Oak Grove: 2- and 3-year-olds battle in Kentucky Sire Stakes

The Greenshoe filly Youhadmeathalo went a robust mile on the 14-race Kentucky Sire Stake (KYSS) day at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Monday (June 24), matching the track record for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

Driver Marvin Luna pushed forward with Youhadmeathalo before yielding the lead to Du Maurier (driven by Todd McCarthy) past a 27 4/5 first quarter. Luna found himself shuffled to third as Green Mercedes (Andy Miller) circled forward to lead the field to a 56 4/5 half. Moving for the backside, Luna angled Youhadmeathalo first-over and came in earnest before inheriting the lead when Green Mercedes broke stride past three-quarters in 1:25 2/5. Youhadmeathalo extended her lead all through the lane to post a 5 1/4 length win over rallying The Roxbury (David Miller), with Du Maurier third and Bonn (Peter Wrenn) fourth.

Dewayne Minor trains Youhadmeathalo for owner Beentheredonethat Racing. She won her fifth race from 23 tries, has now earned $62,785 and paid $14.06 to win. Her 1:53 mile equalled the track record set in 2022 by Blue Bayou Deo and matched in 2023 by Mambacita.

Two other KYSS divisions for sophomore trotting fillies went on the card. Tove Palema (Andy Miller, 1:55 winning mile; $2.46 to win) won the opening division after a quarter move to the lead, and Woman Of Passion (David Miller, 1:53 1/5; $2.18) later followed suit with a similar trip to victory. Julie Miller trains Tove Palema, a daughter of Walner, for owners Andy Miller Stable Inc., Patrick Hoopes and Mortgage Boys Stable. Woman Of Passion, also a daughter of Walner, is trained by Carter Pinske for owner-breeder Al Libfeld.

The fastest division of the three KYSS divisions for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings came from 6-5 favorite Better Is Nice (Andy McCarthy) when he bolted off a pocket trip to a 1:50 win. McCarthy secured the trail seat through a 26 2/5 first quarter from Courtship (Yannick Gingras) and stayed put through middle fractions of 54 3/5 and 1:22 3/5 before pouncing off the bottom corner to a 1 3/4 length win. Copperfield (David Miller) closed for third and Women Layer (Todd McCarthy) finished fourth.

Tony Alagna trains Better Is Nice, a colt by Bettor's Wish, for owners Alagna Racing LLC., Pryde Stables and Birnam Wood Farms. He won his eighth race from 17 starts, has now banked $605,783 and paid $4.44 to win.

Arson (Scott Zeron, 1:50 4/5; $4.54) pounced off a second-over trip in the first division for sophomore pacing colts and geldings to just land a head win over Dancin Champion (David Miller). Total Stranger (Yannick Gingras, 1:52; $2.28) later went pillar-to-post to win by a length over Steely Knife (David Miller). Eric Patalan trains Arson for owners Thestable Arson Group and Hutchison Harness LLC., while Nancy Takter conditions Total Stranger for owners Mitchell Friesen, Caviart Farms and Chuck Pompey.

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Lindy's Coyotito (Andy Miller) got top honors from the pair of KYSS divisions for sophomore trotting colts and geldings with a 1:53 3/5 pocket-popping win. Securing the trip behind Naked Cowboy (Anibal Borjas) after a 27 3/5 first quarter, Lindy's Coyotito followed suit through middle sectionals of 55 4/5 and 1:24 4/5 before striking the blow in the lane to win by three-quarters of a length over fast-closing Memorynimagination (Scott Zeron) and International Law (Atlee Bender).

A colt by Chapter Seven, Lindy's Coyotito won his fourth race from 10 starts and has now earned $54,810 for owners Andy Miller Stable, Panda Monium Stable and Lindy Farms of Connecticut. Julie Miller trains the $7.22 winner.

Crown Monarch (Andy McCarthy, 1:54 1/5; $33.78) nailed tempo-setter Pick Pocket (Scott Zeron) and waded the persistent Hung Over (Marvin Luna) in the other division to score as the longest shot on the board. Per Engblom trains the Father Patrick colt for Engblom Stable LLC., Amos Lengacher and Tomas Andersson.

Realmenwearblu (Yannick Gingras) rolled in the lone KYSS split for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Gingras got an easy lead and strolled unfazed through a clip of 29, 58 2/5 and 1:27 to win by 1 1/4 lengths over rough-gaited Got Bourbon (Todd McCarthy). Nancy Takter trains the son of Tall Dark Stranger for owners Nancy Takter, Patrick Hoopes, R A W Equine Inc. and Rojan Stables. He paid $3.18 to win.

Skywalker Sea (Yannick Gingras) later demolished her competition to make a winning debut in the lone KYSS division for 2-year-old pacing fillies. The filly by Downbytheseaside seized the lead after a 57 second half and kicked away from her peers to a 10 length victory in 1:53 with High Proof (Todd McCarthy) holding second from a fast-closing Hip Shot (Scott Zeron). Todd Luther conditions the Greg Luther Racing LLC. homebred who paid $3.60 to win.

World By Storm (Brandon Bates) won the faster of the two KYSS divisions for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings with a front-stepping win in 1:55 4/5. The Mike Hollenback trainee strolled to the lead past a 29 1/5 first quarter and coasted through a 58 4/5 half and 1:27 4/5 three-quarters before wading off the late charge of Memento Mori (Scott Zeron) by a half length. Hollenback also owns the Tactical Landing colt who paid $7.52 to win.

Goo Goo Gone (Andy McCarthy, 1:58; $7.92) won the other KYSS division for 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Chris Beaver trains and co-owns the Googoo Gaagaa colt with Martin Yoder.

Stacking Green (Yannick Gingras) broke stride in late stretch but came to quickly enough to hold the win in 1:56 2/5 in the faster KYSS division for 2-year-old trotting fillies. The Todd Luther trainee circled to the lead past a 29 2/5 first quarter and cruised through a 59 1/5 half and 1:27 4/5 three-quarters until making a bobble in late stretch. Losing ground and veering inside, Stacking Green regained stride in the final yards and just hit the beam a neck better than pocket-sitter Sound Judgement (Jim Oscarsson). Greg Luther Racing LLC. owns the Greenshoe filly who paid $5.34 to win.

Yo Tillie (Verlin Yoder, 1:57 1/5; $5.92) powered first-over off a pocket trip to victory in the other KYSS division for 2-year-old trotting fillies. Verlin Yoder owns and trains the daughter of Tactical Landing.

Live racing resumes at Oak Grove on Tuesday (June 25) with a 14-race card starting at 3 p.m. (CDT). Tuesday's card features four $150,000 finals of the KYSS for 4-year-olds.

--press release (Oak Grove)--