from The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Round two of the Kentucky Sires Stakes will take place Thursday night (Aug. 20) at The Red Mile, with single races for all eight divisions for 2- and 3-year-olds. The races set the stage for Kentucky Super Night on Sunday (Aug. 30), with the eight finals worth $175,000 each.

All four of last year’s 2-year-old champions are back in action this year, including Cinnabar Hall, who won the 2014 2-year-old colt trot final. Cinnabar Hall was winless in 10 starts this year heading into the opening round of KYSS on Aug. 9, but the son of Groton Hall emerged with a career-best 1:55.4 victory. Cinnabar Hall starts from post five in the lone division for 3-year-old colt trotters.

Bestbestraight, last year’s 2-year-old colt pace champion, comes into Thursday’s KYSS with just one Kentucky fair start under his belt in 2015. That race on July 25 at The Red Mile was the Steve Carter trainee’s first appearance since he won the 2014 final last August. Bestbestraight starts from post four in a field that includes first-round winner Corsica Hall from post three. Aaron Merriman, the leading dash-winning driver in North America this year, will make the trip to Lexington to drive Bestbestraight.

Reigning filly trotting champ Armatrading will start from post two in her lone six-horse split. Armatrading made a break as the betting favorite in round one, with that contest won by 11-1 Crime Wave Hall, who starts from post four.

Cielle, whose seven wins last year included the 2-year-old filly pace final, starts from post one in the single division for 3-year-old filly pacers. Cielle finished second in the KYSS opener behind Twilight Princess, who starts from the outside post seven for driver Merriman and rides a four-race win streak.

Post time for the 13-race card is 7 p.m.