Red Mile: Eternal Lee, Grace Hill bag Allerage Farms races for older mares

There was a huge upset by Eternal Lee and another triumph for Grace Hill in the Allerage Farms Open events for mares on Sunday afternoon at The Red Mile.

Eternal Lee (Andy McCarthy), by far the longest shot on the board at 32-1, went to the lead from post three in the $57,000 trot, and she put up fractions of 28 2/5, 55 4/5 and 1:23 2/5 with 1-9 choice M-M's Dream (David Miller) in the pocket. M-M's Dream began to gap on the final bend, though, so Eternal Lee remained clear and McCarthy was able to wait until the stretch to pop the plugs on Eternal Lee.

Through the lane it was obvious M-M's Dream just didn't have it today, and the only one with a chance of chasing down Eternal Lee was Forceful Power (Yannick Gingras), who followed dull cover from Warrawee Xenia (Tim Tetrick) on the final bend but then lost it when Warrawee Xenia made a break. Forceful Power had a good kick in the final eighth, but Eternal Lee had the jump and held sway by a diminishing length in 1:52 1/5. M-M's Dream held third from Raised By Lindy (Scott Zeron), with Warrrawee Xenia fifth.

"Not completely (shocked), but I can understand," said winning trainer Chris Ryder. "I know we were the longest shot on the board, but she's been good lately, and on her day she can go."

Ryder trains Eternal Lee, a 4-year-old Southwind Frank mare, for owner/breeder Murray Ferguson Jr. She has a summary of 13-6-4 from 37 lifetime starts, has now put away $524,422 and paid $67.56 to win.

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Order was restored in the $69,500 pace as Grace Hill (Doug McNair) prevailed in 1:49 3/5. She got away third and watched as Boudoir Hanover (Todd McCarthy) led the way through opening-half stations of 27 1/5 and 55 4/5. McNair then put Grace Hill into attack mode first-over on the far turn, but Boudoir Hanover remained in front at three-quarters, which went on the board in 1:23.

Boudoir Hanover turned into the stretch with a clear advantage, but Grace Hill continued to make forward progress and surged into the top spot inside the final eighth. From there, Grace Hill went to on to win by about a length over pocket-sitter Kobe's Gigi (David Miller). Valar Dohaeris (Mark MacDonald), Boudoir Hanover and Velocity Lady (Brady Galliers) rounded out the order.

A 5-year-old Always B Miki mare, Grace Hill is trained by Virgil Morgan Jr. for owner Tom Hill. This was her 29th career win, she has now earned $1,735,616 and she paid $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favorite.