Red Mile: It's My Show rebounds with world record in Kentucky Championship Series

Pepsi North America Cup champion It's My Show suffered his first loss of 2023 in the Delvin Miller Adios in his last start, but he was back in top gear on Monday afternoon at The Red Mile, becoming harness racing's all-time fastest 3-year-old gelding pacer by virtue of a 1:46 4/5 victory in his $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series test.

The stage was set for the record mile by Bamboozler (Dexter Dunn), who ripped off fast fractions of 26 4/5, 53 1/5 and 1:19 3/5, with Adios winner Cannibal (Yannick Gingras) in the pocket and It's My Show (Scott Zeron) positioned fourth.

Zeron guided It's My Show to the outside before three-quarters, but Cannibal angled out too and got the jump on him, going by Bamboozler early in the stretch drive in the process. Cannibal was unable to hold on to his advantage, though, as It's My Show blasted home in 26 2/5 and won by a length and three-quarters. Cannibal had to settle for second and For Once Inmy Life (Andy McCarthy) got third.

Richard and Joanne Young bred and own It's My Show, a son of Sweet Lou who is out of their champion mare Put On A Show [1:47 3/5, $2,406,628]. The Linda Toscano trainee has compiled a record of 8-2-1 from 16 career starts, pushed his earnings to $602,215 and paid $4.74 to win as the second choice.

Date Night Hanover (Brian Sears) took the Championship Series contest for 2-year-old filly trotters held earlier on the program. She led at the 28 4/5 quarter but was overtaken by a brushing Miss Dior (Andy McCarthy) nearing the 56 1/5 half. Miss Dior continued to show the way through three-quarters in 1:25 1/5, but Date Night Hanover came to the outside off the final bend and took charge again in the upper part of the stretch.

The race was far from over, though, as Volcanic Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt), who moved off the inside from fifth on the far turn and then ducked back to the inside in the lane, vaulted past Date Night Hanover in the last eighth and looked to go on to a upset win. However, it wasn't to be, as Date Night Hanover fought back after being passed and got her nose on the wire just before Volcanic Blue Chip in a 1:54 mile. Special Talent (Dunn) finished third.

By Chapter Seven and bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Date Night Hanover was the top seller at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, fetching $600,000 from Jeff Snyder and Onda Racing Stable LLC. The Marcus Melander trainee paid $7.40 to win as the second choice and has won three times in four starts to go with a bankroll of $77,625.

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El Rey leads Commonwealth Series victors

Heavy favorite El Rey (Zeron, $3.08) collected his first win of the season for trainer Tony Alagna in a $30,000 second round division of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series for male sophomore pacers. The son of Captaintreacherous finished off- the-board in the Cane Pace and Meadowlands Pace final. He is owned by Brittany Farms and El Rey Racing and was bred by Riverview Breeding.

Admiral Hill (Sears, $3) collected his second consecutive win with a triumph in the other section for 3-year-old male pacers. The son of Sweet Lou competes as a homebred for Tom Hill and is trained by Chris Ryder.

Pisco Sour (Svanstedt, $4.90) broke her maiden in her first pari-mutuel attempt one of two flights for 2-year-old filly trotters. The daughter of Walner-Blessed was a $110,000 purchase at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. The filly is owned by Jorgen Sparredal Inc. and was bred by Steve Stewart, Black Creek Farm and Harri Koskela.

French Champagne (Svanstedt, $2.58) also made her career debut a winning one in the second duel for rookie filly trotters. Trained by her driver, French Champagne is a daughter of Muscle Hill-French Café. Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld bred and now race the filly.

Gingras and Burke win four Golden Rod Series Divisions

Gingras and trainer Ron Burke swept the two $15,000 showdowns for sophomore male pacers with Cant Stop Lou ($10.76) and Wicked Character ($3.48). They also collected victories with Emissary ($9.92) and Its My Hill ($4.50) two of the three dashes for 2-year-old trotting fillies.

Green Mercedes and pilot Andy Miller won the remaining race for 2-year-old trotting fillies. She paid $4.12 as the favorite.

--Commonwealth and Golden Rod recaps from The Red Mile--