by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Flying up the pylons as the even-money favorite Loreenas Ruffian drifted on the lead, Zane Hanover sprinted to a 1:50.4 win at 93-1 in the first of four divisions of the $260,000 International Stallion Stakes (ISS) for 2-year-old pacing fillies at The Red Mile on Saturday (Oct. 8).

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Zane Hanover paces to a 93-1 win in her maiden-breaking score in Grand Circuit action at The Red Mile on Saturday afternoon.

Robin J grabbed the lead from Loreenas Ruffian, who then circled to take control after a :27.4 quarter. She led through splits of :55.2 and 1:23.3 before drifting off the cones in the stretch. From off cover, That’s The Ticket tried to storm down the center of the track, while Robin J slid by Loreenas Ruffian to her inside along with Zane Hanover, who emerged to the lead and drew clear to win. That’s The Ticket got up for second, and Robin J finished third.

Winning her first race in nine starts, Zane Hanover, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the American Ideal mare Zellweger Bluechip, has earned $43,382 for owners Paymaq Racing, George Golemes and D. R. Van Witzenburg. Trained by Ervin Miller and driven by Marcus Miller, she paid $189.80 to win.

“I think this is a prime example that shows what The Red Mile can do for a horse,” Erv Miller said. “We had been up (in Pa.) on the five-eighths racing and not really getting her stretched out, but we got her a little stretched out last week and she seemed all week like she was getting better.”

Sent to the top after the half, Someomensomewhere maintained control as she advanced to a 1:52.4 win in the second ISS division. Miss Jones led through a :28 first quarter before yielding to Someomensomewhere as she brushed to the lead before the half. Unchallenged in :57.3, Someomensomewhere was soon pressured by Rockette from first over into the far turn. Past three-quarters in 1:26.4, Someomensomewhere turned away Rockette, who held onto second as Caviart Cherie slid into contention to take third.

Earning $102,771 for owners Nick Surick Stable LLC and Kdm Stables Corp, Someomensomewhere, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the Western Hanover mare Omen Hanover, won her second race in nine starts. Trained by Erv Miller and driven by Marcus Miller, she paid $5.40.

“I trained the mare Omen Hanover and my owner bred her,” Surick said. “Then I bought her here last year with Erv and (Kdm Stables) wanted back in, so Erv trained her. She has been really good. She tailed off in Pa. at the end, but Erv said she was bleeding a little bit. Marcus has driven her great in every start; never put her in a bad spot. She was just never finishing. Now she’s finishing with the good drives.”

“We were really going slow and she was just getting into gear; she wanted to go faster than I wanted her to into that wind,” Marcus Miller said. “I just had to let her settle down and it was cruise control from there.”

Off a second place finish in a $73,000 Bluegrass split last week, Idyllic Beach took control after the half and was wrapped up before winning in 1:52.2 over Big City Betty and World Apart.
Caviart Ally was sent to the top through a :27.3 first quarter. She was rough gaited when met with the backstretch headwinds and took the pocket when Idyllic Beach rushed first over to the front. Leading through a :57 half and 1:25.2 third-quarter, Idyllic Beach strolled to the line, finishing about two lengths clear of Big City Betty.

Nigel Soult photo

Idyllic Beach makes it look easy as she collects her seven career win from 12 starts in Grand Circuit action on Saturday at The Red Mile.

Idyllic Beach, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the American Ideal mare Idyllic, won her seventh race in 10 starts this year, earning $500,132 for owners Christina Takter, John Fielding, Brixton Medical Ab, and Marvin Katz. She’s trained by Jimmy Takter, was driven by Yannick Gingras, and paid $2.40 to win.

“I wanted to race her from the back today,” Gingras said. “She has raced on the front so many times, but Andrew (McCarthy’s) filly (Caviart Ally) was jumping shadows on the backstretch and we weren’t going (fast), so I had to make a move. She was much the best in here.”

Roaring To Go won the final ISS split in 1:51.1 going wire-to-wire. She was unchallenged through fractions of :28.3, :55.3 and 1:23.2 before Planet Rock, moving first over around the far turn, gained ground into the stretch. Awash tipped off her cover and chased Roaring To Go from the center of the track, managing to take second from Planet Rock.

By Art Major out of the Western Ideal mare Lionness Hanover, Roaring To Go won her sixth race in 12 starts, amassing $242,636 in earnings for owner Frank Chick. She’s trained by Kevin Lare, was driven by Brett Miller, and paid $3.00 to win.

“She’s not a half-mile track specialist and in New York Sires Stakes that’s pretty much what you have to be,” Lare said. “Brett has done a great job with her, getting her over the half-mile track all year, and we thought the bigger track would help her out. I was very impressed with her, going the second quarter in :27 flat. I was a little nervous into the headwind, but Brett said she was kind of waiting on him and once she heard him, she took off again. She has the Breeders Crown left, but then after that I think she’s done for the year. (Frank Chick) has talked about the Matron, but I’ll leave that up to Frank.”

Live racing will conclude on Sunday (Oct. 9), which includes the $100,000 Allerage Filly and Mare Pace, $101,000 Allerage Open Trot, $138,000 Allerage Open Pace, two divisions of the $213,500 Glen Garnsey Memorial, two divisions of the $416,000 Tattersalls Pace, two eliminations and two heats for the $312,000 Kentucky Filly Futurity, and the $431,000 Kentucky Futurity, where Marion Marauder races to be the ninth winner of the Trotting Triple Crown.

Sunday’s card also features a mandatory-payout Pick-5 carryover of $5,289.36. The first race goes to post for The Red Mile’s closing card at 1:00 p.m.