Red Mile: Date Night just misses world record in Bluegrass blowout

Date Night came within a fifth of a second of the world record and improved her career record to six-for-six after taking her $78,400 Bluegrass Series split for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday afternoon at The Red Mile in 1:50 4/5.

Missy Trix (David Miller) put up a fast opening-half clip of 27 seconds and 54 seconds, but she was all done on the far turn, and Delilah Hanover (Todd McCarthy), who had moved first-over out of third past the half, took over the lead. Date Night (Andy Miller), who got away in fifth, tracked Delilah Hanover and then dropped into the pocket behind her after she took over the top spot.

Delilah Hanover marched through three-quarters in 1:22 4/5 and continued to show the way into the lane, but she went on a break in mid-stretch, giving the lead to Date Night. After Date Night got control, it was all over, as she drew off to win by 8 3/4 lengths over Ebbies Lady (Ake Svanstedt). Delilah Hanover got back on-stride and ended up third.

Julie Miller trains Date Night, a daughter of Bar Hopping-Nightsthatneverend, for owners/breeders Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband. Date Night has earned $104,200 and paid $3.00 to win as the 1-2 favorite.

Yannick Gingras won two of the remaining four sections. In the first $77,400 test, he sat in the pocket with Jiggy Jog S through panels of 29, 56 4/5, and 1:25 3/5, angled her to the outside, went by Je Suis Si Belle (A. Miller) in the lane, and trotted away to tally by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:52 2/5. Je Suis Si Belle held second over Wallabee (Brian Sears).

Jiggy Jog S is a Swedish-bred Walner-Hot Mess Hanover filly trained by Ake Svanstedt for owners Jorgen Sparredal Inc. Bred by Vestmarka AB, Jiggy Jog S has a record of 2-3-0 from seven tries, has pocketed $111,068, and returned $3.20 to win as the 3-5 choice.

Gingras then teamed with Raised By Lindy to take the third $77,400 grouping in 1:52 1/5. Baptism (Scott Zeron) hit the quarter in 27 3/5, released a two-wide Danznqueen Hanover (Dexter Dunn), and then re-moved to the point before the 55 4/5 half. Baptism remained in charge at the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters, but Gingras moved Raised By Lindy out three-wide from second-over after that marker, she surged into the lead in the stretch, and then she powered away to prevail by 6 3/4 lengths. Danznqueen Hanover was next, followed by Baptism.

"I knew today she'd be really good. She could've been on the front, I think, and won as well, but anytime you can get a nice second-over trip well take it," said Gingras.

A homebred for Lindy Farms, Raised By Lindy is a daughter of Walner-Birthright trained by Domenico Cecere. Raised By Lindy made her third appearance in the winner's circle from seven efforts, pushed her bankroll to $108,618, and paid $4.20 to win as the second choice.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

After Gingras finished off his double, Dexter Dunn accomplished the same feat with Palermo Hanover and Lilbitalexis.

Palermo Hanover would blow up the toteboard in the fourth $78,400 flight, tallying in 1:55 at odds of 39-1. 1-9 favorite Misswalner Fashion (Tim Tetrick) got to the engine in a slow 30 1/5 opening quarter, but she made a break while yielding to Eternal Lee (Brian Sears) going to the 57 3/5 half. After that marker, Todd McCarthy sent Ryder In The Sky first-over out of fourth, giving a second-over trip to Palermo Hanover around the final bend and to the 1:27 1/5 three-quarters. Eternal Lee dug in determinedly in the lane, but Dunn had Palermo Hanover in full flight three-wide, and she got up to take the victory by a quarter of a length. 64-1 outsider Pioneer AS (Zeron) closed well for second, and Eternal Lee wound up third.

The victorious Father Patrick-Personal Style filly was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and is owned by trainer Noel Daley in partnership with Lenny Zelin and The Gandolfo Stables. Palermo Hanover broke her maiden in her eighth chance, has now stashed away $68,808, and returned $81.40 to win.

Lilbitalexis would capture the last $78,400 Bluegrass battle in 1:52 4/5. She took the lead away from Be My Baby Now (Gingras) after a 29 1/5 opening quarter, then would let a two-wide Behindblueyes (Svanstedt) take the top spot beyond the 56 second half. Once Behindblueyes cleared, she was under immediate attack from Brickhouse Babe (Mark MacDonald), and Brickhouse Babe was able to wrestle command away before the 1:24 4/5 three-quarters, shuffling Lilbitalexis back on the cones.

It looked like Lilbitalexis might be in a little trouble turning for home, but Brickhouse Babe drifted out, which allowed Lilbitalexis to escape off the pylons, and after she did, she was full of trot, surging back into the lead in the last eight and pulling away to get the win by 5 3/4 lengths. Brickhouse Babe was the runner-up, and Peyton Hanover (Tim Tetrick) came in third.

Owned by Pinske Stables and David Hoese, Lilbitalexis is a daughter of Walner-Jolie De Vie trained by Nifty Norman. Keith Clark, Dr. Jeff Ruch, and Daniel Phillips bred Lilbitalexis, who has been victorious in six of her seven trips behind the gate and banked $114,300. She paid $2.40 to win as the 1-5 choice.