Gingras puts on a show in Kentucky-bred Series

Lexington, KY — On Tuesday (June 28), harness racing driver Yannick Gingras piloted three of the four winners in the third round of $50,000 legs of the Kentucky-bred series for 4-year-olds at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel. The Hall of Famer made his time in the Bluegrass State a profitable one as Gingras tallied eight scores in three days of sire stakes and series action over the five-eighths-mile oval.

Gingras set the stage in the first race, as he and Goldie’s Legacy (Always A Virgin-AG-N-AU Bluegrass) took the lead at the gate to score in 1:50.1 in the first leg for male pacers. The duo, however, had some anxious moments in the stretch as Komodo Beach (Andrew McCarthy) laid down in the gauntlet. Each horse paced their last quarter-mile in :25.4. Caviart Lotus (Tony Hall) was third. 

After failing to deliver his best in last week’s leg, Goldie’s Legacy recorded his fifth win from his last six starts. He holds the track record at Oak Grove for his age, sex and gait. Owned by Pollack Racing and Jeff Cullipher, the gelding is trained by Cullipher and was bred by Dave Yoder of Paris, Ky. 

Goldie’s Legacy has now earned $439,910 and has a record of 46-15-4-2. The defending Kentucky champion paid $6.80 to win. 

Gingras picked up right where he left off with Kildare King (Trixton) in the second leg for male trotters. The gelding sat off leader Jula Muscle Pack (Andrew McCarthy) until the stretch drive and hit the line in 1:51.4. Favored Flemsteen  (Joey Putnam) closed to be second with Platinum As (Hall) in third.

Owned and bred by Robert Goodman of Lexington, Ky. The gelding sports a record of 31-8-4-3 and has earned $162,725 in his career. This was his second triumph in the series after finishing second to track-record holder Cuatro De Julio in the first leg. 

Track record holder Blue Diamond Eyes (Captaintreacherous) was responsible for Gingras’ third victory in Tuesday’s series legs for mare pacers. The mare assumed command after the first quarter-mile from eventual runner-up High Minded (Kevin Wallis) to pace home in 1:50. Classicist (Andrew McCarthy) was third.

Blue Diamond Eyes has now earned more than $1.22 million for owners Thomas and Scott Dillion. She is trained by Ron Burke, was bred by Brittany Farms of Lexington, Ky, and captured the 2021 Kentucky Championship Series final. 

Andrew McCarthy took his turn in the winner’s circle after guiding Beltassima (Trixton) to the finish line in the series leg for female trotters. Trained by Tony Alagna, Beltassima stopped the clock in 1:54.3 in gate-to-wire fashion. Shenzi As (Tod Warren) was second and Highly Acclaimed (Dan Shetler) was third.

Beltassima is owned by Crawford Farms and is now three-for-three this season after sweeping her three legs of this series. Bred by D Farm of Hustonville, Ky. the mare has earned $397,947 in her career. 

The $50,000 fourth legs of the 4-year-old series take place on July 12. The $150,000 final is scheduled for July 19. 

Racing at Oak Grove is conducted on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday at 3 p.m. C.T.

For full race results please click here. 

by Kimberly French, for the Kentucky Harness Association