Lexington, KY — The final week of the stakes session at the Red Mile is set to begin on Friday (Oct. 7) with three divisions of the $290,400 International Stallion Stakes, for freshman trotting colts and geldings, and two divisions of the $253,000 Perfect Sting International Stallion Stakes, for freshman pacing fillies.

Freshman trotting colts and geldings open Friday’s action with the $96,800 Muscle Hill. Following a sick scratch last week, Peter Haughton champ Kilmister will return to Lexington but this time will start from post seven after drawing no wider than post two in six of his seven starts. Brian Sears drives the Marcus Melander trainee against six others all returning off starts in the Bluegrass Stakes, including third-place finishers Excalibur Bi (starting from post three) and Purple Lord (post six).

Division two for the trotting colts and geldings goes as the $96,800 Six Pack International Stallion Stakes. Gates Hanover lands post four for trainer-driver Åke Svanstedt off a 1:52.3 win in the Bluegrass Stakes and starts just two draws inside of Tony Alagna trainee Ari Ferrari J (post six), who acquires the hands of David Miller after a 1:54.2 win in the Bluegrass. Dexter Dunn, the regular pilot of both Bluegrass winners, opted to steer Domenico Cecere trainee and William Wellwood Memorial winner Winner’s Bet (post three), who will try to regain footing after breaking stride in the stretch of the Mohawk Million.

The last of the freshman trotting colt and gelding contests goes as race seven dubbed the $96,800 Chapter Seven International Stallion Stakes. Espresso will look to live to billing off a 22-1 win in the Bluegrass from post eight, and this time scores a better draw from post two with Andy Miller at the helm of the Julie Miller trainee. Crown will compete from post six with Brian Sears in the bike as he rematches Espresso after finishing second from an off-the-pace trip.

Action for the freshman pacing fillies begins in race six, with all attention on Twin B Joe Fresh. Chris Ryder’s speedy project leaves from post seven in rein to Dexter Dunn as she once again faces Strong Poison, who has finished behind Twin B Joe Fresh on numerous occasions and now exits a 1:51.3 win in the Bluegrass last week. Yannick Gingras drives Strong Poison out of post three for trainer Ron Burke.

Race nine caps the afternoon’s stakes with the second division of the Perfect Sting. Ohio Sires Stakes champ McSeaside starts as the morning-line favorite with Dexter Dunn taking the drive for trainer Ron Burke. She starts from post six in a field of nine which includes Bellisima Hanover (post three), who gets back on track after scratching from the She’s A Great Lady Final; and Zanatta (post nine), who gave futile chase to finish second to Twin B Joe Fresh in the Bluegrass.

The Muscle Hill, Six Pack and Chapter Seven International Stallion Stakes are each sponsored by their respective stallion syndicate and by Southwind Farms, Deo Volente Farms and Blue Chip Farms, respectively. Both divisions of the Perfect Sting International Stallion Stakes are presented by the Perfect Sting Syndicate, Brittany Farms and Val D’or Farms.

First post time is 1 p.m. (EDT).