by T.J. Burkett, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — After winning The Red Mile’s featured Open Pace in a lifetime-best 1:50.3 on Monday night, September 3, the gelding Soul Patrol will probably go back to the barn and celebrate with his favorite treat: chocolate donuts.

“He’s just a big pet around the barn,” said groom Larry Broughton.

Owner Billie Jo Raleigh concurs. “Everybody spoils him here (at The Red Mile). He usually has the first stall in the barn and everybody comes by and pets him all the time,” she said.

Nigel Soult photo

Soul Patrol holds off Tarver Hanover to win The Red Mile’s Open Pace in a lifetime-best 1:50.3.

Soul Patrol, the bettor’s second choice at 5-1, held off 1-5 favorite Tarver Hanover at the wire to win his third race in his last four starts. Next Adventure, who finished third, nosed out Soul Patrol in last week’s Open Pace.

It’s well-known that many owners spoil their horses, but Raleigh spoils her horses on a whole new level.

“Soul Patrol may be the only horse who gets hand-fanned in the paddock,” she said with a laugh.

“He’s my baby,” she continued. “He loves this track but it’s probably because we’re around him all the time here. When he races at Indiana Downs or Hoosier Park it’s just too far for us to go visit him all the time.”

Raleigh bought Soul Patrol at auction as a 3-year-old maiden. Since then the 6-year-old by The Panderosa has won 25 races, including towing Walter Haynes, Jr. to his 2,000th driving win on May 19 at Hoosier Park. Soul Patrol has earned $130,144 lifetime.

Broughton said although Soul Patrol is a lamb in the barn, he is a lion on the track.

“He’s no good jogging,” Broughton said. “He’s like an 18-wheeler with no power steering when he goes the wrong way of the track.”

Rob Zink currently trains Soul Patrol, but Raleigh is taking steps to earn her trainer’s license. She has passed the written portion and now needs to demonstrate her training skills on the track. That practical test will probably not involve this irascible black gelding, however.

“I’ll probably take the test with Bad Boy Bunny. Soul Patrol would probably try to run off. He’s hard to control sometimes,” Raleigh said.

Flying Color picked up her third consecutive win in her $6,000 early closer leg. This 3-year-old Real Artist filly has been untouchable for driver Ricky Macomber, Jr., trainer Jack Gray, Jr. and owner Brent Tartar. Flying Color won in a lifetime-best 1:54.2.

Seven winners set lifetime marks over The Red Mile’s speedy clay oval, not counting the nine maiden-breaking winners on the 17-race card. Only Candy Hall (1:56.1) did not top her best time, but she only missed it by one-fifth of a second and she made a break off the gate.

Racing continues at The Red Mile on Thursday, September 6, at 6:30 p.m. Windsun Lane looks for his third consecutive win in an early closer leg for colt trotters in the eighth race.