On Sunday (Aug. 6), Red Mile hosted two second round divisions of the $80,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes, three $30,000 third round legs of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series and five $15,000 third round legs of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series for male pacers.
Kopi Luwak proved he was the favourite for a reason as the three-year-old son of Stay Hungry-Auniqueaquistion prevailed in the $80,000 leg for sophomore male pacers in 1:49.1.
Driver Andrew McCarthy placed Kopi Luwak right on the lead from the beginning of the mile. Trained by Tony Alagna, he was the overwhelming post-time favourite and won like one, as he laid down fractions of :26.4, :54.1 and 1:22.2 to trip the timer in 1:49.1. Larceny (Brian Sears) was second and Captain Awesome (Yannick Gingras) third.
Owned by Brad Grant, the colt has earned $121,750 lifetime and has a resume of 12-3-2-0. Kopi Luwak was bred by Steve Stewart and John Carver.
Ivy Park (Captaintreacherous-Ali Blue) triumphed in the leg for two-year-old male pacers in 1:53.4. Ivy Park collected his second victory from three trips to the gate in the $80,000 second leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes for freshman male pacers. Gingras was at the controls for trainer Nancy Takter.
Gingras positioned the colt on top after the first quarter in :29.1 with Dancin Champion cutting the first fraction. After the first split, Ivy Park assumed command with fractions of :58.1 and 1:27.2 prior to holding off Snap Count, who tossed down a :25.3 last quarter-mile to just miss.
Owned by Black Horse Racing, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco and Nancy Takter & Jaf Racing, Ivy Park has a record of 2-1-0 from three starts and has earned $60,000. He was a $90,000 purchase at the 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and was bred by Marvin Katz, Lynn Katz and Sam Goldband.
Admiral Hill took the first of two $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series events for sophomore male pacers. Driven by Brian Sears, the Sweet Lou colt is trained by Chris Ryder. He is owned and bred by Tom Hill. Combustion (Todd McCarthy) was second with Caviart Aiden (Devon Tharps) coming in third.
Tip Top Cat and Gingras did not have many anxious moments as they won the second Commonwealth Series division in 1:48.4 for trainer Ron Burke. Bamboozler (Tony Hall) was second and Captain Planet (Todd McCarthy) was third. The son of Always B Miki is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Canzone and Lawrence Karr. He was bred by Steve Stewart and John Carver.
Leiter (Captain Crunch-Major Dancer) prevailed by a head in the sole division of this event for male two-year-old pacers. Guided by Trever Smith, the colt earned his first career victory from two starts for trainer Jeff Smith. Leiter is owned by Bet The House LLC and was bred by AM Bloodstock Inc. Sir John B (Andy McCarthy) was second and Kissincaptain (Todd McCarthy) was third.
Blue Lou (Todd McCarthy) kicked home in 1:50.2 in the first split of $15,000 third round legs of the Golden Rod Series for trainer Brett Pelling. Erv Miller trainee Always Barefoot (Atlee Bender) captured the second division for three-year-old male pacers.
The Tony Alagna-trained Shock Trooper (Andy McCarthy), Fear The Madness for Joey and Joe Putnam, and the Ron Burke stable's Blood Bond (Yannick Gingras) reigned supreme in the divisions for two-year-olds.
Red Mile races on a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday schedule with a 1 p.m. (EDT) post time. Free program pages are available at the Red Mile website in addition to race replays.
(With files from The Red Mile)