Red Mile: Impressive performances by Tall Dark Stranger, Party Girl Hill in Tattersalls

It mattered not that the racetrack came up a bit off on Sunday at The Red Mile for Tall Dark Stranger. The leading 3-year-old pacer in the sport more than justified his position in an impressive 1:47 2/5 score in the first of two $239,500 divisions of the Tattersalls. Driver Yannick Gingras guided the son of Bettor's Delight to his 10th win of the season in just 11 starts.

Co-world champion Cattlewash exploded from the outside to take the lead into the first turn, but Gingras guided Tall Dark Stranger from post five and never went to the pylons, instead moving with purpose to gain control past the 27 1/5 opening fraction. From there, Tall Dark Stranger kept the pace lively despite the "good" track, with fractions of 54 1/5 and 1:21 1/5 putting obvious strain on the pocket-sitting Cattlewash as the field entered the homestretch.

Tall Dark Stranger was urged vigorously by Gingras when Warrawee Vital moved to attack in early stretch, and that sent the colt into overdrive as he sprinted a 26 1/5 final quarter to complete the mile. Warrawee Vital was clear for second, with Catch The Fire gaining late for the show spot.

Sent off as the 3-5 public choice, Tall Dark Stranger returned $3.20. Owned by Crawford Farms, Marvin Katz, Caviart Farms, and Howard Taylor, Tall Dark Stranger moves on next to the Breeders Crown at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

"I'm running out of good things to say about him," said Nancy Takter, Tall Dark Stranger's trainer.

Perhaps the racetrack wasn't very far off top speed, or at least the undefeated Party Girl Hill made it look that way, as the filly captured the second $239,500 Tattersalls division for driver Dexter Dunn in an identical 1:47 2/5 clocking.

It was the 13th start and victory for Party Girl Hill, who allowed No Lou Zing and Gingras to move to the front in the 27 second opening quarter. Dunn moved Party Girl Hill to regain at the 53 4/5 half-mile marker, and then gained some separation, clicking three-quarters in 1:21 flat and momentarily distancing herself from the competition.

Dunn kept Party Girl Hill to her business, and the incredible Captaintreacherous-sired filly sprinted a final quarter in 26 2/5, completing the fastest mile of her young career. Capt Midnight rallied late for second, with No Lou Zing third in the mile.

Chris Ryder trains the Tom Hill-homebred Party Girl Hill, who returned $2.80 as the prohibitive choice.

"We didn't have much to lose," said Ryder of the decision to pit Party Girl Hill against male foes in the Tattersalls. "She's in a class of her own."

Party Girl Hill will return to race just fillies in the Breeders Crown.