Photo finish camera needed in $70,000 Final

Cumberland Run held two $70,000 finals of the Kentucky Sire Stakes on Monday (Nov. 6) afternoon with the photo finish camera needed in the first harness racing final for three-year-old filly trotter.

The 3^rd race got underway with a huge battle for control of the front. Caviart Gwen (Father Patrick) had the rail and left on out for driver Niko Karna. Also going after the lead and getting parked first-over was the race favorite Mambacita (Dexter Dunn) and then three-wide at the quarter in :27.3 was Cessna Pride (John MacDonald), who had left from post 8.

Once the dust had settled, Mambacita had the lead with Cessna Pride second and Caviart Gwen was in third place as they raced by the half mile in :57.3.

Down the backstretch, Foolish Games (Marvin Luna) started up first-over from fourth place as Cessna Pride started to fade and Caviart Gwen moved into the garden spot behind pacesetter Mambacita. The three-quarters went in 1:25.2.

Then coming down the stretch, Caviart Gwen and Karna came after Mambacita and Dunn and those two would battle it out noses apart as they crossed the wire stride for stride in 1:54.1.

When the photo came back it showed that Caviart Gwen had won by a nose over Mambacita. Foolish Games was third.

It was the second straight win and fourth of the year for Caviart Gwen. She is trained by Philip Scott Sonsteby and was bred and is owned by Caviart Farms of Vienna, Virginia. She paid $10.76 to win.

The 6th race was the $70,000 KYSS Final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings and saw driver Dexter Dunn give race favorite Bestfriend Volo (Walner) a perfect outside trip for the victory.

Djimon (David Miller) was first on the lead with Brodeur (Tony Hall) getting the two-hole trip and Show Me A Million (Lewayne Miller) parked out first-over in third place by the first quarter in :28.

Show Me A Million was able to clear to the lead as the field then raced single file to the half mile in :57. In the backstretch the next challenge came from Country Dagger (Andy Miller) moving first-over and grabbing the second-over cover was Bestfriend Volo as they went by the three-quarters in 1:24.3.

As they started down the stretch, Bestfriend Volo and Dunn were on the move and had nearly collared Djimon and then those two battled down the stretch with Bestfriend Volo winning the fight by three-quarters of a length in 1:54. Show Me A Million was third.

It was the fourth straight win and sixth victory of the year for Bestfriend Volo. He is trained by Nancy Takter and is co-owned by Christina Takter, Nancy Takter, 3 Brothers Stable and Deja Blu. He paid $3.10 to win.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink