by Gabe Prewitt, publicity director, The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Freshman trotters and pacers were in action Sunday night (August 9) at the historic clay oval in Lexington, squaring off in ten $15,000 divisions of the Kentucky Sire Stakes, trying to earn points towards a spot in next month’s (Sept. 6) $2.4 million night of champions.

Best Boss was a 1:53.1 winner on Sunday for Roger Cullipher.

It took all the way until the 17th race, a $15,000 KYSS division for 2-year-old filly pacers, for chaos to break loose on a card heavily dominated by favorites, as Best Boss (Roger Cullipher) surged by her rivals in time to post a three-quarter length victory in 1:53.1. The Cambest-Head Of The House filly was 99-1 on the infield toteboard and returned $202.60 for the win, capping off a $3,376.80 exacta. Roger Cullipher also trains and owns the blossoming filly who has now recorded two wins in three lifetime starts.

The other 2-year-old filly pace division was won by Windsong Goldie (Dan Noble). The daughter of Jenna’s Beach Boy-Good As Gold posted a gate-to-wire, two length victory in 1:55.4.

There were also three $15,000 KYSS divisions for 2-year-old colt pacers. In Treatment (Michel Lachance), a son of Jate Lobell-Angel Park, used a first over move just past the half to take the lead and dug in gamely down the stretch to score a half-length victory in 1:54.1. The second division was won by The Beach Boy (Luke McCarthy), a son of Jenna’s Beach Boy-Spicy Dumpling, who slid up the pylons as part of a perfect steer from McCarthy and got up in time for a half-length win in 1:54.2. The third and final 2-year-old colt split went to High Def Z Tam (Michel Lachance), a son of Real Desire-Caribbean. Lachance had the 2-5 favorite perfectly positioned second over around the final turn and tipped three deep at the head of the lane, using a :27.1 final quarter to score a 1-1/4 length win.

Nigel Soult photos

The freshman trotting filly Nannina was a 1:59 winner for Andy Miller.

Another impressive performance came in the $15,000 KYSS eighth race, one of two divisions for 2-year-old filly trotters. Nannina went straight to the front for driver Andy Miller, extending her lead out to ten lengths by the half, and never looked back in cruising through fractions of :30, :57.4, and 1:29.3, before hitting the finish line 7-3/4 lengths the best in 1:59. The daughter of Valley Victor-Nannina Ambrosio is trained by Julie Miller for Freida Ivory and Teresa Mitchell. The 4-5 favorite was making her first start since making a break in her Merrie Annabelle elimination at the Meadowlands.

The other $15,000 KYSS filly trot was taken by Like A Cherry Tree in 2:00.1 with Peter Wrenn in the bike. Wrenn had the daughter of Like A Prayer-Cherry Tree Sara rushing out early and yielded for the pocket spot where she would remain until the top of the stretch, when she bolted up the inside to get up in time for a head victory.

There were three $15,000 divisions of the KYSS for 2-year-old colt trotters. Quantum Lightning (Brad Hanners), a son of Like A Prayer-Italiana Chip, took the lead up the backstretch and never looked back, posting a 3-3/4 length victory in 1:59.1 as the 2-5 favorite. Victor’s Future (Trace Tetrick), a son of Valley Victor-Baby Bella, parlayed a perfect pocket trip into a one length victory in 1:59.3 in the second division. The third and final split went to first time starter Jeffie T (Doug Rideout), a son of Like A Prayer-G J’s Crown. Rideout moved the gelding to the lead at the midpoint of the backstretch and continued on for a 1-3/4 length win in 2:00.3.

KYSS action continues on Monday night at The Red Mile with seven divisions for 3-year-old trotters and pacers on the 16-race card. First post on Monday is at 6:30 p.m.