Red Mile: Favorites reign in Monday's Kentucky Championship Series events

Two $80,000 splits of the first leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters headlined Monday's program at The Red Mile.

In the first division Silverstein (David Miller) cut the quarter in 28 4/5 and then yielded to a two-wide Neighver Punt (David Miller) nearing the 57 2/5 half-mile marker. Miller put Silverstein back in motion to the outside on the way to the 1:26 1/5 three-quarters, went by Neighver Punt in the stretch and pulled clear to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:53 2/5. Impossible Bi (Marcus Miller) closed well to get second over Neighver Punt.

Matt Burkholder trains the Brittany Farms-bred Silverstein, a Chapter Seven gelding, for owner Dark Horse Farm LLC. Silverstein broke his maiden in his fourth chance, has now earned $77,000 and paid $5.02 to win as the favorite.

Royal Captain (Tyler Jones) set a clip of 28 1/5, 55 1/5 and 1:24 4/5 in the other flight but was passed by a first-over Endurance (Andy McCarthy) late on the far turn. Endurance, who won the Kentucky Sire Stakes final at Oak Grove prior to today's event, couldn't be caught from there, defeating a gaining It Could Be Worse (Scott Zeron) by a length and a half in 1:52 3/5. Yo Billie (Verlin Yoder) also finished with trot to get up for third.

Chris Beaver trains and co-owns Endurance, a Captain Corey colt who was bred by Steve Stewart and Martti Ala-Seppala. Endurance has won three of his four appearances, has pocketed $113,200 and returned $4.10 to win as the favorite.

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Three $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series tests were also held during the program, and the winners were:

--Onassis (by Greenshoe and bred by Coyote Wynd Farms, paid $4.46 to win) in 1:55 2/5 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Nancy Takter and owners Melco Devim Inc., Joe Sbrocco and Jaf Racing LLC.;

--Nofreak Volo (by Father Patrick and bred by Kentuckiana Farms and Jorgen Jahre Jr., paid $4.78 to win) in 1:54 3/5 for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer John Butenschoen and owners Harmony Oaks Racing Stable Inc., In Over My Head Stable, Vip Internet Stable LLC. and Kentuckiana Racing Stable;

--Requiem (by Muscle Hill and bred by John Schmucker, Sunset Stables LLC. and Whiskeyontherocks Racing, paid $17.70 to win) in 1:55 1/5 for driver David Miller, trainer Matt Burkholder and owners Dark Horse Farm LLC.

A pair $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series events saw victories go to:

--Magical Six Pack (by Six Pack and bred by M T Pockets Stables and Victoria Howard, paid $7.84 to win) in 1:55 2/5 for driver David Miller, trainer Randy Jerrell and owner Enlow Racing;

--Drinking Problems (by Bar Hopping and bred by Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz, paid $15.18 to win) in 1:56 3/5 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Nancy Takter and owners In Our Dna Stable LLC., Christina Takter, R A W Equine Inc. and Caviart Farms.