Unbeaten Venerable makes it five straight

LEXINGTON, KY— Jim Doherty Memorial winner Venerable rung her unbeaten harness racing streak to five when venturing uncovered to a 1:54.1 victory in the $40,000 Kentucky Championship Series second preliminary for two-year-old trotting fillies on Sunday (Aug. 15) at The Red Mile.

Off the 3-5 favorite, Venerable landed in fifth as the overflow field of 12 stacked into the first turn. Penelope J powered to the lead from post 10 and took the field past the quarter in :28.1 with opening-round winner Selfie Queen sitting the pocket. Towards the back of the pack entering the backside, second-tier starter Pink Gypsy angled off the pylons and prompted the hands of American Beauty and then Venerable to tip overland in the march to a :57 half.

Venerable led the two-wide tier into the final turn making steady gains on, and soon clearing the lead from, Penelope J. The Richard “Nifty” Norman trainee tripped three-quarters in 1:26 as Selfie Queen raced anxiously and soon lost stride from third inside, and sailed through the stretch chased by a wall of pursuers. More Than Ever emerged from the charge to snag second in the 1:54.1 mile with Pink Gypsy to the center of the track taking third and Spendthemoneyhoney sliding up the pegs for fourth.

A daughter of Walner, Venerable’s unbeaten streak has pushed her bankroll to $300,255 for owners David Mc Duffee, Melvin Hartman, Paul Bordogna and Steven Arnold. David Miller piloted the $3.40 winner.

VENERABLE REPLAY

Ron Burke pupil S I P popped pocket and coasted to a 1:53.4 win in the lone $40,000 second-round division of the Kentucky Championship Series for freshmen trotting colts and geldings.

Fast As The Wind fired for the front from post 9 while S I P, leaving from post 8, followed suit to settle into the pocket approaching a :28.3 first quarter. Driver Yannick Gingras stayed put with the Bar Hopping colt while Fast As The Wind raced uncontested to a :57 half.

The leader soon after faced first-over pressure from Bully Boy Hill heading to three-quarters in 1:26.1 but turned that challenger away coming to the head of the stretch. However, the tempo setter could not withstand the fresh legs of S I P as that pocket sitter soared through the stretch to a two-length victory while chased home by first-round winner Double Deceiver. Fast As The Wind faded to third with Rebuff rallying for fourth.

S I P REPLAY

Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Hatfield Stables, Brixton Medical Inc. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, S I P scored his third win from seven starts, banking $132,432. He paid $9.00 to win.

Branded By Lindy ($5.80) led the winners of the three $20,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series divisions with a 1:54 mile in rein to Scott Zeron for trainer Domenico Cecere, who sent three winners on the card. Access ($9.60) scored in the opening division in a time of 1:55.3 for trainer Bob Stewart and driver Andrew McCarthy while Bright Side Up ($14.40) rolled to a 1:55.3 victory in the other division for trainer Marcus Melander and driver Mattias Melander.

Date Night ($2.80) dominated her $20,000 division of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series for two-year-old trotting fillies with a 1:54.3 victory by driver Andy Miller for trainer Julie Miller. The other divisions went to Moni Heist ($5.40), driven by Yannick Gingras to a 1:56 win for trainer Domenico Cecere; and Medley, piloted by Andrew McCarthy to a 1:56.1 mile for trainer Brett Pelling.

Racing resumes at The Red Mile on Monday (Aug. 16) with two $40,000 second-round divisions of the Kentucky Championship Series – one for the boys and one for the fillies. The 11-race card also features four $20,000 Kentucky Commonwealth divisions with two for the colts and geldings and two for the fillies. First-race post time is 1 p.m. (EDT).

For full race results, click here.

by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile