Two-year-olds clash in $100,000 finals

Oak Grove, KY — On Sunday (July 17) four $100,000 finals of the early sire stakes series for 2-year-old Kentucky-bred trotters and pacers were contested at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel. Cant Stop Lou (Sweet Lou-Can’t Stop Me) turned in a dominating harness racing performance 1:52.2 in the 2-year-old male pace to be the only freshman to complete the sweep.

Cant Stop Lou and Yannick Gingras left from post position seven in a field of eight male 2-year-old pacers. They were fifth early, paced into second by the half-mile marker and moved to the lead by the three-quarter pole. The gelding then poured it on in the stretch to maintain a perfect three-for-three.

Lindy The Brave (Dexter Dunn) was second and Lootable (John MacDonald) was third.

Bred by Diamond Creek Farm, Cant Stop Lou is owned by his trainer Nancy Takter and Jaf Racing, Rojan Stables, R A W Equine and Jeffrey Bell.

He paid $2.80 to win.

Calgary (Downbytheseaside) has now won her first two starts after taking the final for 2-year-old filly pacers in 1:52.3 with Dunn holding the reins. Hungry For Love (Gingras) was second and Seaside Baby (Warren) was third.

Trained by Ryan Miller, Calgary is the second foal out of Sweetest Emotion, who earned $142,460 on the racetrack. The mare is also a half-sibling to champion Captain Crunch (Captaintreacherous, $1.56) million).

Calgary has now earned $62,500. The filly paid $2.80 to win and races as a homebred for Diamond Creek Farm.

Railee Something (International Moni-Railee Priti) took advantage of early breaks by favorites Una Madonna (Brian Sears) and Wind Chime (Dunn) to score in the final for 2-year-old filly trotters. Driven by Todd Warren, the filly left from post position seven stopped the clock in 1:55.2 after taking command in the drive to the wire from Princess Caitlin (Gingras) who finished second. Boudicca (Tony Hall) was third.

Trained by Roger Cullipher, Railee Something improved her record to 5-2-1-1 and boosted her bank account to $67,306.

The filly competes as a homebred for Robert Mersky and paid $26.20 to win.

Overkill Hall (International Moni) and Gingras led from gate-to-wire to collect the sire stakes trophy for 2-year-old male trotters for trainer Dewayne Minor and owners Alan Leavitt and Hillcroft Farm in 1:54.3. Whole Nother (Doug McNair) was second and Brodeur (Hall) was third.

Sired by International Moni, the second-leading sire of 2-year-old trotters, Overkill Hall now has a record of 5-2-3-0 and has earned $66,375 in purse money.

Overkill Hall was bred by Alan Leavitt and is a half-sibling to Oney Hall (Deweycheatumnhowe, $387,431).

The colt paid $6.80 to win.

Las Alturas (Tactical Landing – Bella Glos) and Gingras won the lone $25,000 consolation for 2-year-old trotting fillies in 1:57.1 for trainer Ron Burke. Yo Rebecca (Verlin Yoder was second and Chulada (Sears) was third

The winning filly was bred by Black Horse Racing and is owned by her trainer, J&T Silva Stables, Knox Services and Joseph Di Scala Jr.

Las Alturas is now 3-1-0-1 and has earned $16,750. She paid $6.80 to win.

Early sire stakes action continues Monday (July 18) when four $100,000 finals for Kentucky-bred sophomore trotters and pacers will be contested.

To view entries for Monday please click here.

On Tuesday (July 19) Oak Grove will host four $150,000 finals for the 4-year-old series.

To view entries for Tuesday’s card please click here.

Racing at Oak Grove is conducted on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday with a post time of 3 p.m. CST. For more information on Kentucky’s Standardbred programs and updated point standings for sire stakes and other series events, please click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Kimberly French, for Kentucky Harness Association