Red Mile: Dexter's duo get it 'Dunn' in ISS for 2YO pacing fillies

Dexter Dunn added two more Grand Circuit victories to his haul by taking both $126,500 International Stallion Stakes events for freshman pacing fillies on Friday afternoon at The Red Mile with Twin B Joe Fresh and McSeaside.

In the first division Treacherous Penny (Joe Bongiorno) cleared fellow Tony Alagna trainee Caviart Davia (Andy McCarthy) for the top spot nearing the 27 2/5 quarter and would go on to hit the half in 56 1/5 while Twin B Joe Fresh bided her time in fourth before being sent first-up on the last turn.

Twin B Joe Fresh made it into a joint second on the rim as Treacherous Penny clicked three-quarters in 1:23 4/5, and then Twin B Joe Fresh would surge into the lead coming off the bend. From there, Twin B Joe Fresh handled a bid from second-over Strong Poison (Yannick Gingras) through the stretch drive, bettering that rival by a length and a quarter in a 1:50 mile. Light And Tight (David Miller) finished third.

A Roll With Joe-Fresh Breeze filly bred by Brittany Farms, Twin B Joe Fresh is trained by Chris Ryder, and he also shares ownership of her with Dunn, Peter Trebotica, and Barry Spak. Acquired for $65,000 at the 2021 Standardbred Horse Sale, she has put away $598,162 to go with an 8-2-0 record from ten appearances, and she returned $2.22 to win as the favorite.

"She's a pretty special filly," Dunn said after the race. "Chris [Ryder] and Pete [Trebotica] liked her from day one and she hasn't let us down yet."

Ryder confirmed this was Twin B Joe Fresh's last start of 2022 and that she was off to Brittany Farms for some relaxation time.

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Ohio Sires Stakes champion McSeaside won her flight in similar fashion. Bellisima Hanover (Todd McCarthy) grabbed the top spot from Zanatta (Joe Bongiorno) after the 28 second opening quarter and maintained control through a 56 second half, but McSeaside launched first-over out of third on the final turn and took the lead coming to the 1:24 three-quarters.

McSeaside got separation on the group once she struck the front, and held sway over a gaining Zanatta, who split horses after getting shuffled back on the inside, by a length in 1:51 2/5. Caviart Marcella (A. McCarthy) was third.

"[She's] obviously a nice filly," Dunn remarked. "I'm lucky I picked up the drive on her - not really [a] big [filly], but game. She was a little aggressive, [so] I thought if I started her up too early in the mile, she was probably going to be a little tired. We came out sort of at the half, and [I] tried to get her relaxed a little bit. We moved on from there - she got a little lonely on the straight but held on good."

Ron Burke trains McSeaside, a Downbytheseaside-McGibson filly bred by Andray Farm and Sergent Stables LLC., for owners Burke Racing Stable LLc., Beasty LLC., J&T Silva Stables LLC., and Knox Services Inc. McSeaside, who was purchased for $67,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, made her third appearance in the winner's circle from eight efforts, has now pocketed $283,364, and paid $3.16 to win as the 1-2 choice..

--quotes gathered by Ray Cotolo--