Red Mile: Favorites toppled in Kentucky Championship Series on Tuesday

Two-year-old pacing fillies and three-year-old trotting fillies competed in Kentucky Championship Series, Commonwealth Series, and Golden Rod Series races on Tuesday afternoon at The Red Mile.

In the $80,000 Championship Series test for rookie pacing fillies, Strong Poison (Yannick Gingras), sent off at 17-1, took the lead out of the pocket past the 27 1/5 opening quarter, and after hitting the half in 55 seconds and the three-quarters in 1:23 1/5, closed in 27 1/5 to defeat Twin B Joe Fresh (Dexter Dunn) by two lengths in 1:50 2/5. Caviart Marcella (Andy McCarthy) came in third.

A daughter of Always B Miki-Fiyonce bred by Steve Stewart, Charles Nash, and Julie Nash, Strong Poison is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., J&T Silva Stables, LLC., Knox Services Inc., and Beasty LLC. A $50,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale buy, she has two wins from four starts, earnings of $44,000, and paid $37.62 to win.

Adore Me (David Miller) and Grandeur (Dunn) put opening-half fractions of 27 3/5 and 55 2/5 on the board in the $80,000 Championship Series showdown for 3-year-old filly trotters, but 4-5 favorite Date Night (Andy Miller) attacked first-up from third on the final bend and took the lead on the rim nearing the 1:23 3/5 three-quarters. Hot on Date Night's heels in the second-over position was Eternal Lee (A. McCarthy), but Date Night would clear to the front and go back to the pylons past three-quarters, leaving Eternal Lee uncovered.

Despite no longer having the helmet to follow, Eternal Lee rallied at Date Night in the lane, forged her way by in the mid-stretch, and held sway to the finish, tallying by a neck in 1:51 2/5. Disclosure (Tim Tetrick) was the third-place finisher.

Chris Ryder trains Eternal Lee, a Southwind Frank filly bred by owner Murray Ferguson Jr. Eternal Lee has compiled a record of 4-3-2 from 13 starts, has now put away $201,488, and returned $12.00 to win as the 5-1 third choice.

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The 2-year-old pacing fillies were divided into two $30,000 Commonwealth Series flights and a pair of $15,000 Golden Rod Series events. Winning in the Commonwealth Series were:

--Diamondsnpearls (by Captaintreacherous and bred by owners Brittany Farms and Marvin Katz) in 1:52 2/5 for driver Yannick Gingras and trainer Nancy Takter;

--Constellation (by A Rocknroll Dance and bred by Diamond Creek Farm) in 1:53 3/5 (second-placed-first) for driver Todd McCarthy, trainer Takter, and owner Diamond Creek Racing.

The Golden Rod Series tilts went to:

--Captain Carmella (by Captaintreacherous and bred by Joe Sbrocco) in 1:53 4/5 for driver David Miller, trainer Jim Brinson, and owners Mary and Kurt Kratz;

--Modern Day (by Heston Blue Chip and bred by Winbak Farm) in 1:54 2/5 for driver Tim Tetrick, co-owner/trainer Mike Hollenback, and co-owner William Cantrell.

Sophomore trotting fillies faced off in a pair of Commonwealth Series dashes and three Golden Rod Series races. The Commonwealth Series victors were:

--Wallabee (by Walner and bred by Lindy Farms of Conn) in 1:52 4/5 for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Nicolas Roussel;

--More Than Ever (by Father Patrick and bred by co-owner Brittany Farms) in 1:52 3/5 for Dunn, trainer Tony Alagna, and co-owner Riverview Racing LLC.

Visiting the winner's circle in the Golden Rod Series were:

--Unleashed Kemp (by Wishing Stone and bred by Steve Stewart and Kemppi Stable) in 1:54 4/5 for driver Andy McCarthy, co-owner/trainer Noel Daley, and co-owners Deo Volente Farms LLC. and Patricia Stable;

--Complete Life (by Kadabra and bred by Steve Stewart and William Jones) in 1:54 4/5 for driver Todd McCarthy, trainer Jenn Bongiorno, and owner Mark Graber;

--Saffron Girl (by Muscle Hill and bred by Bluestone Farms and Fredericka Caldwell) in 1:54 3/5 for driver David Miller, trainer Jack Gray Jr., and owner Ryan Smith.