Lexington, KY — Sippinonsearoc, who last year became the sport’s swiftest 2-year-old, demonstrated his affinity for the Bluegrass with a facile 1:48.2 score in the $80,000 fourth-round leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for sophomore male pacers on Tuesday (Sept. 2) at the Red Mile for his fourth consecutive triumph. The 14-race card also included its customary divisions of fourth-round action in the $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series, the $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series and the $10,000 Kentucky Wildcat Series.
Three legs of the Championship Series belong to Sippinonsearoc
Appearing as if he barely broke a sweat, the world champion, in line to driver Yannick Gingras, equaled his lifetime best hitting the line a half length in front of second choice Lite Up The World (James MacDonald) for conditioner Ron Burke. Harrisburg Heist and Todd McCarthy were third. In fact, all three of Burke’s entries were in the top four as Captain Arturovico (Dexter Dunn) rounded out the superfecta.
Leaving from post position seven in the field of eight after the scratch of last year’s Metro Pace winner Fallout, Sippinonsearoc left the gate in third for the first portion of the event as Lite Up The World established the first split of :27.1. The son of Downbytheseaside-Queen Ann M wrested command from the leader immediately after the first fraction and went to the half in :54.4 with the former leader hot on his hooves. The colt, however, was not about to relinquish control to any rival as he passed the three-quarter pole in 1:22.4.
Despite a strong :25.2 last quarter mile for Lite Up The World, he was unable to catch the leader, who rolled down the stretch in :25.3.
Bred by Trent Stohler and Alesha Binkley, Sippinonsearoc improved to 22-11-14-2 and boosted his bankroll to $810,900.
The colt did not compete in the third leg of this series but returned to the red clay after a dominant performance in a $100,000 fifth-round leg of the Ohio Sires Stakes at MGM Northfield Park. He has not lost since a fourth-place finish in the Adios in July behind Prince Hal Hanover.
After a slow start to his 3-year-old campaign, Sippinonsearoc has returned to the form that saw him pace in world-record time. He was also second to stablemate and divisional leader Louprint in last year’s Championship Series final, as well as the Breeders Crown.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, R A S Racing and Knox Services Inc., Sippinonsearoc was a $77,000 purchase at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
Sent off as the heavy favorite, the colt paid $2.34 to win.
Fusion makes it three straight in Commonwealth Series
With Todd McCarthy holding the lines, Fusion found another gear headed for the finish line and captured his third consecutive victory in a lifetime best 1:50.3 for trainer Brett Pelling. Delray Beach (Dunn) came in second, and Making History (Marvin Luna) crossed the wire in third.
The son of champions Always B Miki and Pure Country is the defending victor of this series for former trainer Nancy Takter and stepped up in class after a second and two wins in the Golden Rod Series.
Fusion competes as a homebred for Diamond Creek Farm’s racing division. The third foal out of his dam is her most prolific earner to date with $151,447 in his bank account from a record of 13-8-2-0.
The colt was the third wagering choice in the field of eight and paid $14.42 to win.
Favorites win in Golden Rod and Wildcat Series
Dunn and Higher Ground defeated Lafitte (Anibal Borjas) and Falkirk (Todd McCarthy) in 1:50.1. It was a new speed badge for the son of Always B Miki-Shebesailin, and he also went over the $100,000 mark in purse money.
Trained by Tony Alagna, the gelding was bred by 1876472 Ontario Inc. Sold under the name Mount Mikinley, Higher Ground was a $230,000 selection at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by Robert LeBlanc and Pryde Stables. His second dam is world champion Shebestingin.
Higher Ground possesses a resume of 16-3-5-1 and paid $4.16 to win.
Somelousomewhere (Tetrick) collected his first win of 2025 by a neck over second choice Do What You Do (Andrew McCarthy) and third selection Betting On Caesar (Scott Zeron) in a lifetime best 1:49.3.
Trained by Mike Simons, the son of Sweet Lou-Somstreetsomwhere was bred by Crawford Farms and sold for $36,000 at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale to his trainer and A P Racing.
The gelding is 12-3-2-0 and has earned $30,150 in purse money.
Somelousomewhere paid $5.20 to win.
Racing at the Red Mile 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 features industry-low takeouts 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, and free racing program pages, please visit www.redmileracing.com.