$3.4 million KY Championship Finals held at Red Mile

There were eight Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Finals held at the Red Mile Sunday (Sept. 17) with each of the races featuring a purse of $400,000. A total of $3.4 million in harness racing purses were competed for two and three-year-old trotters and pacers.

Here are each of the eight divisional winners. This page will be updated throughout the afternoon.

$400,000 2-Year-Old Filly Trot

Date Night Hanover (Chapter Seven) picked the perfect spot to win her first race with an upset victory for driver Brian Sears. Race favorite Allegiant (Scott Zeron) cut the mile until the three-quarters when Sears moved to the outside with Date Night Hanover and flushed Volcanic Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) first-over and they carried them to the stretch.

As they came to the finish, Allegiant ran out of steam and Date Night Hanover was able to outkick Volcanic Blue Chip to the finish, winning by a half a length in 1:53.4. Dolce Amara (Tim Tetrick was third.

It was the maiden victory in seven starts this year for Date Night Hanover, who is owned by Jeffrey Snyder and Onda Racing Stable, paying $17.94 to win. She was bred by Hanover Shoe Farm.

DATE NIGHT HANOVER REPLAY

$400,000 2-Year-Old Filly Pace

The undefeated Geocentric (Sweet Lou) had little trouble winning her Championship Final for driver Tim Tetrick. She came first-over after the :27.1 opening quarter mile and shot to the lead over Gifted One (Todd McCarthy) before the half mile in :55.4. She then held the field at bay to the three-quarters in 1:24.1 and the in the stretch pulled away from the field to win by five open lengths in 1:50.1. Gifted One was second with Seeuontheotherside (Tony Hall) third.

It was the seventh straight win for Geocentric. She is trained by Brian Brown and owned by Milt Leeman, Alex Keith, Joseph Stambaugh and Joe Sbrocco. Geocentric was bred by Diamon Creek Farm and paid just $2.10 to win as the overwhelming race favorite.

GEOCENTRIC REPLAY

$400,000 3-Year-Old Filly Pace

Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe) continued to defeat everyone she races against as she posted her sixth straight win. Strong Poison (Yannick Gingras) was first on the lead to the quarter in :28 and the half mile in :55.3. Then Twin B Joe Fresh and driver Dexter Dunn came first-over from third place, collared Strong Poison at the three-quarters in 1:23.3 and then pulled away for a four length romp in 1:48.4. Strong Poison was second with Charleston (Tim Tetrick) third.

It was the eighth win of the year for Twin B Joe Fresh. She is trained by Chris Ryder and is co-owned by Ryder, Dexter Dunn, Paul Trebotica and Barry Spak. She paid $2.80 to win and was bred by Brittany Farms.

TWIN B JOE FRESH REPLAY

$400,000 2-Year-Old Colt Trot

Undefeated Karl (Tactical Landing) continued his winning ways for driver Yannick Gingras as they took the lead away from Duke Of Walner (Tim Tetrick) at the first quarter in :28.4. Karl then led the field through fractions of :57.1 and 1:26.1 before Topmost (John De Long) tried coming first over to no avail.

As they came down the stretch, Karl was the strong horse and won with ease by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:53.3. Dame Good Time (Scott Zeron) closed well to be second with Duke Of Walner third. It was the fourth straight win for Karl, who is trained by Nancy Takter. She co-owns the $135,000 yearling purchase with her mother, Christina Takter, Black Horse Racing, Crawford Farms Racing and Bender Sweden. He paid $2.22 to win and was bred by Crawford Farms.

KARL REPLAY

$400,000 2-Year-Old Colt Pace

Better Is Nice (Bettor’s Wish) and driver Andy McCarthy made it look easy in taking the early lead away from Ivy Park (Yannick Gingras) and then wiring the field with ease. He cut fractions of :27.1, L55.3 and 1:24.1 and the 3/5 race favorite then pulled away in the stretch to win by two and one-half lengths in 1:50.3. Ivy Park was second with Tua Many Captains (Andy Miller) closing well for third place.

It was a lifetime mark for Better Is Nice and his fifth win in just nine starts for trainer Tony Alagna. A homebred colt bred by Alagna Racing and Marvin Katz, Better Is Nice sold for $220,000 as a yearling with Alagna Racing staying on as an owner with Pryde Stables and Birnam Wood Farms. He paid $3.20 to win.

BETTER IS NICE REPLAY

$400,000 3-Year-Old Colt Trot

Ari Ferrari J (Walner), a 7-1 mild longshot, raced his heart out in a lifetime best performance to capturing the sophomore colt final. Point Of Perfect (Yannick Gingras) was first on the lead, but by the first quarter in :27, it was Ari Ferrari J and driver Dexter Dunn who sprinted to the lead for good. He cut fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.1 as the 1/5 race favorite, Hambletonian winner Tactical Approach (Scott Zeron) was last at the half, then came three-wide and tried to catch the leaders in the stretch to no avail. Ari Ferrari J was able to hold his lead to the wire, holding off Kilmister (Brian Sears) by a neck in 1:50.3. French Wine (Andy Miller) was third with Tactical Approach fourth.

It was a lifetime mark and the fifth win this year for Ari Ferrari J. He was a $620,000 yearling purchase and is trained by Tony Alagna for owner Ken Jacobs and paid $16.90 to win. He was bred by M Biasuzzi Stable.

ARI FERRARI J REPLAY

$400,000 3-Year-Old Colt Pace

Confederate (Sweet Lou) went over the $1 million mark in earnings this year with his sixth straight victory for driver Tim Tetrick. 40-1 longshot For Once Inmy Life (Andy McCarthy) went right out to the early lead with Kopi Luwak (David Miller) sitting the pocket seat with 1/5 Confederate sitting in fourth place. The quarter went in :26.3, the half in :55.3 and then it was time as Tetrick took Confederate first-over with A Cool Moment (Joey Putnam) second-over.

The three-quarters went in 1:23 and Confederate closed the margin on For Once Inmy Life and blew right by him, winning by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:49 over Command (Todd McCarthy) with For Once Inmy Life third.

For Confederate it was his eighth win in nine starts this year for trainer Brett Pelling and paid just $2.10 to win. The homebred colt is owned by Diamond Creek Racing, who also bred and owns second place finisher Command.

CONFEDERATE REPLAY

$400,000 3-Year-Old Filly Trot

Unbeaten Special Way saw her four-race win streak fall by the wayside as Mommamia Volo (Tactical Landing) came flying from the back of the pack in the stretch to blow by pacesetter Special Way (Ake Svanstedt) to win by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:50, just one-fifth of a second off the world record.

The race began with Special Way and Svanstedt having to work their way first-over to take the lead away from Walner Payton (Dexter Dunn) after a :27.1 first quarter. Then Mambacita (Scott Zeron) pressured Special Way to a :26.4 quarter going to the half mile in :54. Mambacita kept up the pressure as Railee Something (Yannick Gingras) came second-over and third-over went 11-1 Mommamia Volo and driver Todd McCarthy.

Coming off the final turn, Special Way was still in command and behind her they were fanned out four-wide and the fastest of all down the stretch was Mommamia Volo, who passed by Special Way for the victory. Caviart Gwen (Andy McCarthy) was third.

It was the second win this year and a lifetime mark for Mommamia Volo, who is trained by Carter Prinske for owner-breeders Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Jorgen Jahre, Jr. She paid $24.80 to win.

MOMMAMIA VOLO REPLAY

Track Notes: There were two $100,000 finals of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series also held on Sunday. The two-year-old trotting filly final saw undefeated French Champagne (Muscle Hill) come first-over and cleared to the lead before the half mile and then went on to win by two lengths for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt in 1:54.1. Owned and bred by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, it was the fifth straight win and a sweep of the series for French Champagne, who was the wagering favorite and paid $3.38 to win. The $100,000 final for three-year-old pacing colts saw Admiral Hill (Sweet Lou) come from fifth place at the top of the stretch to win by one and one-half lengths in 1:48.3. It was a lifetime mark and the fifth win of the year for the Chris Ryder trainee who paid $8.88 to win. He is bred and owned by Tom Hill. Tim Tetrick and Dexter Dunn each had driving doubles while Chris Ryder and Tony Alanga both had training doubles.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink