Red Mile: Brodeur, Longfellow S shine in Kentucky Championship Series

On Monday (Aug. 7) the 15-race card at The Red Mile featured two $80,000 divisions of the Kentucky Championship Series, four $30,000 splits of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series and six $15,000 groupings of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series for freshman and sophomore male trotters. Brodeur came home first in the Championship Series contest for 3-year-old males, while Longfellow S prevailed in the dash for 2-year-olds.

Brodeur (Tony Hall) collected his second consecutive victory for trainer Anette Lorentzon. The son of Tactical Landing left from post position six and went to the lead over favorite Ari Ferrari J (Dexter Dunn) at the half-mile pole in 54 3/5. After trotting through three-quarters in 1:23, the colt found another gear to best a locked-in-the-pocket Ari Ferrari J by a length and a half in 1:51 2/5. Country Dagger (Brian Sears) was third.

Owned by ACL Stuteri AB, Kjell Johansson and his conditioner, Brodeur is the fifth foal out of Sleep Tight My Luv, who is a half-sibling to $1.64 million earner Pampered Princess. The colt was bred by Carter Duer and sold for $38,000 at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Brodeur paid a generous $30.60 for his third win in 15 starts and boosted his bankroll to $146,840. Ari Ferrari J provided his supporters with $2.44 to place for trainer Tony Alagna. Country Dagger paid $6.88 to round out the trifecta and hails from Melvin Schmucker's barn.

Longfellow S finished strongly for Sears and Marcus Melander to break his maiden in 1:54. Favored Duke Of Walner (Walner-Nashville Lindy, Tim Tetrick) was second after leading the field into the stretch, and Topmost (Walner-D'One, Yannick Gingras) was third.

The second foal out of Crysti Dream, Longfellow S is owned by Courant Inc. and Morten Langli and was bred by AM Bloodstock. The colt has a record of 1-0-1 from two starts and has earned $49,000. He paid $9.22 to win. Duke Of Walner paid $2.60 to place and Topmost was $6.60 to show.

Kentucky Commonwealth Series champion Espresso delivers

Espresso, the defending champion in the Kentucky Commonwealth Series, returned to the one-mile oval to score by a neck in 1:54 for Andy and Julie Miller in the first of two $30,000 races for 3-year-old male trotters. The son of Chapter Seven paid $7.46 to win.

Novel (Dunn, $4.44) was second for trainer Alagna and Kovu AS (Hall, $3.38) was third for trainer Lorentzon.

Quebec Hanover (Ake Svanstedt, $6.46) trotted home impressively to score by a neck in 1:53 4/5 in the second split for sophomore trotters. Trained by his driver, the son of Walner scored the first win in his eight-race career. Owned by his trainer, Midnight Sun Partners Inc., Kenneth Kjellgren and Joe Sbrocco and JAF Racing, Quebec Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and paid $6.46 to win. Sparks Fly (Atlee Bender, $6.32) nailed down the show spot while The Fast Lane (Scott Zeron, $2.32) was third.

International Law (International Moni-Love N Lindy) collected his second win from as many trips to the post in the first of two divisions for 2-year-old male trotters in 1:54 3/5. Owned by Ervin Miller Stables, Douglas Overhiser, D & M Trading II LLC and John Stefanos, International Law was driven by Bender and is trained by Erv Miller.

He was bred by K R Breeding LLC and paid $8.08 to win. Show Me (Andy Miller, $15.18) was second and Alamo Mission (Dunn, $2.18) was third.

Pick Pocket (Walner-Can't Have My Money) took the other division in 1:55 3/5 for driver Anthony MacDonald and trainer Eric Patalan. Owned by Thestable Pick Pocket Group and Hutchison Harness LLC., he paid $19.80 to win. Bright Star (Andrew McCarthy, $4.08) was second and Sforza (Gingras, $3.86) was third.

Pick Pocket was bred by Moni Maker Stable.

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Prince Of Honor with a victorious return

Prince Of Honor, who took the final of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series and the Corbin Sires Stakes final at The Red Mile last year, kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with a 1:52 4/5 win for driver Todd McCarthy, trainer Carter Pinske, and owners Pinske Stables and David Hoese in his $15,000 Golden Rod Series flight. Bred by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, the Walner gelding won for the seventh time in ten outings overall and has put away $135,290.

Also winning Golden Rod Series tilts for the sophomores were Grizz Wyllie (by Father Patrick and bred by co-owners Tony Holmes and Walter Zent) in 1:54 2/5 for driver David Miller, trainer Nifty Norman and co-owners Kovach Stables LLC. and Enzed Racing Stable Inc., and Buckhead Ridge (by Nuncio and bred by Russell Williams) in 1:53 4/5 for driver Scott Zeron, trainer/co-owner Gregg McNair and co-owners Dean Lockhart and Brady Doyle.

Scoring in the trio of Golden Rod Series clashes for 2-year-olds were Spirit Chaser (by Muscle Hill and bred by co-owner Brittany Farms) in 1:57 1/5 for Zeron, trainer Tony Alagna and co-owners Pryde Stables Inc, Caviart Farms and Riverview Racing Steven Head, Swan Explosion (by Swan For All and bred by Gabriella's LLC.) in 1:55 2/5 for driver Peter Wrenn, trainer Melanie Wrenn and owners Bottom Line Racing LLC., Wrenn Racing LLC., and Timothy Wittmer, and Lockheed Martin (by Tactical Landing and bred by AM Bloodstock Inc.) in 1:56 2/5 for driver Andy McCarthy, trainer Alagna, and owners Pryde Stables Inc., Peter Alagna, Michele Head, and Steven Head.

--edited press release (Red Mile)--