Track records fall in Kentucky Sire Stakes blockbuster day

OAK GROVE, KY — Mambacita (Tactical Landing-Bill’s Lady) completed a series sweep with a track record-equaling harness racing performance in the $100,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final for 3-year-old harness racing trotting fillies on Tuesday (July 4) at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, while Charleston, Allegiant and Tip Top Cat all broke divisional track records in their respective $100,000 finals on a blockbuster Independence Day card.

Mambacita, one of two horses on the program who swept both Sire Stakes preliminary rounds, seized the lead after Catholic and driver Tim Tetrick pushed forward to control a :26.4 first quarter. After retaking just beyond that juncture, the filly was rated through middle splits of :56.2 and 1:24.2 by Yannick Gingras before edging 2-3/4 lengths clear of Catholic to equal Blue Bayou Deo’s 1:53 track record for sophomore trotting fillies. Cessna Pride (driven by John MacDonald) finished third, another six lengths in arrears.

Tony Alagna trains Mambacita, a seven-time winner with $605,361 in career earnings, for Alagna Racing, Crawford Farms Racing and Pryde Stables. The filly returned $2.32 to win.

Arson (Anthony MacDonald), the other two-time preliminary winner, controlled splits of :27.2, :58.1 and 1:26 in the 2-year-old colt and gelding pace but was overhauled by pocket rival Tua Many Captains (Captaintreacherous-Time On My Hands) and driver Andy Miller at the top of the stretch. The gelding vaulted out of the pocket and put 3-1/2 lengths on Arson to win in 1:53.3. Even money favorite Snap Count (David Miller) was third.

Julie Miller trains Tua Many Captains for Our Three Sons Stable. The $130,000 Lexington purchase has now earned $59,250 in three starts, and he returned $10.42 to win.

In the 3-year-old filly pace, carded as the opener, Fan Hanover runner-up Charleston (Downbytheseaside-Western Montana) stalked a :54.4 half from Diamondsnpearls from third before Tetrick put her in play heading to the far turn. The filly turned on the jets and kicked home in :27.2 to defeat Keep My Secret and Let’s Misbehave by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:49.4.

Brett Pelling trains the winner of $471,897 for Diamond Creek Racing. She paid $2.42 to win.

One race later, Allegiant (Tactical Landing-Too Good For You) broke another track record, building on her 1:58.1 preliminary win on June 25 with a scintillating 1:53.2 score over Miss Dior and Somthintobelievein in the 2-year-old filly trot. David Miller moved the filly out from third up the backstretch, and the pair overpowered Miss Dior before widening their advantage to 11-1/2 lengths for trainer Vernon Beachy and owner Ryan Smith. She paid $4.72 to win)

Tip Top Cat (Always B Miki) paced his way into the Oak Grove record books with a gritty effort to stave off two serious threats in the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace in 1:49.3. Yannick Gingras was aboard the Ron Burke trainee, who turned aside a stout first-over push from A Cool Moment through middle splits of :54.2 and 1:21.2 before then outlasting a late push from Admiral Hill by a neck. Larceny rallied from well off the pace to finish third.

Tip Top Cat ($10.12) has now banked $104,909 for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Canzone and Larry Karr.

Completing the octet of championship winners: longshot Yo Tater (Tactical Landing) collared Brodeur by a half a length in 1:53.1 to score a 15-1 upset in the 3-year-old male trot for trainer-driver Verlin Yoder; G O A T ($5.70) and Atlee Bender sustained a first-over push from midfield before holding off Pick Pocket by a length in 1:55.3 in the 2-year-old male trot; and Muddinup ($54.40) rode the pocket to a 26-1 shocker over Fearless Bettor and Queen B And Me in the 2-year-old filly pace, winning in 1:54 with Devon Tharps in the bike. She paid $33.18 to win.

Two programs remain in the 2023 harness racing season at Oak Grove: next Sunday (July 9) and Monday (July 10). First post both days is 3 p.m. CDT (4 p.m. EDT).

For complete race results, click here.

From Oak Grove Racing