$3.4 million in stakes for Championship night on Sunday

Lexington, KY…September 13, 2024…Lexington’s fabled Red Mile will host its annual Championship night on Sunday—the final night harness racing program of the year—featuring $3.4 million in purses, including eight $400,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes Finals for two-year-olds and three-year-olds.

The stellar program, with a 5:05 post time, will also feature a “better-for-the-bettor” buffet for the “Send-It-In Army” with several guaranteed pool and carry-overs to further enhance the 10 race program.

Sunday night racing has proven to be very successful at The Red Mile with the handle out-sprinting the daytime handle by close to 50%.

On the racing front, the first $400,000 Championship will feature one of the strongest quintets in history for juvenile pacers with three of the five entrants owning marks under 1:50.

The trio, Sippinonasearoc (Downbytheseaside) (p,2,1:48.2), Louprint  (Sweet Lou) (p,2,1:49) and American Son (American Ideal) (p,2,1:49.3) have developed quite a rivalry in recent “times” with this event the culmination of the Kentucky Sire Stakes program for the class.

Hambletonian champ Karl (Tactical Landing), a winner of nine of 10 this semester and 18 0f 20 lifetime with $1,919,818 in bounty, will be in action and will look to make a sweep in KYSS action at The Red Mile from post position seven.

Secret Agent Man (Chapter Seven), second to Karl in the first three legs of this event, got within a neck of the winner in his last start and has drawn the inside post one to try and upset the applecart.

Sophomore pacing colts and geldings will do battle on Sunday with the colt, Better Is Nice (Bettor’s Wish), facing his two gelding opponents, Women Layer and Nuclear in their $400,000 KYSS final.

Better Is Nice got the jump on his worthy rivals in his last start and hit the wire in a lifetime best 1:48.3 while Women Layer (Sweet Lou) and Nuclear (Always B Miki) were flying in the final stages to finish in a dead-heat for place—Women Lover coming home in :26 from far back.

The “buffet” specials for the “Send-It-In Army” include guaranteed pools for several events, including the 20 cent Pick-6 in the opener with a carryover and $5,000 guaranteed pool (15% takeout), the third race 20 cent Pick-8 (races 3 through 10) with a $10,000 guaranteed pool (15% takeout), the fourth race 50 cent Pick-5 with a $10,000 guaranteed pool (12% takeout),

The sixth race features a carryover of $3,580 in the Pick-4 (races 6-7-8-9) with a $20,000 guaranteed pool and a 12% takeout—the lowest in the pari-mutuel industry.

Both the fifth race and the 10th race finale on Sunday feature a 20 cent Super-Hi—-both with a 15% takeout.

There will be be “bookend” daily double on races 1 & 2 and 9 & 10 with traditional exacta, trifecta and superfecta betting on selected races throughout the Sunday program.

The Red Mile Stakes season continues on Monday and Tuesday with 17 races each day—the six $100,000 Commonwealth Finals on Monday with the Golden Rod Finals on Tuesday.

Also, the fabled announcer Pete Aiello will be at The Red Mile both days to lend his melodious and exciting race calls to the festivities.

As usual, program pages will be available on the Red Mile website with the Sunday buffet opening at 4:00 with reservations necessary.

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

by John Berry, for The Red Mile