Date Night perfect in Commonwealth

LEXINGTON, Ky.— Through all of the state-bred harness racing finals contested over the last two days at The Red Mile, the Bar Hopping filly Date Night became the only one to win in every preliminary and then the final when she scored in the $50,000 Kentucky Commonwealth final for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Monday (Sept. 20).

The Julie Miller trainee, dispatched the 1-2 choice, raced unhurried from fifth to a :28.1 first quarter set by Medley, who cleared control from post 10. Medley soon yielded command up the backside to Pauline Hanover as she then took the field by the half in :57. Meanwhile, driver Andy Miller got underway with Date Night out of fifth and slowly ranged his charge towards the tempo-setter nearing three-quarters in 1:26.4. She then spurted clear off the turn, rolling to a 5-3/4-length victory in 1:55.1 over Wallabee closing for second. Pauline Hanover faded to third with Bold And Beautiful taking fourth.

A homebred for Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, Date Night kept her unbeaten record intact to five starts and has banked $65,000. She paid $3 to win.

Altar put in a tour of force in the final for 3-year-old trotting fillies when strolling to a 1:51.4 victory.

Driver Dexter Dunn cleared control from post 6 with Altar heading to a :29 first quarter and essentially competed with herself from that point. Princessa gave chase from a loosening pocket through a quickened clip to a :56.1 half and three-quarters in 1:23.4 with Eazy Pass in behind from third. Altar continued to widen on her rivals through the straightaway and grew her margin to about 6-1/4 lengths in the end over Eazy Pass snagging second. Princessa faltered to finish third with Material Girl taking fourth.

Trained by Nancy Takter for owner Diamond Creek Racing, Altar won her fourth race from eight starts this season and her sixth from 14 overall, earning $169,773. The Muscle Hill filly returned $2.40 to win.

Notorious Pink also decimated her competition to take the final for sophomore pacing fillies going away in a 1:49.2 effort.

The Captaintreacherous filly cleared command to a :27.3 first quarter and raced uncontested as she buzzed to a half in :55. Realization took a shot at the pacesetter out of third coming to three-quarters in 1:22.2 but managed only to take over second as Notorious Pink accelerated. She sped through the stretch to open 5-1/4 lengths on Realization to the finish while Wicked Ways gave chase to take third from In Lou Of Money, who recovered from a break at the start to take fourth.

Owned by Alagna And Grant Stable, Big Als Stables, Riverview Racing LLC and Fodera And Head Stable, Notorious Pink won her third race from 11 starts this season and her eighth from 24 overall, earning $333,562. Todd McCarthy drove the $2.60 winner for trainer Tony Alagna.

Platinum As upended odds-on choice Jula Muscle Pack in the final for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings with a methodical grind to the lead with enough stamina to clock a 1:53.3 victory.

Leaving from post 4, driver Dexter Dunn floated Platinum As off the card and raced wide from sixth into the first turn with a skirmish developing at the front. Jula Muscle Pack yielded control to Boaster Coaster in a :27.4 first quarter but promptly pulled pocket into the backside as Sunny Crockett, caught three wide around the first turn, made slight gains. Jula Muscle Pack kept Sunny Crockett to the center of the course up the backside, cleared the lead and then yielded command to a :55.3 half.

Sunny Crockett held control the far turn all while Platinum As made steady progress stalking the first-half action. The E L Titan colt cruised to the top heading to three-quarters in 1:24.4 and coasted through the stretch under minimal challenge. Jula Muscle Pack skimmed through to take second, beaten 2-3/4 lengths, with Sunny Crockett third and Boaster Coaster fading to fourth.

Owned by ACL Stuteri Ab, Platinum As won his sixth race from 17 starts, earning $75,250. Anette Lorentzon trains the $7.60 winner.

Beach Party pulled a 10-1 upset in the final for pacing glamour boys when ripping off the pegs and surging to a narrow 1:50.4 three-way-photo victory.

Driver Todd McCarthy secured the lead with Beach Party to a :27.2 first quarter and was quickly shuffled when 5-2 favorite Four More Years took over the lead followed by Red Right Hand to a :53.4 half. The speed stayed hot to three-quarters in 1:21.2, though the tempo proved taxing the pacesetter. Nonetheless, Red Right Hand battled at the pylons when braced by Beach Party’s far-turn surge while Commanding Officer came charging down the center of the course late. Beach Party emerged in front from between horses at the finish, keeping a head in front of Commanding Officer at the post while Red Right Hand settled for third. Almanac closed from last to take fourth.

Returning $23 to win, Beach Party collected his third win from 20 starts, banking $79,384 for owners David Mc Duffee, John Fielding and Clay Horner. Brett Pelling conditions the Somebeachsomewhere gelding.

Ainthesamewithoutu blitzed the pacesetter to the bottom of the final turn and held firm once on the lead to take the final for freshmen pacing fillies in 1:54.

Kentukylady took the lead to a :27.4 first quarter and faced minimal pressure to a :55.4 half. Driver Andrew McCarthy landed Ainthesamewithoutu in third, and waited until the far turn to make his move with the Anette Lorentzon-trained Sweet Lou filly. She quickly gained to match strides with the leader past three-quarters in 1:25.1 and edged to a slight advantage through the stretch, which she held to the finish by three-quarter lengths while also bearing a late charge from Bet On The Bay. Kentukylady stayed on at the pylons to settle for third.

Winning her third race from eight starts, Ainthesamewithoutu has earned $60,390 for trainer Anette Lorentzon. She paid $6 to win.

Monday’s card concludes stakes action at The Red Mile until the Grand Circuit comes to town for its annual fortnight, which begins on Friday, Oct. 1. Racing will complete its Sunday through Tuesday rotation tomorrow (Sept. 21) with a 12-race card before racing returns on a Friday-Sunday cycle through the end of the stakes meeting on Sunday, Oct. 10. First-race post time each race day at The Red Mile is 1 p.m. (EDT).

For full race results, click here.

by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile