Fast times in $200,000 KY-bred Series opener

The opening round of the Kentucky Bred Series for four-year-old harness racing trotters and pacers took place Tuesday afternoon (June 7) at Oak Grove Racing.

The fastest of the four $50,000 first leg came in the very first race where Goldie’s Legacy (Always A Virgin) and driver Yannick Gingras went for the lead, was parked out by Komodo Beach (Andy McCarthy), but cleared by the first quarter in an amazing :25 seconds.

That fast opening quarter did nothing to take away from Goldie’s Legacy as he continued to cut fast fractions of :53.3 and 1:21.2 with no one able to keep up. Goldie’s Legacy went on to win by one length in 1:48.4 over Komodo Beach with Red Right Hand (Scott Zeron) third.

It was a lifetime mark and the third win this season for Goldie’s Legacy, who is trained and co-owned by Jeff Cullipher with Pollack Racing. He paid $5.60 to win.

Next up was Blue Diamond Eyes (Captaintreacherous) and driver Yannick Gingras in the 3^rd race division for pacing mares.

High Minded (Aaron Merriman) has taken the early lead away from Can’t You See (Randy Crisler) in :25.3. Then came Blue Diamond Eyes and Gingras first-over and they had the lead by the half mile in :53.1 and then held the field at bay past the three-quarters in 1:20.2.

Coming down the stretch it was all Blue Diamond Eyes as the race favorite breezed down the stretch to win by two and one-quarter lengths in 1:49.1 Classicist (Andy McCarthy) was second with A Special Moment (Todd Warren) third.

It was the first win in four starts for Blue Diamond Eyes, who was a major stakes winner of $604,000 last year. She is trained by Ron Burke for owners Tom and Scott Dillion of Anson, ME. She paid $2.60 to win as the favorite.

Cuatro De Julio (Trixton), whose prior start was a second place finish in the $170,450 Cutler Trot against world record hold Ecurie D DK, has it easy in the 3^rd race $50,000 final for trotting horses.

Driven by Andy McCarthy, Cuatro De Julio left from post three and led the field with Kildare King (Yannick Gingras) sitting the pocket-seat to the quarter in :27.

With no one challenging the entire mile, Cuatro De Julio and McCarthy led to the half in :55.3, the three-quarters in 1:23.4 and then kicked in a :27.2 last quarter mile to win in an impressive 1:51.4 by a half length over Kildare King with Flemsteen (Aaron Merriman) third.

Trained by Marie Ortolan Bar, who co-owns the stallion with D Farm LLC, it was the first win in three starts this year for Cuatro De Julio, who paid $2.80 to win as the race favorite.

There was also a $50,000 first leg for four-year-old trotting mare that was an early, non-wagering race due to just three starters.

Beltassima (Trixton) and driver Andy McCarthy led the field from start to finish, cutting fractions of :29.2, :58.3 and 1:27.3 before pulling away in the stretch to win by five open lengths in 1:56.1. The pocket-sitting Jazzy Jules (Christian Lind) was second with Highly Acclaimed (Dan Shetler) third.

It was the first start of the 2022 season for Beltassima, who is trained by Tony Alagna for Crawford Farms of Syracuse, NY.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink