A plethora of stakes action at The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Although the four $80,000 legs of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series contests for freshman and sophomore trotters and pacers are complete, there is plenty of stakes harness racing action from Sunday (Sept. 8) through Tuesday (Sept. 10) on the agenda at The Red Mile as the anticipation for the eight $400,000 finals on Sunday (Sept. 15) continues to build.

On this upcoming Sunday, the Lexington oval will conduct a 12-race card, with seven of those events consisting of one $30,000 fourth round leg of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series for sophomore male trotters, four $15,000 fourth round divisions of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series for 3-year-old male trotters and 3-year-old pacing fillies and two $10,000 fourth legs of the newly minted Kentucky Wildcat Series for sophomore male trotters and 3-year-old filly pacers.

While most of the attention has been focused on the Championship Series, two of last year’s top 3-year-old male pacers, 2023 Horse of the Year Confederate, and Kentucky champion Cannibal, commenced their careers in the Commonwealth Series as 2-year-olds. Cannibal debuted in the Golden Rod Series.

This Sunday’s Commonwealth Series final will feature the regally bred Skydiver (Greenshoe). The son of multiple Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner Ariana G, did not break his maiden until this season. The colt, however, has a record of 10-3-2-1 in 2024 with $45,575 in the bank.

Skydiver drew the coveted rail in the field of eight and is 7-2 on the morning line. Yannick Gingras will be holding the lines for trainer Marcus Melander.

The $350,000 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase was bred by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. The colt is owned by Brixton Medical, Katz and Hatfield Stables.

Monday’s 14-race slate is highlighted by two $35,000 third round legs of the Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) for 4-year-old male and female trotters. There are also five $10,000 fifth legs of the Wildcat Series for 2-year-old and 3-year-old male and female trotters and pacers.

The up-and-coming driver, Marvin Luna, will be in the bike behind the heavily favored Bestfriend Volo (Walner-Bank Of Newport) for trainer Nancy Takter in the KYSS event for males. He seeks his fourth consecutive triumph when he begins trotting from post position two.

The gelding is 6-5 on the morning line and has shown an affinity for the red clay, as he was second in the $100,000 Commonwealth Series final last year.

Bestfriend Volo sports a resume of 24-14-4-1 from his two-year career and has banked $310,120. He was bred by Kentuckiana Farms and Jorgen Jahre Jr and is owned by Christina Takter, Nancy Takter, 3 Brothers Stables and Deja Blu.

Pennsylvania champion Railee Something (International Moni-Railee Pritti) will have Tyler Smith at the controls for conditioner Roger Cullipher in the Commonwealth race for mares. She is no stranger to the Bluegrass and was fourth in last year’s Championship final.

The mare has competed in top company throughout her career with a fifth in the 2023 Hambletonian Oaks final and a third in the $600,000 Breeders Crown final for her age, sex and gait last year.

Railee Something was previously trained by Ron Burke with Cullipher taking over in 2024 for owner/breeder Ronald Mersky. The mare possesses a record of 12-6-2-1 and has earned $822,936. She will start from post position three in the field of seven and is 7-5 on the morning line.

On Tuesday, The Red Mile will offer 15 races with two $35,000 third round legs of the of KYSS for 4-year-old pacers and five $10,000 fifth round legs of the Wildcat Series for 2-and 3-year-old male and female trotters and pacers. The real draw, however, is the appearance of the winner of the 2023 $760,000 North America Cup, last year’s $850,000 Little Brown Jug and this year’s $399,600 Canadian Pacing Derby, It’s My Show (Sweet Lou).

The son of the world champion mare Put On A Show, will leave from post position four in the field of six in rein to regular pilot Scott Zeron for trainer Linda Toscano.

It’s My Show has earned $1.46 million from a resume of 35-11-8-3. The stallion was second to Cannibal as the favorite in last year’s Championship final but has performed admirably at this venue including a setting a previous world record of 1:46.4, which remains his lifetime mark.

It’s My Show competes as a homebred for Richard and Joanne Young.

The gifted Strong Poison (Always B Miki-Fiyonce), who provided some scintillating stretch drives with Twin B Joe Fresh last year, headlines the KYSS event for mares. She will be guided by Yannick Gingras for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.

Strong Poison has captured three of her last four starts and will leave from post position in the compact field of five.

Previously trained by Burke, the mare has been the model of consistency throughout her career. Strong Poison has compiled a record of 40-16-11-4 and amassed $1.06 million.

She was purchased privately by Let It Ride Stables and Odds On Racing from Burke Racing Stable, J&T Silva Stables, Knox Services and Beasty LLC last November.

Strong Poison was bred by Steve Stewart, Charlie Nash and Julie Nash.

Next week will showcase the finest Kentucky harness racing has to offer at The Red Mile. In addition to the Championship finals on Sunday, Monday (Sept. 16) will provide the $100,000 finals for the Commonwealth Series while Tuesday (Sept. 17) will feature the $50,000 finals for the Golden Rod Series.

First post on Sundays is 5:05 p.m. with post time on Monday and Tuesday established as 1 p.m.

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by Kimberly French, for The Red Mile