Cumberland Run: Two-year-old pacers duel in Kentucky Sires Stakes finals
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Two-year-old pacers took center stage on Sunday afternoon at Cumberland Run, racing in their $70,000 Kentucky Sires Stakes finals.
Fillies were up first and Defining Moment (Anthony MacDonald) led at the opening quarter of 28 3/5, but she would be overtaken by favorite Asweetbeachhere (Atlee Bender) past that station. Asweetbeachhere would then be passed by a first-over Jules Hill (Joey Putnam) after the 58 1/5 half before Jules Hill went on to click off three-quarters in 1:24 4/5. Coming off the final bend, Bender swung Asweetbeachhere to the outside, and she would out-kick Jules Hill to the finish line, winning by a length in 1:53 3/5. Odds On Live Ball (Peter Wrenn) grabbed third.
A daughter of Sweet Lou bred by Courant AB, Asweetbeachhere is trained by Erv Miller for owner Doug Overhiser. The $115,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase has a record of 4-2-2 from 11 starts, has pocketed $177,360. She paid $3.18 to win.
In the final for colts and geldings, Shock Trooper (Tony Hall) put the quarter of 26 4/5 on the board, then yielded to sit in the two-hole behind public choice Arson (MacDonald). Arson backed down the half to just 57 1/5 but then came under attack from a first-over My Legend (Devon Tharps) en route to the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters. Their battle continued onto the final bend, with Steely Knife (David Miller), who ducked into fourth from post eight after getting around a breaking Tua Many Captains (Andy Miller) on the opening bend, catching up to cover to sit second-over.
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Late on the final turn, Steely Knife fanned to the outside, and he rallied in the stretch to defeat a game Shock Trooper, who tipped out of the pocket, by a neck in 1:53 4/5. Arson ended up third.
Ron Burke trains Steely Knife, an Always B Miki colt bred by Steve Stewart, Cotton Nash and Julie Nash, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Phil Collura and J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby. Steely Knife has two wins, four seconds and two thirds from 11 trips behind the gate, has put away $101,710 and returned $6.34 to win as the 2-1 second choice.