Red Mile: Favorites don't disappoint in Kentucky Championship Series

Kilmister, the Peter Haughton Memorial champion, improved his record to five-for-five with a victory in his $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series race for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Sunday afternoon at The Red Mile. Boudoir Hanover would take the other Kentucky Championship Series tilt on the program for 3-year-old filly pacers.

Driver Brian Sears took Kilmister back to sixth from post one and was in that spot at the 27 3/5 opening quarter, but Kilmister came with a wicked brush in the backstretch that carried him by leader Excalibur Bi (Andy McCarthy) after the 57 second half-mile marker. From there, Kilmister rolled through three-quarters in 1:24 4/5 and then scooted home in 27 4/5 to tally by two lengths. Excalibur Bi held second over Point Of Perfect (Todd McCarthy).

Courant Inc. owns the Marcus Melander-trained Kilmister, a Chapter Seven-Treviso colt who was bred by Moni Market Breeders. Purchased for $170,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Kilmister has earned $249,035 to go with his undefeated status and he returned $4.14 to win as the even-money favorite.

In the Kentucky Championship Series flight for the sophomore pacing fillies, Msdinosis Blugrass (Dexter Dunn) carved out fractions of 28 2/5, 56 1/5, and 1:23 3/5 while Boudoir Hanover (T. McCarthy) bided her time in third. McCarthy then cut Boudoir Hanover loose in the lane, and even though Msdinosis Blugrass had the jump on her, Boudoir Hanover was full of pace and sprinted a 26 2/5 final quarter to get up and win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:50 3/5. Msdinosis Blugrass was second, followed by Dont Fence Me In (A. McCarthy).

Boudoir Hanover is a Captaintreacherous filly trained by Tony Alagna for owners Riverview Racing LLC., Alagna Racing LLC., Caviart Farms, and D Plouffe And S Head. Bred by Riverview Breeding LLC. and Visionary Breeders LLC., Boudoir Hanover posted her fifth victory from 19 lifetime attempts, and she has now put away $422,998. The 1-9 favorite, Boudoir Hanover returned $2.26 to win.

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Kentucky Commonwealth Series action for the rookie trotting males consisted of two $30,000 groupings, with the victories taken by:

--Yo Lucky Moni (by International Moni and bred by Lindy Farms) in 1:56 1/5 for owner/trainer/driver Verlin Yoder;

--Scotty Deo (by Trixton and bred by Deo Volente Farms LLC.) in 1:55 2/5 for driver Andy McCarthy, trainer Charlie Norris, and owners Carrie Norris and LJB Racing LLC.

Two-year-old colt and gelding trotters also tussled in four $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series dashes, and the winners were:

--Grizz Wyllie (by Father Patrick and bred by co-owner Tony Holmes and Walter Zent) in 1:56 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Nifty Norman and co-owners Kovach Stables LLC. and Enzed Racing Stable Inc.;

--Challenger (by Muscle Hill and bred by Diamond Creek Farm LLC.) in 1:55 2/5 for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt and owner Diamond Creek Racing;

--Country Dagger (by Crazy Wow and bred by trainer/owner Melvin Schmucker) in 1:55 4/5 for driver Brian Sears;

--Prince Of Honor (by Walner and bred by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld) in 1:56 1/5 for driver Todd McCarthy, trainer Carter Pinske, and owners Pinske Stables and David Hoese.

There was a single $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series test for the 3-year-old pacing fillies, and it went to Queen Of Success (by Captaintreacherous and bred by Brittany Farms and Marvin Katz) in 1:49 2/5 for driver Andy McCarthy, trainer Tony Alagna, and owners Alagna Racing LLC., Caviart Farms, and Robert Leblanc.

A pair of $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series showdowns for sophomore pacing fillies saw victories go to:

--Fly Like An Angel (by Roll With Joe and bred by Brittany Farms) in 1:50 4/5 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Linda Toscano, and owners The Bay's Stable LLC., Radio Racing Stable, Polger Holdings LLC., and Camelot Stable Inc.;

--Kentukylady (by Big Bad John and bred by Walter S Fister LLC.) in 1:52 1/5 for driver Christian Lind, trainer Jack Gray Jr., and owners Russell and Robert Hundley.