Lexington, KY — On Monday (Aug. 18), The Red Mile will host a 15-race card primarily focusing on freshman male trotters with the exception of a second round of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Series for older pacing mares with a $35,000 purse. The rest of the racing events include one $80,000 third round leg of Kentucky Championship Series, two $30,000 third round legs of the $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series, three $15,000 third round legs of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series and two $10,000 third round contests for the Kentucky Wildcat Series. The Bluegrass debut of New Jersey champion Apex is one to pay particular attention to as he may be a star in the making.
Apex arrives in Lexington for the Championship Series
Apex (Dexter Dunn) collected his second consecutive triumph in a lifetime best 1:53.2 on Hambletonian Day in the $225,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Final. With one of the most exceptional pedigrees in harness racing, the son of Walner and the great Mission Brief, has so far delivered for conditioner Marcus Melander.
In his career bow in New Jersey Sire Stakes competition on July 11, the colt was second by a nose to favored Maga Hill. He returned in the second leg to defeat Ardonne (Scott Zeron) in 1:54.3 as the public’s selection.
In the final, Apex downed Ardonne again after snatching a late lead and showing determination to hit the wire a head in front. Ardonne just won the second of two eliminations for the William Wellwood Memorial Final on Friday (Aug. 15) at Woodbine Mohawk Park next week.
Bred by Mission Brief Stable, Apex was a $525,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase by Jeffrey Snyder, S R F Stable and Steve Stewart.
The colt is the fifth foal out of is his world champion dam and the fourth of Mission Brief’s offspring Melander has conditioned.
Apex is 9-5 on the morning line and was assigned post position seven in an eight-horse field. He has earned $131,250 in purse money.
Silverstein (David Miller) seeks to snap Apex’s win streak after chasing Endurance, who is on a four-race win streak, over the red clay. Trained by Mathew Burkholder, Silverstein is a son of Chapter Seven-Shining Brightly and brings a record of 5-1-3-0 with a bankroll of $97,000 into Monday’s race.
The gelding will commence trotting from the rail and is 2-1 on the morning line. His lifetime best, established in his maiden breaking win on July 28 when Endurance was not in the field, equals Apex’s mark.
Bred by Brittany Farms, Silverstein possesses some pedigree power of his own. His dam, by Muscle Hill, is out of On The Bright Side (Cantab Hall, $270,211) and is a half sibling to Sunshine Delight (Credit Winner, $354,847), Ontopofthehill (Muscle Hill, $110,428) and Bright Side Up (Muscle Hill, $112,858).
On The Bright Side is out of dual Dan Patch Award winner Passionate Glide (Yankee Glide, $2.06 million).
Silverstein is the first foal out of Shining Brightly and was selected by Dark Horse Farm at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
It Could Be Worse (Zeron), like Silverstein, has been following Endurance in this series and is also seeking the second win of his career. Trained by Linda Toscano, the son of Captain Corey-Emiliciousboomboom will leave from post position three and is 9-2 on the morning line.
The colt was second in his first race and won his second at The Meadowlands on July 18, prior to his second-place finish to Endurance at this facility and in this company on July 28.
Bred by Coyote Wynd Farm, It Could Be Worse is out of an unraced dam and is her third foal. His second dam, Dunk The Donato, also never competed on a racetrack, but is responsible for world champion Plunge Blue Chip (Muscle Mass, $1.57) and Threepointbluechip (Walner, $221,301).
It Could Be Worse was purchased by The Bay’s Stable, Pat and Mark Huber, Bill Elliott and Camelot Stable for $45,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
The colt has amassed $33,380 in purse money.
Racing will continue through Sunday (Oct. 5), following a Sunday through Wednesday schedule. Fans and horsemen can look forward to 5:05 p.m. post times on Sundays, and 1:00 p.m. post times on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays throughout the meet.
The Red Mile will once again feature industry low takeout on the pari-mutuel side of things 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, or free racing program pages, please visit www.redmileracing.