Both $80,000 KY Championship legs won by a nose

Lexington, KY — On Sunday (Aug. 28) Rebuff (Muscle Hill-Meucci Madness) returned to his victorious ways at The Red Mile in the $80,000 third round leg of the Kentucky Championship series for sophomore harness racing male trotters in 1:51.4. The triumph brought driver Tim Tetrick within two wins of 13,000 in his career. He would be the youngest driver to reach that plateau and only the seventh reinsman in the sport’s history to accomplish that feat.

The 12-race card also featured a $80,000 third round Kentucky Championship event for freshman male pacers, which was annexed by Kopi Luwak (Stay Hungry-Auniqueaquistion), two $30,000 third round legs of the Kentucky Commonwealth series for freshman and sophomore male trotters and four $15,000 third round legs of the Kentucky Golden Rod series for freshman and sophomore male trotters and pacers.

Rebuff did not make his pari-mutuel appearance until the 11th race on the card. His performance, however, was well worth the wait as he overhauled longshot Keg Stand (Andrew McCarthy) on the finish line to win by a nose. Branded By Lindy (Yannick Gingras) was third.

Leaving from post position two, Rebuff was placed in third by his driver as Keg Stand was sent to the lead. The Dan Patch Award winner remained in that position as Keg Stand clicked off fractions of :28, :56.2 and 1:24.3 with Kentucky champion Double Deceiver (David Miller) tracking in second. Tetrick provided Rebuff with rein in the stretch drive and the duo passed a fading Double Deceiver with Keg Stand in his sights. The leader was valiant in defeat, but Rebuff lived up to his name at the wire.

Co-owned by his trainer, Lucas Wallin, Kjell Magne Anderson and Pieter Delis, Rebuff now sports a resume of 16-8-2-1 and boosted his bankroll to $623,270.  The colt was bred by Steve Stewart and Michael Andrew. He is a half-sibling to dual New York Sire Stakes champion Non Stick (Lucky Chucky, $587,890) and sold for $200,000 at the 2020 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

Rebuff paid $3.52 to win.

REBUFF REPLAY

Kopi Luwak also provided his supporters with some anxious moments as he got up in time to defeat Bamboozler (Dexter Dunn) by a nose in 1:49.2. Command (Todd McCarthy) was third.

The colt broke his maiden in his third trip to the gate after two seconds in his previous starts. Kopi Luwak made his debut on July 15 at The Meadowlands in a $20,000 first round leg of the Kindergarten series and was second by a neck to Blue Lou, who was also in this field, in the first round of the Championship series on Aug. 7.

Owned by Brad Grant and Steve Heimbecker, Kopi Luwak is the fifth foal out of his dam who was a standout in Illinois and won the 2013 Grandma Anne final. She was also second in the 2012 Orange and Blue final for 2-year-old filly pacers. Auniqueaquistion has been just as prolific as a broodmare, as Kopi Luwak is a half-sibling to Yacht Week (Somebeachsomewhere, $289,261), High Minded (Captaintreacherous, $282,262) and Find Happiness (Captaintreacherous, $118,361).

Bred by Steve Stewart and John Carver, Kopi Luwak is trained by Tony Alagna and was purchased for $160,000 at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

Kopi Luwak has now earned $65,000 in purse money with a record of 3-1-2-0. He paid $9.62 to win.

KOPI LUWAK REPLAY

Tetrick and Miller collected three wins each on the card.

Sire stakes action continues at The Red Mile on Monday (Aug. 29) and Tuesday (Aug. 30).

First post is 1 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Kimberly French, for The Red Mile