Red Mile: Bahama Momma cruises in Kentucky Championship Series
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Bahama Momma, already with two Pennsylvania Sire Stakes victories to her credit, added a Kentucky Championship Series tally to her collection with a 1:51 1/5 win in Sunday night's $80,000 tilt for 2-year-old pacing fillies.
Driven by Scott Zeron, Bahama Momma floated out from post five and drove on two-wide to take the lead away from Caviart Amore Mio (Todd McCarthy) beyond the 27 4/5 quarter. From there, Bahama Momma put up middle-half fractions of 56 3/5 and 1:24 1/5, then sprinted home in 27 seconds flat to prevail by two lengths. Race favorite Caviart Daisy (Andy McCarthy) finished evenly from second-over and was the runner-up and Seaside Shuffle (Dexter Dunn) was third after a first-over attempt against the eventual winner.
A daughter of Tall Dark Stranger, Bahama Momma is trained by Joe Bongiorno for owners Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Odds On Racing. Bred by Christina Takter, Marvin Katz and Brixton Medical Inc., Bahama Momma has a summary of 3-1-0 from four outings, has earned $106,221 and paid $7.34 to win.
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Two $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series splits took place, with victories going to Bettor Be A Star, a daughter of Bettor's Wish bred by Diamond Creek Farm and Country Club Acres, from second-over in 1:51 1/5 for driver Patrick Ryder, trainer Chris Ryder and owner Ryder Stable, and Hope Hill, a filly by Papi Rob Hanover bred by owner Tom Hill, from first-up in 1:52 2/5 for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.
The Ryders also won a $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series test with She B Minnie, a daughter of Always B Miki bred by Thaddeus Wier, on the front-end in 1:53 1/5. She B Minnie is owned by Ryder Henderson Mondillo, Anne Demers and W.J. Donovan. Also taking Golden Rod Series splits were Gala, a Downbytheseaside homebred for Diamond Creek, from off cover in 1:53 3/5 for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Brian Brown, and Always By The Sea, another one by Always B Miki and bred by Seaside Bloodstock and Brian Tormey, from first-over in 1:53 1/5 for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Steve Carter.