Red Mile: Canigetalouploup fastest in Bluegrass action for 2YO filly pacers

Two-year-old pacing fillies kicked off their portion of the Grand Circuit Meet at The Red Mile on Thursday afternoon with a trio of $96,700 Bluegrass divisions that were won by Canigetalouploup, Sarasota Hanover and Lyons Legend.

Canigetalouploup (Yannick Gingras) took the lead away from Reachingforthemoon (Andy McCarthy) nearing the 28 1/5 quarter in the first split, and after middle-half panels of 56 3/5 and 1:24 1/5, Canigetalouploup drew off in a 26 3/5 final panel, tallying by 4 1/4 lengths in 1:50 4/5. Peace Talks (David Miller) put in a first-over try but was rebuffed by the eventual winner and had to settle for second and Asweetbeachhere (Scott Zeron) wound up third from second-over.

A daughter of Sweet Lou, Canigetalouploup is trained by Ron Burke for co-owners/breeders Burke Racing Stable LLC. and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. and co-owners Phil Collura and Larry Karr. She has a summary of 3-1-2 from 11 outings, has banked $106,549 and paid 7.78 to win as a 5-2 offering.

Sea Shanty Hanover (David Miller) hit the quarter in 27 4/5 in the second grouping but Gifted One (Todd McCarthy) came out of the pocket and took the lead on the way to the half, which was reached in 56 seconds. On the last turn, Scott Zeron would fire Sarasota Hanover first-over from third, tracked by Reigning Jade (Tim Tetrick), but Gifted One was still on the lead at the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters and into the lane.

Gifted One held sway until inside the final eighth when Sarasota Hanover wore her down and went by, but Sea Shanty Hanover and Reigning Jade also came with bids. They fell short, though, as Sarasota Hanover held sway to the wire to defeat Sea Shanty Hanover by a nose in 1:52, with Reigning Jade a close third.

"We've had a couple of hiccups along the way, but we think we have them figured out, which is why she's here. I was tickled with her today," said winning trainer Linda Toscano. "She's been a very sound filly all along. We've just had a couple little glitches. As long as she comes out of this good, she's eligible to everything."

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By Stay Hungry and bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Sarasota Hanover, who fetched $210,000 at the 2022 Standardbred Horse Sale, is owned by Jablonsky Held Stable, Camelot Stable Inc., John Fodera and South Mountain Stables. This was her third win in her seventh try, she has now pocketed $71,695 and she returned $9.78 to win as the 7-2 third choice.

The last section saw Lyons Legend (Tetrick) on the lead through panels of 27 4/5, 57 2/5 and 1:25 3/5. 1-4 favorite Blue Pacific (David Miller) got going first-up from third on the final bend, but Lyons Legend got a gap on her going into the lane and held sway to the wire, prevailing by a head over a fast-finishing Blue Pacific in 1:52 1/5. Flawless (Gingras) collected third.

Another Stay Hungry filly, this one bred by Stonegate Standardbred Farms, Lyons Legend is trained by Jim King Jr. for owner Threelyonsracing. Lyons Legend has earned $285,286 from six victories, a second and a third in nine outings. A $33,000 buy at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, she paid $7.46 to win as a 5-2 shot.