Grand Circuit is underway at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky, and this afternoon’s 11-race program featured many of the sport’s top two-year-old trotting fillies, as they did battle in four divisions of the Bluegrass
Stakes.
Canadian connections clicked in the $87,625 opening division thanks to Tequila Slammer, who front-stepped to a victory for driver George Brennan and trainer John Bax. The Yankee Glide--Silly Senorita miss laid down fractions of :29, :59.2 and 1:29.1 before giving way briefly to the race favourite, Behindclosedoors. That filly poked a head in front in the lane, but Tequila Slammer battled back to post a career-best clocking of 1:56.4. Behindclosedoors was second and Crown Laurel finished third.
It was the third win of the season in seven tries for Tequila Slammer, who is owned by Glengate Farms of Campbellville and Bax’s Parkhill Stud Farm of Peterborough, Ontario. The filly, who was a $45,000 purchase at last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale, has banked $147,080 to date.
Brian Sears worked out a pocket trip for Spicy Wings in the $88,625 second division, and the Andover Hall--Angel Fire Hanover miss found late room at the rail en route to posting a career-best clocking of 1:55.3. The Ross Croghan pupil defeated Secret Magic and race favourite Bar Slide, and in the process she improved her rookie record to 1-4-1 in eight attempts.
Let It Ride Stables Inc., Mentally Stable Inc. and Jerry Silva share ownership on the career winner of $79,456, who was purchased for $70,000 at last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
A stunning upset took place in the $87,625 third division when Croquet Style, who was sent off at 40-1, used an eye-catching rally to gun down 1-9 favourite Costa Rica in the final strides. Costa Rica, fresh off her win in the $475,000 Peaceful Way Stakes, chopped out splits of :28.3, :59.1 and 1:29.2 before going into sprint mode. Peter Wallinder tipped Croquet Style off the rail when the field turned for home, and the daughter of Yankee Glide--Glamour Shot knocked off Costa Rica en route to stopping the clock in 1:57.2. Third prize went to Grand Cameron.
Anette Lorentzon conditions the filly for ACL Stuteri Ab of Paris, Kentucky. The victory was her second score in just eight assignments, and the lion’s share of the purse lifted her earnings to $61,863.
Costa Rica’s stablemate, Cantab It All, was upset in the $88,625 final division despite being sent off as the 2-5 choice. Her conqueror was Impressive Kemp, who romped away from her rivals for driver Andrew McCarthy. He touched down on the lead shortly after the quarter pole with the Noel Daley trainee before giving way to the heavily-favoured Cantab It All. That filly led through middle splits of :57 and 1:27.2 before fading out the picture. McCarthy rolled his charge to the outside around the final turn and she drew clear to win by a big margin in a career-best clocking of 1:55.3. Southwind Samurai was next best and Full Tank finished third.
Purchased for $130,000 at last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale, Impressive Kemp has now banked $47,103 for owner Jean Cloutier of Stanstead, Quebec. The daughter of Credit Winner--Emilie Cas El is the half-sister to Highscore Kemp (1:51.4 - $83,288), who set a World Record in the World Trotting Derby for fillies at the Du Quoin State Fair earlier this month.