Lexington, KY — As the heat in the Midwest continued on Tuesday (Aug. 19), so did the competition of beautifully-bred individuals at the Red Mile. Topville Lucky rebounded in a big way in the $80,000 third-round leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for freshman filly pacers in a new mark of 1:50.2 while Gala paced a big mile of her own.
The 15-race card also included two $35,000 second-round Kentucky Sire Stakes legs for older trotters, two $30,000 third-round legs of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, three $15,000 third-round divisions of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series, and two $10,000 third-round legs of the Kentucky Wildcat Series. The last three series were exclusive to 2-year-old filly pacers.
Topville Lucky demonstrates her class in Kentucky Championship Series
Slightly overlooked at odds of 8-1, Topville Lucky and driver Atlee Bender finished best to win for the second time in three starts for trainer Erv Miller. Favored Bahama Momma (Scott Zeron) was second with Seaside Shuffle (Dexter Dunn) rounding out the trifecta.
The daughter of Sweet Lou-Warrawee Winx drew the rail in the contentious field of eight and settled in fifth through the first quarter while first-leg winner Beautiful Memory (Marvin Luna) established the first split of :27.4. That is when Andy McCarthy and second choice Caviart Daisy went to the top to set fractions of :55.4 and 1:23.3.
As Caviart Daisy lost her head of steam, Topville Lucky and Seaside Shuffle were advancing to make their final bids to the wire and were a nose apart going into the homestretch with the latter in charge. Bahama Momma, however, was launching her own bid from fourth.
Bahama Momma was valiant in defeat after overcoming post position eight and pacing her final quarter mile in :26.4. On this day, though, it just was not good enough to catch Topville Lucky, who uncorked her own :26.2 last panel.
Bred by Jeremy Yoder, Topville Lucky broke her maiden in her first attempt in the first leg of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series on July 29. Her connections were pleased enough with that effort, in which she came home in :25.3, to move her up in class to the Championship Series on Aug. 10. The filly was last after drawing outside and breaking prior to the half-mile marker.
She was a different animal today with an inside assignment.
Topville Lucky is the first foal out of her unraced dam and was selected for $27,000 at last year’s Standardbred Horse Sale by her trainer in partnership with Douglas Overhiser, Michael Ternisky and Scott Leaf.
The filly paid $19.18 to win. She has earned $55,000.
Heavy favorites Vic Zelenskyy, Date Night Hanover score in sire stakes action
After costly breaks in stride by Kentucky champion Dame Good Time (Zeron) and Secret Agent Man (Andy Miller), favored Vic Zelenskyy (Dunn) had his task a bit easier but still needed to dig down to hold off 75-1 shot Splendid (Todd McCarthy) and 55-1 Tom’s Muscle (Ernie Hendry) to win in the event for older male trotters in 1:51.1.
The 4-year-old son of Greenshoe and Hambletonian runner-up Mission Brief resides in Marcus Melander’s shed row. He returned to the winner’s circle after breaking in an Open Handicap last week where winner Highland Kismet set a new divisional track standard of 1:50.1.
Vic Zelenskyy collected his second win from three starts this season and seventh from 14 starts. He has earned $131,010.
Bred by Mission Brief Stable, the stallion is owned by S R F Stable and Holly Lane Stud East.
Vic Zelenskyy paid $3.16 to win.
Two-time Kentucky champion and Marcus Melander trainee Date Night Hanover (Dunn) relished her return to the Bluegrass as the 4-year-old mare stopped the clock in 1:50.4. Anette Lorentzon trainees Black Velvet As (Dan Noble) and Justasiam As (Marvin Luna) finished second and third, respectively.
The daughter of Chapter Seven-Don’t Wait Up improved her resume to 35-10-3-6 and has amassed more than $831,000.
Date Night Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and is owned by Jeffrey Snyder and ONDA Racing Stable.
She paid $3.70 to win as the 4-5 favorite.
Gala, Hope Hill win Commonwealth Series divisions
Favored Gala (Tim Tetrick) put on quite a show to annex her second win in as many starts in 1:50.1 in the first division of this series for trainer Brian Brown. Need You Now (Patrick Ryder) was second and Call Me Angelita was third.
The daughter of Downbytheseaside-Sweetest Emotion paced nearly a full second swifter than her closest pursuer.
Gala, who was stepping up in class from the Golden Rod Series, competes as a homebred for Diamond Creek Farm’s racing division.
The filly paid $3.96 to win and she has banked $22,500.
Second choice Hope Hill (Dunn) stopped the clock in a new lifetime mark of 1:51.2 for her second consecutive win in the second division. Favorite Gonebutnotforgottn (Tetrick) was second and Tan Lines Hanover (Zeron) was third.
Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., the daughter of Papi Rob Hanover-Ruth Hill is a Tom Hill homebred.
Hope Hill paid $9.44 to win. The filly’s record is 4-3-0-1 and she has earned $39,600.
Tetrick and Gingras each take two Golden Rod and Wildcat Series divisions
The Hall of Fame pilots steered two charges to victory in these contests. Tetrick won with Rocksy ($3.92) in the first Golden Rod division and with Gauntlet ($3.44) in the second Wildcat division.
Gingras was holding the lines behind Seaside Charm ($6.44) in the second Golden Rod event and Pacey Station ($18.62) in the third division.
Bender took the first Wildcat Series division with Lady Panera ($7.20).
Tetrick and Dunn each had three sire stakes wins on the day.
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 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.com.