Oak Grove: Kentucky Sire Stakes bring out top 4YOs Monday

The lucrative Kentucky Sire Stakes program launches for 2024 on Monday (April 22) at Oak Grove with six $50,000 divisions for 4-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. On display will be a number of top-ranked sophomores from last year starting at 3:00 P.M. local time at the Kentucky oval.

Male pacers kick off the action when seven do battle in the opener on the 12-race card. Combustion, who made most of his $408,815 as a 2-year-old, owns the biggest bankroll, and he'll try to get some return on investment for new trainer Doug Dilloian Jr. starting from post one with Todd McCarthy listed to drive.

Combustion has been raced a bit conservatively in his last couple of starts after a 1:51 2/5 win to start the year at the Meadowlands, and Dilloian Jr. is looking for a more aggressive journey this time around.

"The last two trips haven't worked out as we hoped, but the horse has paced very strong last halves and he will be forwardly-placed in Kentucky," said Dilloian Jr., who will train the horse before leaving for the Bluegrass State early Friday morning.

Like Combustion, who was a $200,000 purchase in November at Harrisburg, Admiral Hill changed hands late in 2023 and now resides in the Per Engblom barn. The son of Sweet Lou posted the fastest mile of the field in 2024 with a 1:50 win in his April 6 debut at the Meadowlands and seems to be the main challenger starting from post two.

Both horses will shed Lasix since that is the rule of law in Kentucky stakes races but Dilloian Jr. isn't concerned.

"I actually think he's better without [Lasix]. I didn't take him off it only because he was put on it prior to us buying him," said Dilloian Jr.

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Mare trotters take center stage in the third race and favoritism could swing to Mambacita as she makes her 4-year-old debut for trainer Tony Alagna from post two with Marvin Luna driving. The daughter of Tactical Landing has just shy of $800,000 in her career, making her by far the richest in the field. Railee Something, a $428,085 winner in 2023, is to consider in the field despite outside post eight.

Mare pacers take to the track two races later with Always B Naughty the standout from last year in the field. The Nancy Takter trainee made just shy of $420,000 in 2023 and was an impressive 1:50 1/5 winner in her first start of the year.

"She trained a fast mile 10 days ago at the farm as it's been difficult finding a spot to race her," said Takter. "She trained super and has always raced well on the five-eighths track"

Always B Naughty, who starts from post four with Andrew McCarthy expected to be in the bike, will be two spots to the outside of 2023 Jugette runner-up Zanatta. The speedy daughter of Stay Hungry comes in off a second and a third at the Meadowlands.

The second division for male pacers is race seven on the card, and El Rey seems likely to take plenty of pari-mutuel action as he starts his season following a pair of Meadowlands qualifiers. Driven by Dexter Dunn in those morning works, David Miller is now listed to take the lines from post six for trainer Andrew Harris.

Nancy Takter also has Cant Stop Lou in this field from post five and is optimistic that he'll improve off a third-place finish at Harrah's Philadelphia in his second try of the year.

"He needed the start at Chester [Philly] and trained back sharp Wednesday [April 17]," said Takter. "He won the [Sire Stakes] final at 2 at Oak Grove, so I hope he still likes the track at 4."

A pair of male trotting divisions (races eight and 10) close out the Sire Stakes, with French Wine, a career winner of just over $1 million who won the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship and placed in a number of Grand Circuit stakes last year, the headliner in the second split.

"We were very happy with French Wine's qualifiers at the Meadowlands," said trainer Julie Miller. "He trained really well at Oak Grove this week in preparation for his first start and we are looking forward to a successful beginning to the season."

French Wine will start from post six with Andy Miller in the bike.