Luna Lovegood upsets in $80,000 KY Championship Series

Lexington, KY — On Monday (Aug. 26) Luna Lovegood (Gimpanzee-Southwind Venus) rebounded from a costly break in the second $80,000 leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series (KYSS) for 2-year-old filly trotters to pull an upset at 14-1 in the third harness racing leg at The Red Mile in a lifetime mark of 1:51.4.

Steered by Dexter Dunn, Luna Lovegood commenced her mile from post position six in the field of 10. The filly settled in second leaving the gate behind Torrisi (Yannick Gingras) who led the way through the first split in :27.3. Yo Tillie (Verlin Yoder) assumed command prior to the half-mile marker and passed that pole in :54.4. Luna Lovegood protected that pocket spot as Yo Tillie continued in 1:23.4. Torrisi was shuffled back to third.

When it came time to round the last bend in the drive for the wire, Dunn provided Luna Lovegood with her cue. The filly strode by the leader, who tired in the lane and trotted home in :27.3. Torrisi was second and Divine Thing (David Miller) was third.

Trained by Marcus Melander, Luna Lovegood was bred by Blue Chip Farms and Stefan Melander. She was purchased from last year’s Standardbred Horse Sale for $100,000 under the name Witness Blue Chip by Holly Lane Stud East LTD.

LUNA LOVEGOOD REPLAY

The filly is a half-sibling to Miss I LA (Walner, $284,988), who won an $86,000 division of the International Stallion Stake in 2023 and was fourth in the $525,000 Hambletonian Oaks final.

Luna Lovegood improved her record to 3-2-0 and her bankroll stands at $80,000.

She paid a healthy $30.06 to her supporters.

Bestfriend Volo wins third straight in KYSS for older horses

Gingras and Takter teamed to take the second $35,000 leg of the KYSS for 4-year-olds with Bestfriend Volo (Walner-Bank Of Newport) in 1:51.2. The heavy favorite took over at the three-quarter pole and held off longshot Country Dagger (Andrew McCarthy). Prince Of Honor (Todd McCarthy) was third.

Bestfriend Volo is a gelding owned by his trainer, Christina Taker, 3 Brothers Stables and Deja Blu. He was bred by Kentuckiana Farms and Jorgen Jahre.

His lifetime slate is 24-14-4-1 and he has earned $310,120.

Bestfriend Volo provided his backers with $2.66 for the win.

BESTFRIEND VOLO REPLAY

Flashy fillies take Commonwealth Series legs

Voguish (Gimpanzee), Kadena (Gimpanzee) and Deja Blu (Muscle Hill) all captured their respective $30,000 third round divisions of the Commonwealth Series for freshman filly trotters. The young ladies also share the distinction of some of the best pedigrees in the sport.

Voguish (Gingras) is and out of Jolene Jolene, a world champion daughter of Muscle Hill who earned $231,673 on the racetrack. As a broodmare she has foaled Crucial (Father Patrick, $528,598) and Dan Patch and O’Brien Award winner Venerable (Walner, $1.18 million).

Voguish was bred by Maumee River Stables, Black Creek Farm, Martin Schmucker and Steve Stewart.

She was purchased by William Pollack, Bruce Areman and her trainer, Andrew Harris, for $535,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

The filly is now 4-2-0-0 and has earned $44,000. Her final time of 1:53.2 is a new lifetime mark.

Kadena (Dunn) won the second division of the Commonwealth Series also in a lifetime best of 1:53.1 for her second victory in three starts. Trained by M. Melander, the filly is out of world champion and Dan Patch Award winner Mission Brief. Mission Brief is a full sibling to top stallion Tactical Landing who has sired the last two Hambletonian winners, Tactical Approach and Karl.

Kadena was bred by Mission Brief Stable and was purchased for $800,000, in fact she was the sales topper and equaled the highest price ever paid for a yearling trotting filly, at the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

The filly is owned by S R F Stable and Jeffrey Synder.

Kadena paid $6.08 to win.

Deja Blu (Gingras) collected her second consecutive triumph and the second in four starts. The daughter of world champion Atlanta lowered her lifetime mark to 1:53.

Bred by Crawford Farms Racing, Bradley Grant and Howard Taylor, Deja Blu is owned by Crawford Farms Racing and Thomas Pontone. She is the first and to date only foal out of her illustrious dam, banked $3.53 million and captured the 2018 Hambletonian.

Deja Blu was purchased privately and paid $3.34 to win.

The filly is trained by Nancy Takter and was one of Gingras’ three winners on the day.

Racing continues Tuesday (Aug. 27) at The Red Mile with a first post of 1 p.m. and six stakes including an $80,000 third round leg of the KYSS for 3-year-old filly pacers.

To receive free program pages to handicap the track with the lowest takeout in the sport visit here.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Kimberly French, for The Red Mile