The Jimmy Takter-trained Pure Country, who has won all six of her prior races this season, continued her streak over the sloppy track at The Red Mile on Friday, Oct. 2 by claiming one of three divisions of the $243,000 Bluegrass two-year-old filly pace.
Getting away fourth through a :30.2 quarter set by Lyons River Pride, driver Brett Miller pulled the 1-5 favourite Pure Country first over after a :58.4 half. Pure Country progressed towards the leader to within a length of the top at three-quarters in 1:28 and managed to pass the tempo-setter in the stretch despite drifting in her bid, and advanced to a three-length 1:56.1 victory.
Sired by Somebeachsomewhere out of Western Hanover mare Western Montana, Pure Country pushed her seasonal earnings to $342,618. Competing for Diamond Creek Racing, she paid $2.10 to win.
Tipton Teeez circled race leader Blue Moon Stride around the far turn en route to a 1:56 win at 16-1. Setting splits of :28.3, :57.1, and 1:27.2, Blue Moon Stride was uncontested on the front until the top of the stretch, when Tipton Teeez pulled from third and charged first over. The two hooked up in a duel midway through the stretch, with Tipton Teeez prevailing and edging to a neck victory over Blue Moon Stride. Pocket-rider and 1-5 favourite Call Me Queen Be finished third.
Returning $34.20 to win, Tipton Teeez collected her fifth victory of the season, with her seasonal earnings now at $103,871. She’s owned by Jennifer Brown and Richard Lombardo, conditioned by Brian Brown, and was driven by Tim Tetrick.
Shezarealdeal, who brushed past race leader East Side Hanover after sitting in the pocket for the first quarter, gained the lead nearing the top of the stretch and sustained control in her 1:56.4 win. Stationary through a :28.1 initial quarter, driver Scott Zeron tipped out of the pocket after a :56.3 half-mile and soon overtook the leader into the far turn. Edging closer into the 1:26.4 third-quarter were Skinny Dipper and Mother Of Art, who could only chase Shezarealdeal in the stretch and secure third and second, respectively.
Shipped off the 1-5 favorite, the Western Ideal filly out of Real Artist mare Shezarealceasar paid $2.40 to win. She is owned by Let It Ride Stables and Dana Parham and trained by Ross Croghan. This was her fourth win this season, with her seasonal earnings accumulating to $163,067.
Earning his second win of the season, American Passport took the first of three divisions of the $292,200 Bluegrass two-year-old colt pace in wire-to-wire fashion over the sloppy track.
The Tony Alagna trainee cleared the top easily and generated fractions of :29.1, :59, and 1:28 on the lead. The only challenge came from Rodeo Rock first over, with Big Top Hanover and Pretty Boy Hill tracking him two-wide. American Passport easily kicked away at the top of the stretch, leading by two lengths over Big Top Hanover and Pretty Boy Hill, who began their bids down the center of the track. The two merely followed American Passport to the line and finished second and third, respectively, to the 7-2 third choice in his 1:56.1 win.
The $9.40 winner is owned by Brittany Farms, Riverview Racing LLC, Alagna Racing LLC, and Jodi Siamis. Scott Zeron steered the son of American Ideal out of the Four Starzzz Shark mare Star Of The Show to victory. American Passport has earned $156,046 this season.
Jim Campbell trainee Katies Rocker also pulled off a wire-to-wire score, but did so in 1:57 at odds of 7-1. Andrew McCarthy sent the Rocknroll Hanover-Just Wait Katie-Real Artist colt for the lead, putting up times of :30.2, :59.3, and 1:29.1. Approaching the top of the stretch, Mr Right Hanover edged out of third and began a move first over, carrying 8-5 favourite Mindtrip behind. The two faded in the stretch, however, and were overtaken for the second and third spots by closers Talk Show and Fine Diamond.
Katies Rocker was a three-length winner, scoring for the fourth time this season and returning $16.60 to his backers at the betting windows. He pushed his earnings to $119,348.
Racing Hill, stalking in the pocket behind pacesetter Owen Hanover, drifted in his pouncing-stretch move, but still managed to pull off a two-length victory in the final division, doing so in 1:57.2. Owen Hanover led the field through panels of :30, :59.3, and 1:28.3 before losing control. Ideal Rocky, the 8-5 favourite, led the two-wide movement after Owen Hanover in the far turn, where Racing Hill began to edge off the inside and towards the center of the course. Once fed racetrack, he surpassed the 37-1 race leader and advanced to the wire in front, while Ideal Rocky finished third.
Driven by Brett Miller for trainer Tony Alagna and owner Tom Hill, the Roll With Joe colt out of Chasing Ideals by American Ideal paid $10.40 to win. This was his third win of the season, pushing his bankroll to $83,576.
Live racing at The Red Mile continues tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 3, with the $189,000 Bluegrass three-year-old filly pace, $144,000 Bluegrass three-year-old filly trot, $220,000 Bluegrass three-year-old colt trot, and $185,000 Bluegrass three-year-old colt pace. First race post is at 7:00 p.m.
(With files from The Red Mile)