Lucrative stakes highlight Lexington week two opener

LEXINGTON, KY— The final week of the harness racing stakes session at The Red Mile is set to begin on Friday (Oct. 7) with three divisions of the $290,400 International Stallion Stakes, for freshman trotting colts and geldings, and two divisions of the $253,000 Perfect Sting International Stallion Stakes, for freshman pacing fillies.

Freshman trotting colts and geldings open Friday’s action with the $96,800 Muscle Hill. Following a sick scratch last week, Peter Haughton champ Kilmister (Chapter Seven) will return to Lexington but this time will start from post 7 after drawing no wider than post 2 in six of his seven starts. Brian Sears drives the Marcus Melander trainee against six others all returning off starts in the Bluegrass Stakes, including third-place finishers Excalibur Bi (by Muscle Hill, starting from post 3) and Purple Lord (Tactical Landing, post 6).

Division two for the trotting colts and geldings goes as the $96,800 Six Pack International Stallion Stakes. Gates Hanover (Walner) lands post 4 for trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt off a 1:52.3 win in the Bluegrass Stakes and starts just two draws inside of Tony Alagna trainee Ari Ferrari J (Walner, post 6), who acquires the hands of David Miller after a 1:54.2 win in the Bluegrass. Dexter Dunn, the regular pilot of both Bluegrass winners, opted to steer Domenico Cecere trainee Winner’s Bet (Walner, post 3), the winner of the William Wellwood Memorial who will try to regain footing after breaking stride in the stretch of the Mohawk Million.

Last of the freshman trotting colt and gelding contests goes as Race 7, dubbed the $96,800 Chapter Seven International Stallion Stakes. Espresso (Chapter Seven) will look to live to billing off a 22-1 win in the Bluegrass from post 8, and this time scores a better draw from post 2 with Andy Miller at the helm of the Julie Miller trainee. Crown (Chapter Seven) will compete from post 6 with Brian Sears in the bike as he rematches Espresso after finishing second from an off-the-pace trip.

Action for the freshman pacing fillies begins in Race 6 with all attention on Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe). Chris Ryder’s speedy project leaves from post 7 in rein to Dexter Dunn as she once again faces Strong Poison (Always B Miki), who has finished behind Twin B Joe Fresh on numerous occasions and now exits a 1:51.3 win in the Bluegrass last week. Yannick Gingras drives Strong Poison out of post 3 for trainer Ron Burke.

Race 9 caps the afternoon’s stakes with the second division of the Perfect Sting. Ohio Sires Stakes champ McSeaside (Downbytheseaside) starts as the morning-line favorite with Dexter Dunn taking the drive for trainer Ron Burke. She starts from post 6 in a field of nine which includes Bellisima Hanover (Captaintreacherous, post 3), who gets back on track after scratching from the Shes A Great Lady Final; and Zanatta (Stay Hungry, post 9), who gave futile chase to finish second to Twin B Joe Fresh in the Bluegrass.

The Muscle Hill, Six Pack and Chapter Seven International Stallion Stakes are each sponsored by their respective stallion syndicate and by Southwind Farms, Deo Volente Farms and Blue Chip Farms respectively. Both divisions of the Perfect Sting International Stallion Stakes are presented by the Perfect Sting Syndicate and Brittany Farms / Val D’or Farms.

First-race post time is 1 p.m. (EDT).

For complete race entries, click here.

by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile