Favorites score in $80,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes

Lexington, KY — On Sunday (Aug. 6) The Red Mile hosted two second round harness racing divisions of the $80,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes, three $30,000 third round legs of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series and five $15,000 third round legs of the Kentucky Goldenrod Series for freshman and sophomore male pacers.

Kopi Luwak (Stay Hungry) proved he was the favorite for a reason as the 3-year-old son out of Auniqueaquistion, one of the most talented mares to hail from the Heartland, prevailed in the $80,000 leg for 3-year-old male pacers in 1:49.1. Ivy Park (Captaintreacherous-Ali Blue) triumphed in the leg for 2-year-old male pacers in 1:53.4.

Driver Andrew McCarthy placed Kopi Luwak right on the lead from the beginning of the mile. Trained by Tony Alagna, Kopi Luwak was the overwhelming post-time favorite and won like one, as he laid down fractions of :26.4, :54:1, 1:22:2 to trip the timer in 1:49.1.

Larceny (Brian Sears) was second and Captain Awesome (Yannick Gingras) third.

Kopi Luwak is trained by Tony Alagna, whose mother, Donna, put his dam through her paces. Auniqueaquistion was an Illinois champion and earned $375,007 on the racetrack. She has also proved to be just as prolific in her second career.

Owned by Brad Grant, Kopi Luwak is a half-sibling to Yacht Week ($344,975, Somebeachsomewhere), High Minded ($316,081, Captaintreacherous) and Find Happiness ($124,461, Captaintreacherous).

The colt has earned $121,750 and has a resume of 12-3-2-0. He was purchased for $160,000 at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Kopi Luwak was bred by Steve Stewart and John Carver.

KOPI LUWAK REPLAY

Ivy Park collected his second victory from three trips to the gate in the $80,000 second leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes for 2-year-old male pacers. Gingras was at the controls for Hambletonian winning-trainer Nancy Takter.

Gingras positioned the colt on top after the first quarter in :29.1 with Dancin Champion (Sweet Lou-Dancewiththebest) cutting the first fraction. After the first split, Ivy Park assumed command with fractions of :58.1 and 1:27.2 prior to holding off Snap Count (Betting Line-Tessa Hanover) who tossed down a :25.3 last quarter-mile to just miss.

Owned by Black Horse Racing, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco, Nancy Takter and JAF Racing, Ivy Park has a record of 3-2-1 from three starts and has earned $60,000.

The colt is a half-sibling to Blue Ivy ($811,193, Captaintreacherous) and Hunter Hill ($126,519, Somebeachsomewhere).  He was a $90,000 purchase at the 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and was bred by Marvin Katz, Lynn Katz and Sam Goldband.

IVY PARK REPLAY

Admiral Hill, Tip Top Cat and Leiter win third legs of Kentucky Commonwealth Series

Admiral Hill took the first of two $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series events for sophomore male pacers. Driven by Brian Sears, the colt is trained by Chris Ryder. He is owned and bred by Tom Hill. Combustion (Todd McCarthy, Brett Pelling) was second with Caviart Arden (Devon Tharps, Alagna) coming in third.

Tip Top Cat and Gingras did not have many anxious moments as they won the second Commonwealth Series division in 1:48.4 for trainer Ron Burke. Bamboozler (Tony Hall, Virgil Morgan Jr.) was second and Captain Planet (T. McCarthy, Noel Daley) was third.

The son of Always B Miki is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Canzone and Lawrence Carr. He was bred by Steve Stewart and John Carver.

Leiter (Captain Crunch-Major Dancer) prevailed by a head in the sole division of this event for male 2-year-old pacers. Guided by Trever Smith, the colt earned his first career victory from two starts for trainer Jeff Smith.

Leiter is owned by Bet The House LLC and was bred by AM Bloodstock Inc.

Sir John B (A. McCarthy, Alagna) was second and Kissincaptain (T. McCarthy, Alagna) was third.

Blue Lou is the first of five Goldenrod Series winners

Blue Lou (T. McCarthy, Pelling) kicked home in 1:50.2 in the first split of $15,000 third round legs of the Goldenrod Series. Always Barefoot (Atlee Bender, Erv Miller) captured the second division for 2-year-old male pacers.

Shock Trooper (A. McCarthy, Alagna), Fear The Madness (Joey Putnam, Joey Putnam) and Blood Bond (Gingras, Burke) reigned supreme in the divisions for 2-year-olds.

Red Mile races on a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday schedule with a 1 p.m. EDT post time. Free program pages are available at redmileracing.com in addition to race replays.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting Results

by Kimberly French, for the Red Mile