Red Mile: French Wine upsets, Better Is Nice repeats in Kentucky Championship Series

On Sunday (Aug. 27) The Red Mile hosted two $80,000 divisions of the Kentucky Championship Series, three $30,000 sections of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series and four $15,000 flights of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series for 3-year-old male trotters and rookie colt and gelding pacers on an 11-race card.

French Wine (Andy Miller), the winner of the 2022 Championship Series final, out-footed Hambletonian victor Tactical Approach (Scott Zeron) at odds of 28-1 in the sophomore colt and gelding trot, and Better Is Nice (Andrew McCarthy) won for the second straight time in the Championship Series for 2-year-old male pacers.

Tactical Approach took command as the field of six began their mile from the rail. He trotted a sizzling opening quarter in 26 4/5 with French Wine traveling comfortably in fourth. Andrew McCarthy sent his charge, Ari Ferrari J, to clear the leader through a half-mile in 54 seconds. Tactical Approach was poised to pounce, tracking in second through the three-quarters in 1:23 as French Wine continued to bide his time in fourth until the three-quarter pole.

When the sophomore male trotters were ready for the battle to the wire, Miller asked his colt, and he responded by advancing into second position, but Tactical Approach also tipped out and got the jump after going past Ari Ferrari J. French Wine, however, had plenty in the tank to contest the last quarter-mile in 26 2/5 and defeat his foe by a half-length in 1:50, a lifetime-best clocking. Kilmister (Brian Sears) closed from sixth in the early stages to finish third.

Trained by Miller's wife, Julie, French Wine's record now stands at 6-3-5 from 19 starts, and he has banked $561,468. The son of Bar Hopping-Creamy Mimi collected his second win of the season after finishing fourth in the $350,000 Zweig Memorial Trot and third in the $138,500 Stanley Dancer Memorial. He was off-the-board in the $1 million Hambletonian final but was second in his $100,000 elimination.

Owned by Andy Miller Stable, Daniel Plouffe, Jean Christophe Plouffe and One Legend Stable, French Wine was a $120,000 purchase at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. His dam won the 2008 edition of the Hambletonian Oaks with Miller holding the lines. He was bred by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.

French Wine paid $59.68 to win.

New Jersey champion Better Is Nice (Bettor's Wish-Thatsoververynice) has taken a liking to the competition in Kentucky, as well, as he improved to two-for-two in the Championship Series for the 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers.

Leaving from the rail, McCarthy placed Better Is Nice in fourth as the field of six commenced their mile, while Dancin Champion went straight to the front and clicked off fractions of 29 2/5, 57 2/5 and 1:25. Better Is Nice and his driver patiently waited to launch their bid, and that transpired when the field turned for home, as Better Is Nice advanced into second at the top of the stretch. The colt unleashed a 25 4/5 final quarter-mile to overhaul Dancin Champion approaching the wire and tallied in 1:51 3/5. Ivy Park (Yannick Gingras) was third.

Better Is Nice collected his fourth consecutive victory in his fifth start. His only loss was a third-place finish in his career bow in New Jersey Sire Stakes action. Trained by Tony Alagna, Better Is Nice was purchased for $30,000 at the 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by Alagna Racing, Pryde Stables and Birnam Wood Farms. The colt, who has earned $218,600, was bred by Alagna Racing and Marvin Katz. Better Is Nice paid $2.76 to win as the public's top choice.

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Prince Of Honor remains undefeated in Commonwealth Series

Prince Of Honor (A. McCarthy, $3.68) was shuffled to back to eighth at the three-quarter pole but showed his class to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:53 3/5 and remain a perfect three-for-three on the season in first of two $30,000 tilts for sophomore male trotters. The son of Walner-Princess Aurora is trained by Carter Pinske and owned by Pinske Stables and David Hoese.

Sparks Fly (Atlee Bender, $26.86) took advantage of a break by favorite Excalibur Bi (A. McCarthy) to score a mild upset at 12-1 in the second division. Trained by Erv Miller, the son of Bar Hopping is owned Ervin Miller Stable and Douglas Overhiser and stopped the timer in 1:53 4/5.

Kissincaptain (Captaintreacherous-Yagonnakissmeornot) collected his second consecutive win in the sole grouping of this series for 2-year-old male pacers and paid $2.76 to win. Zeron was in the bike for Alagna in the 1:54 mile.

Arson scorches in Golden Rod Series

Arson (A. Miller, $5.08, 1:53) and Nuclear (A. Miller, $23.78, 1:53 1/5) won the $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series dashes for 2-year-old male pacers.

Morning Edition (Bender, $4.96, 1:54 2/5) and Chamba (Ake Svanstedt, $3.16, 1:53) captured the two Golden Rod Series races for sophomore male trotters.

Miller led all drivers with three stakes wins on the card.

--edited press release (The Red Mile)--