Red Mile: Andy McCarthy goes two-for-two in Kentucky Championship Series
Andy McCarthy piloted 3-year-old pacing colt I Did It Myway and 3-year-old trotting filly Eternal Lee to wins in the $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series races that occurred on Tuesday at The Red Mile.
I Did It Myway landed in fourth while first Six Feet Apart (David Miller) and then Pebble Beach (Todd McCarthy) led through fractions of 27 1/5, 55, and 1:22 1/5. I Did It Myway began a first-over move out of fourth past the half, and although Pebble Beach had the jump on him turning for home, it didn't matter, as I Did It Myway kicked home in 26 seconds to get up and win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:48 3/5. Pebble Beach had to settle for second, followed by Dancin Sancho (Trevor Smith).
Trained by Tony Alagna, I Did It Myway is a Captaintreacherous colt owned by breeder Joe Sbrocco in partnership with Country Club Acres Inc., Don Latore, and Alagna And Fodera Racing. This was his ninth win from 19 starts, he has now banked $338,658, and he paid $5.40 to win as the second choice.
In the tilt for sophomore trotting fillies, Date Night (Andy Miller) chopped out the opening quarter in 27 seconds before she was overtaken by Bare My Soul (Yannick Gingras). Yanaba (T. McCarthy) was up to challenge Bare My Soul after she cleared, but Gingras strung her out until after the 55 2/5 half before releasing her. Watching that from fifth had been Eternal Lee, and she would attack first-up on the last turn. Eternal Lee blew by Yanaba to take command on the way to the 1:22 4/5 three-quarters, and there was no catching Eternal Lee from there, as she reached the wire a length and a half ahead of a gaining Date Night in a 1:51 mile. Yanaba held on for third.
Chris Ryder trains Eternal Lee, a Southwind Frank filly bred by owner Murray Ferguson Jr. Eternal Lee has compiled a record of 4-3-2 from 15 starts, has now put away $245,488, and returned $36.12 to win as a 17-1 offering.
Taurasi, by Racing Hill and bred by owners M T Pockets Stables and Victoria Howard, won the lone Kentucky Commonwealth Series dash for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers in 1:48 3/5 for driver Devon Tharps and trainer Tony Alagna and Silverstone, by American Ideal and bred by Kentuckiana Farms, Glenn Bechtel, and Ross Bonafield, captured the single $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series flight for the group in 1:50 4/5 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Ron Burke, and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC. J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Phil Collura.
Alagna also captured the sole $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series showdown for sophomore trotting fillies with More THan Ever, by Father Patrick and bred by co-owner Brittany Farms, in 1:52 for driver Dexter Dunn and co-owner Riverview Racing LLC.
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There were also three $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series tests for the trotting lasses, with victories going to:
--Blue Bayou Deo (by Trixton and bred by Deo Volente Farms and T L P Stable) in 1:52 for driver John MacDonald, trainer Jason Robinson, and owner Thestable Blue Bayou Group;
--Unleashed Kemp (by Wishing Stone and bred by Steve Stewart and Kemppi Stable) in 1:51 4/5 for driver Andy McCarthy, co-owner/trainer Noel Daley, and co-owners Deo Volente Farms and Patricia Stable;
--Saffron Girl (by Muscle Hill and bred by Bluestone Farms and Fredericka Caldwell) in 1:51 4/5 for co-owner/driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Ron Burke, and co-owners Frank Canzone and Joseph Di Scala Jr.