Komodo Beach fastest in $200,000 KY Series

Komodo Beach (Somebeachsomewhere) and harness racing driver Andy McCarthy were the fastest winner of the four $50,000 Kentucky Bred Series divisions for four-year-olds held Tuesday morning at Oak Grove Racing in Kentucky.

The duo teamed up in the 2^nd race co-feature to stop the teletimer in 1:49. It was also the fastest mile of the 11-race program Tuesday.

The special 10:00 am race card was a make-up program for cancelations last week due to extreme heat conditions.

The 2^nd race saw Mad Man Hill (Todd Warren) first on the lead and they were challenged by the opening quarter in :26.2 by Komodo Beach, who cleared to the lead. Meanwhile, race favorite, Goldie’s Legacy (Yannick Gingras), went off-stride before the first quarter.

Also on the move at the quarter was Red Right Hand and driver Scott Zeron, who took the lead away from Komodo Beach and led the field to the half mile in :53.4.

With no one challenging on the outside past the three-quarters in 1:21.4, McCarthy moved Komodo Beach against Red Right Hand and blew right by them in the stretch and went on to win with ease by three lengths. Mad Man Hill was second with Caviart Lotus (Aaron Merriman) third.

A four-year-old gelding, it was the seventh win this season for Komodo Beach, who is trained by Noel Daley for Morrison Racing Stables of Indiana, PA. He paid $7.80 to win.

The first race on the card was the $50,000 KY Series second leg for four-year-old mare pacers and Blue Diamond Eyes (Captaintreacherous) was sparkling once again for driver Yannick Gingras.

Taking the lead away from both High Minded (Aaron Merriman) and then Classicist (Andy McCarthy) at the first quarter in :27, Blue Diamond Ennyes and Gingras then held the field at bay. They led to the half in :56, then the three-quarters in 1:23.4 and went on to win by three and one-quarter lengths in 1:50.1. Classicist was second with High Minded third.

It was the second straight win and seventh of the season for Blue Diamond Eyes. She is trained by Ron Burke for owners Thomas & Scott Dillon of Anson, Maine. As the race favorite she paid $2.40 to win.

The 3^rd race $50,000 second leg was for the four-year-old trotting mares and remaining unbeaten after just two starts was Beltassima (Trixton) and driver Andy McCarthy.

They left from post five and never looked back. Zoe Deo (James Stiltner, II) sat the pocket seat but was never really close to the leader and finished second. Third was Shenzi AS (Todd Warren).

Beltassima cut fractions of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:24.4, winning in a romp by six open lengths in 1:53.

Trained by Tony Alagna for Crawford Farms in Syracuse, NY, Beltassima paid $2.40 to win as the race favorite.

The four-year-old horse trot division for $50,000 has just four starters and was held as a non-wagering race before the card started at 10:00 am.

Kildare King (Trixton) and driver Yannick Gingras was able to lead from start to finish. Flemsteen (Aaron Merriman) sat the two-hole trip and was second with Mon Amour (Scott Zeron) third.

The fraction cut by Kildare King were :28.1, :57.3, 1:26.1 and he came home a winner by one length in 1:53.3.

Trained by Chris Beaver, it was the third win this year for Kildare King, who is owned by Robert Goodman of Lexington, KY.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink