by Gabe Prewitt, publicity director, The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Temperatures were in the low 80s and the track was lightning fast as 3-year-old trotters and pacers took to the historic red clay oval of The Red Mile to square off in leg two of the Kentucky Sire Stakes on Thursday night (August 20).

A full field of 11 went behind the gate to square off in the single $25,000 KYSS division for 3-year old colt pacers. Defending 2-year-old KYSS champion Carnivore (Luke McCarthy), a judges’ scratch in leg one, drew the far outside 10 post and gunned out to lead the field through the first turn, while Sheer Desire (Matt Kakaley) found a seat in fifth in the early going.

Nigel Soult photo

World champion Sheer Desire was a 1:49.2 winner in Kentucky Sire Stakes action on Thursday at The Red Mile.

Carnivore cruised through a hot first quarter of :26.2 and a half in :53, before facing the challenge of a first-over Sheer Desire around the final turn and through three-quarters in 1:21.4. Sheer Desire, who equaled the world record as a 2-year-old during the Grand Circuit at The Red Mile with a 1:49.3 score last year, was able to put Carnivore away down the stretch and cruise to a 5-3/4 length score in 1:49.2, a new lifetime mark. Carnivore was able to hold second, while Bob Watts (Dan Noble) was 10-1/2 lengths back in third.

Sheer Desire, a gelded son of Real Desire-Carolache, is trained by Ron Burke for the Burke Racing Stable, JJK Stables, Lawrence Karr, and Randy Ringer.

The 3-year-old filly pacers needed only one $25,000 KYSS heat as well, as another full field of 11 went to the gate in the evening’s 13th race. It turned into a battle between the top two finishers from the $300,000 final a year ago, as Warrawee Kay (Chris Page) snuck up the pylons late to turn the table on defending champion Shanghai Lil (Michel Lachance), who was a neck back in second after a taxing first-over journey. Apricot Brandy used a second-over trip to get up for third, only a half-length behind the winner.

The win was the first of the season for Warrawee Kay, a daughter of Real Desire-Armbro Wisdom, in a time of 1:52.3. Mike Roth trains the filly for Alan Keith.

Only eight 3-year-old trotting fillies contested the lone $25,000 KYSS division, and B Nicki (Brad Hanners) benefited off a perfect second-over trip behind Mystical Heiress (Matt Kakaley) to sprint away to a five length victory in 1:57, a lifetime best. Mystical Heiress was able to hold on to the place spot, while Prayer Kannection (Peter Wrenn) was another length back in third.

B Nicki, a daughter of Like A Prayer-B Floto, is trained by Bret Shultz for Ben Robards.

The 3-year-old trotting colts were the only group that merited two $15,000 KYSS divisions, as 14 colts were dropped in the box.

The first division turned into a gate-to-wire romp for Motor Inn (Michel Lachance), who cruised through fractions of :29, :57.2, and 1:26.2 before opening up by 7-1/2 lengths on the wire in 1:56, a new lifetime mark. Touchdown Franco (Brad Hanners) was up in time for second, while Alliance Hall (Peter Wrenn) rounded out the trifecta.

The winner, a son of Like A Prayer-Ritzy Ritz, is trained by Bobby Brower for the DM Stables LLC.

The second $15,000 KYSS division for 3-year-old trotting colts went much the same, as Up Front Prayer (Dan Noble) led the field through fractions of :28.1, :56.2, and 1:25.3 and sprinted away to an easy 4-1/2 length score in 1:55.4, also a lifetime best. Kibbutz Dream (Henrik Hollsten) slid out down the stretch to manage second, while Sensational Prayer (Matt Kakaley) held third after coming first-over.

Up Front Prayer, a son of Like A Prayer-Banshee Hall, has now won races in both legs of the KYSS. Up Front Prayer is trained by Jim Arledge for Ed Mullinax.

Racing action continues at The Red Mile on Sunday night (August 23) with a first post of 6:30 p.m. for the 14-race program.