The second and final preliminary round of Kentucky Sires Stakes for two-year-olds will highlight the card at the Red Mile on Thursday, August 22.
The three-year-olds will be on the track for their second round on Saturday night (August 24). The $2-million Kentucky Super Night, which will feature eight $250,000 finals, is scheduled for Sunday, September 1.
The first five races on Thursday's card are the five KYSS contests, with both pacing divisions and the filly trotters going postward in single $30,000 races, and the colt trotters divided into a pair of $15,000 splits.
Six freshman male pacers will line up behind the gate in Race 1, including first-round winner On Golden Ponder, who is trained and driven by Hall of Famers Bob McIntosh and Mike Lachance, respectively. The son of Ponder will start from Post 2. He comes into the race off a career-best 1:55 victory in last week's KYSS opener.
McIntosh and Lachance will also team up with favourite Somethinincredible in the single contest for juvenile filly pacers (Race 3). The daughter of Ponder overcame Post 9 last time out in her KYSS debut to win by more than eight lengths in 1:56.1 as the 1-9 favourite. She has drawn Post 4 for her Thursday test which is against just six rivals.
Petticoat Affair --- who won the lone KYSS opening-round division for two-year-old filly trotters as the 2-5 favourite in 1:58.3 --- looks to be a heavy favourite to repeat on Thursday. Trained by Bobby Brower and driven by Brad Hanners, the daughter of Valley Victor will start from Post 2 in Race 4.
Kabu and Scacco Matto, who won their respective KYSS splits for freshman colt trotters last time out, have drawn into separate divisions again on Thursday. A son of Valley Victor, Kabu romped to an 11-length win in 2:02.3 for trainer Henry Lunsford and driver Hanners. Scacco Matto, a son of Master Glide, scored in 1:59.2 for trainer Ken Oscarsson and driver Jeff Nisonger.
First-race post time on Thursday at The Red Mile is 7:00 p.m. Thursdays are Dollar Nights at The Red Mile, with admission, hot dogs, soft drinks and draft beer available for $1 each.
(The Red Mile)