by Gabe Prewitt, publicity director, The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Only one night after a 99-1 longshot winner in the opening leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes for 2-year olds, it was Civil Cause (Steve Waller) doing his best to keep the longshot players happy by breaking his maiden in a $15,000 KYSS division for 3-year-old colt trotters at odds of 91-1 on Monday night (August 10) at The Red Mile.

Civil Cause was a 1:58 winner for driver Steve Waller and trainer Kevin Thomas.

Civil Cause, a son of Like A Prayer-Donna Eligancia, was nestled in fifth as the field turned for home and driver Steve Waller split horses late using a :29.1 final quarter to get up in time for a three-quarter length victory in 1:58. Kevin Thomas trains the colt for the Bulletproof Enterprises.

The other $15,000 KYSS split for 3-year-old colt trotters was taken by Up Front Prayer (Dan Noble). The son of Like A Prayer-Banshee Hall moved to the lead just past the half-mile marker and never looked back, using a :28.4 final quarter to post a 2-1/4 length win in 1:57.3 as the 4-5 favorite.

Only one $25,000 heat was needed for the opening leg of the KYSS for 3-year-old filly trotters as defending champion Dancing Filly (Trace Tetrick) used a first over move and the entire length of the stretch to get up just in time for a head victory in 1:57.1. The daughter of Like A Prayer-Aspenglow is trained by Kevin Thomas for the Bulletproof Enterprises.

Nigel Soult photos

Real Appealing’s 1:51.2 score was the fastest of the night.

The fastest mile of the night was from Real Appealing (Trace Tetrick), a daughter of Real Desire-Ideal Gal, in taking one of two $15,000 divisions of the KYSS for 3-year-old filly pacers. Tetrick moved the filly to the lead down the backstretch and used a :27.1 final quarter to fend off defending champion Shanghai Lil (Chris Page) by three parts of a length in 1:51.2. John Duer trains the filly for the Lindy Racing Stable.

The other $15,000 KYSS split for 3-year-old filly pacers went to Apricot Brandy (Luke McCarthy) as she sprinted by her rivals down the lane with a :27.2 final quarter to secure a 2-1/2 length win in 1:53.1. Pete Foley trains the daughter of Real Desire-Armbro Apricot for Robert and Karin Burgess.

The first of two $15,000 KYSS divisions for 3-year-old colt pacers was taken by Real Image (Chris Page) in a lifetime best 1:52, as he bested a field of five due to the scratch of last year’s champion, Carnivore. Steve Carter trains and co-owns the son of Real Desire-Shy Reflection along with Robert Reid and Chuck Grubbs.

The other $15,000 KYSS division for 3-year-old colt pacers was won by world record holder Sheer Desire (Matt Kakaley). The son of Real Desire-Carolache did not let the rain bother him as Kakaley moved first over around the final turn and exploded on the scene with a :26 final quarter en route to a two length score in 1:54.1. Ron Burke trains the colt for the Burke Racing Stable, Randy Ringer, JJK Stables, and Lawrence Karr.

Racing action continues on Thursday night (August 13) at The Red Mile with a 6:30 p.m. post time for the 13-race card.