Rose blooms, Gingras wins four finals at The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — On Monday (Sept. 16) The Red Mile hosted six $100,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series harness racing finals for freshman and sophomores on both gaits as well each sex. Pennsylvania champion Rose (Sweet Lou) made her return to the Bluegrass a winning one in the event for 2-year-old filly pacers. Yannick Gingras drove four of the six Commonwealth winners on the 17-race card.

Rose (Gingras) left from post position three in the field of six and was in second position for the first quarter mile as Ronstadt (Todd McCarthy) had some trouble and Accede (Dexter Dunn) broke stride. Ronstadt led the field through the first split of :28.

Gingras sent Rose to assume the lead before a half-mile in :56. The filly never relinquished her advantage en route to a win in 1:50.3. Hip Shot (Scott Zeron) closed from fifth in the early stages to be second at 49-1 with Ronstadt at 43-1 holding third.

Rose improved her record to 7-6-1 and her bankroll swelled to $295,913. The filly is trained by her co-owner and breeder, Ron Burke. Jason Melilo and Weaver Bruscemi are also responsible for the mating which produced her.

Her other co-owners are Weaver Bruscemi, Jack Piatt III and Larry Karr.

ROSE REPLAY

Rose is the first foal out of Rosemary Rose, who collected $620,209 on the racetrack and was an Ohio champion. Ironically, Hip Shot is out of Pistol Packin Mama. Rosemary Rose defeated her in the 2018 Ohio Championship final for older mares.

Rose paid $2.10 to win as the heavy favorite and this was her fifth consecutive victory.

Steely Knife, Capytreach take 3-year-old pacing finals

Steely Knife (Always B Miki-Cuts Like A Knife, Gingras) annexed his third win of the season and fifth from 28 pari-mutuel miles in 1:50.4 as the heavy favorite in contest for sophomore male pacers. Lillbliss (Peter Wrenn) was second and Seasideescape (David Miller) was third.

Gingras sent Steely Knife straight to the lead with a first quarter-mile in :27.4. Seasideescape came first over before the half placing Steely Knife in second. Seasideescape established fractions of :55.1 and 1:23.1 before Steely Knife came calling in the drive to the wire.

Steely Knife finished nearly a full second faster than the closing Lillbliss.

Steely Knife increased his bank account to $214,847.

STEELY KNIFE REPLAY

He is the first foal out of his dam and was purchased for $82,000 from the 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by his conditioner, Ron Burke, Knox Services Inc, Phillip Collura and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby.

The colt was bred by Steve Stewart, Charles Nash and Julie Nash.

Steely Knife paid $3.20 to win.

Capytreach (Captaintreacherous-Southwind Thundra, Andy Miller) took the field from gate-to-wire in a lifetime best 1:49.2 in the Commonwealth final for sophomore filly pacers as the public’s top selection. Favorite Davenport (Andrew McCarthy) was second and Watching You (Zeron) was third.

Leaving from post position seven in the field of seven, Capytreach was placed on the lead as the wings of the gate unfolded. The filly set fractions of :27, :54.4 and 1:22.1. Davenport, a full sibling to 2023 Horse of the Year Confederate, applied pressure in the lane, but Capytreach was resolute.

CAPYTREACH REPLAY

Capytreach is trained by Tony Dinges. The filly is 22-4-6-4 and has earned $201,145.

Capytreach is the first foal out her dam, who is a full sister to world champion and Dan Patch Award winner Southwind Tempo (Bettor’s Delight, $2.39 million). Her granddam, Tsunami Hanover, entered the Hall of Fame in 2011.

The filly was bred by Buckstone Land Livestock and was taken home for $55,000 from the 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by Erik Good, West Wins Stable and Mark Dumain.

Capytreach paid $11.26 to win as the third choice in the wagering.

Big Shoes rebounds to take the Commonwealth Series final for 2-year-old male trotters

Big Shoes (Greenshoe-Witty Girl, Gingras) won his third race from his last five starts in a lifetime best of 1:54 over  Gimpanzee Dancer (Tim Tetrick) and Ketel One Up (Marvin Luna).

Big Shoes began trotting from the rail in the field of 10 and was in fifth place through a first quarter in :27.3 and sixth at the half in :55.2 by longshot Global Sensation (A. McCarthy, 17-1).

The colt was in seventh after three-quarters in 1:24.4 when favorite Yannick G Kemp went to the lead. That advantage, however, was short-lived, as Big Shoes made his move behind new leader Gimpanzee Dancer (T. Tetrick) rounding the final bend.

Gingras had plenty of horse in front of him as the duo hit the line clear of a game Gimpanzee Dancer. Ketel One Up closed well from eighth round out the trifecta at 49-1.

BIG SHOES REPLAY

Big Shoes now sports a career slate of 6-3-0-2 and has collected $90,109.

The colt was bred and is co-owned by Knox Services Inc. He is as half-sibling to March Awareness (Ken Warkentin, $452,154), Mission Accepted (Manofmanymissions, $1.40 million), Wittyville (Manofmanymissions, $343,705) and Merry Anne (Southwind Spirit, $258,700).

Big Shoes is also owned by his trainer, Ron Burke, and Weaver Bruscemi.

The colt paid $13.92 to hit the line in front.

Fusion delivers in 2-year-old male pace

Favored Fusion (Always B Miki, Gingras) collected his third consecutive victory in 1:51.3 over Harrisburg Heist (A. McCarthy) and Wavemaker (Zeron) in the Commonwealth Series final for freshman male pacers.

The son of 2016 Horse of the Year, Always B Miki, and multiple Dan Patch Award winner, Pure Country, left from the rail in the field of six. Second choice Higher Ground (A. Miller) immediately assumed command and set fractions of :27.3, :56.1 and 1:24 while Fusion enjoyed a dream trip in second place.

As the horses made their push to the finish line, Fusion popped the pocket and paced home with a :27.3 final panel as Higher Ground tired.

FUSION REPLAY

The third foal out of his dam, Fusion is trained by Nancy Takter. He competes as a homebred for Diamond Creek Farm’s racing division.

The colt’s record stands at 5-4-1-0 and he has earned $102,500. He is the first foal out of Pure Country to break the $100,000 barrier.

Fusion paid his supporters $2.72 to win.

Splendid upsets favored For July in the 3-year-old male trot

Splendid (Father Patrick-Long Island Ice Tea, T. Tetrick) outlasted For July (Mattias Melander) and Bargain (A. McCarthy) in a lifetime best 1:52.3 to win his ninth race from 14 starts this season for trainer Todd Rooney.

He drew the coveted rail in the field of 10. Tetrick placed him third position at the beginning of the mile as Bright Star set the first split of :28.2. Tetrick sent Splendid to the front with a half-mile in :56 but For July wanted to control the action and established the next fraction of 1:24.

Splendid simply possessed more trot in the lane to best For July by a half-length.

SPLENDID REPLAY

Owned by Rooney Racing and Trotting For Bourbon, Splendid is the third foal out of his dam. He is a half-sibling to Perron (My MVP, $552,739) and Pappardelle (Wishing Stone, $387,145).

The colt was a $22,000 purchase at the 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. He was bred by Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm and Paul Kelley Racing Stable.

Splendid paid $15.06 to win.

Racing continues at The Red Mile on Tuesday (Sept. 17) with eight $50,0000 divisions of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series for freshman and sophomore males and females on each gait. First post is 1 p.m.

This will be the last card of the season prior to the Grand Circuit rolling into Lexington for a two-week sojourn on Thursday (Sept. 26).

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