Red Mile: Blank debuts in style in Kentucky Championship Series

Making his first career pari-mutuel start, 15-1 shot Blank rallied off cover to a 1:59 win in the first $80,000 leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for 2-year-old male trotters on Sunday night at The Red Mile.

Racing over a drying-out track that was rated good but three seconds off and was very favorable to closers throughout the night, Blank was in seventh at the 30 second quarter and 1:00 1/5 half as Shoe Shine Willie (Geremy Bobbitt) led the way. Blank would then end up third-over as Monserrate (Yannick Gingras) and Landing On Time (Scott Zeron) pulled in front of him, though Monserrate made a break on the final bend.

Shoe Shine Willie, another 15-1 offering, kept the top spot to three-quarters in 1:30 1/5, but 6-5 favorite Jeffery J (Todd McCarthy) angled out of the pocket passing that marker and forged his way into the lead midway through the stretch. Jeffery J, who was two-for-two at the Meadowlands coming in, couldn't hold on either, though, as Blank fanned out widest for Dunn and had the best kick, winning by a length. Jeffery J also surrendered second to Landing On Time at the wire.

From the first crop of Gimpanzee, Blank was bred by Diamond Creek Farm and is trained by Marcus Melander for owners S R F Stable and Holly Lane Stud East LTD. A $150,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale buy, Blank was fourth and first in two baby races at the Meadowlands, but hadn't charted a line since July 6. He paid $33.64 to win.

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While he came up third in the top level race, McCarthy did win two $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series splits, scoring with Go Dog Go (by Greenshoe and bred by co-owner Wiesman Farms LLC., paid $20.10 to win) in 1:58 for trainer Carter Pinske and co-owner Al Libfeld, and with Chat Room (by Chapter Seven and bred by Marvin Katz, Sam Goldband and Al Libfeld, paid $6.42 to win) in 1:58 2/5 for trainer John Butenschoen.

Rounding out the Commonwealth Series victors was Big Shoes (by Greenshoe, bred by co-owner Knox Services Inc., paid $8.54 to win) in 1:58 3/5 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Ron Burke and co-owners Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

A trio of $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series tests were also held, with trainer Tony Alagna doubling in those races. Blue Cartier (by Chapter Seven and bred by co-owner Crawford Farms, paid $3.90 to win) won the first in 1:59 with Gingras in the bike for Alagna and co-owners Brad Grant and Pryde Stables Inc. and Alagna-trained Uno (by Tactical Landing and bred by co-owner Buckstone Land Livestock, paid $93.00 to win) took the second in 2:01 for driver Anibal Borjas and co-owners Pryde Stables Inc. and William Beattie.

The Golden Rod finale went to Yo Sheldon (by Love You and bred by Bender Sweden Inc. and Kentuckiana Farms LLC, paid $34.28 to win) in 1:58 2/5 for owner/trainer/driver Verlin Yoder.