla Star found room at the rail to pace into contention while World Apart swung off cover to take the lead. Caviart Ally attempted to sprint by her at the inside, but ended up finishing second.

World Apart, by Art Major out of the Rocknroll Hanover mare Polar Opposition, won her fourth race in nine starts this year, now earning $100,272 for owners South Mountain Stables, Bay’s Stable, Little E LLC, and Radio Racing Stable. Trained by Linda Toscano and driven by Tim Tetrick, she paid $8.00 to win.

Live racing resumes at The Red Mile on Sunday (Oct. 2) with three divisions of the $188,200 Bluegrass Stake for trotting fillies, two divisions of the $163,500 Bluegrass Stake for trotting colts, two divisions of the $147,000 Bluegrass Stake for pacing fillies, and three divisions of the $173,900 Bluegrass Stake for pacing colts. First race post is 1:00 p.m.