Red Mile: Kentucky Championship Series finals held for sophomores

Dancinginthedark M, Empressive Hill, Blue Diamond Eyes, and Goldie's Legacy were victorious in the four $250,000 Kentucky Championship Series finals for 3-year-old trotters and pacers of both sexes that occured on Sunday afternoon at The Red Mile.

First up were the male trotters, and Cuatro De Julio (Lucas Wallin) went on a speed mission from the pole position, chopping out stations of 27 2/5, 54 3/5, and 1:22. Cuatro De Julio continued to show the way through the stretch drive, but Dancinginthedark M (Brian Sears), who had vacated the cones out of fourth before three-quarters, charged home in a 26 4/5 last quarter to take the win by a nostril in 1:49 3/5. Rattle My Cage (Ake Svanstedt) checked in third.

The victorious Readly Express-Leila (Andover Hall) colt is trained by Marcus Melander for owner-breeder Menhammar Stuteri AB. Dancinginthedark M is now an eight-time winner from 19 career tries, and he has pocketed $353,704. He was the 7-2 third choice and paid $9.00 to win.

Empressive Hill, driven by trainer Jordan Derue, captured the final for trotting fillies in 1:51 2/5. Positioned third at the 28 4/5 opening quarter, she came to the outside in the backstretch, advanced quickly, and cleared Beltassima (Andrew McCarthy) for command just after a half of 55 4/5. Empressive Hill went on to reach three-quarters in 1:23 3/5 and then was under a hand-drive through a 27 4/5 last panel in winning by 2 1/2 lengths. Beltassima was next, followed by Piper Hanover (Todd McCarthy).

A daughter of Muscle Hill-Slice Slice Baby (Conway Hall) bred by Dr. Fred Kruszelnicki, Empressive Hill is also co-owned by Derue in partnership with Bruce Soulsby, Alan Weisenberg, and Gilbert Short. Empressive Hill made her eighth appearance in the winner's circle from 15 trips behind the gate, and she has now pocketed $225,375. The 6-5 favorite, she returned $4.40 to win.

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Blue Diamond Eyes, a winner in a Kentucky Championship Series final a season ago, repeated the feat in the filly pace, tallying on the front-end in 1:47 4/5. Yannick Gingras put her on the top after rolling out from post six, and she hit the quarter in 26 3/5, the half in 54 2/5, and the three-quarters in 1:21 2/5. Thebeachiscalling (Dexter Dunn) went on the attack out of the pocket in the lane and did make up ground, but it wasn't enough, as Blue Diamond Eyes staved her off to win by a nose. High Minded (T. McCarthy) sat on the pylons in fourth and got up to take third.

Thomas and Scott Dillon own and Ron Burke trains Blue Diamond Eyes, a Captaintreacherous-Aria Hanover filly bred by Brittany Farms. Blue Diamond Eyes picked up her 10th win from 26 career efforts, and she pushed her bankroll to $989,914. She was dispatched at 1-9 and paid $2.10 to win.

Gingras then came right back to win the final for pacing colts and geldings with Goldie's Legacy in 1:49 flat. Goldie's Legacy took the top spot away from Mad Man Hill (Andy Miller) before the 26 4/5 quarter and would go on to click off a half in 53 3/5 and a three-quarters in 1:21 2/5. Goldie's Legacy fought off a first-over challenge from Exploit (Dunn) on the last turn and then did the same to pocket-sitter Komodo Beach (T. McCarthy) after he angled out three-wide in the stretch to score by a neck. Mad Man Hill came up the pylons and was third.

An Always A Virgin gelding, Goldie's Legacy is trained by Jeff Cullipher, who also co-owns him with Pollack Racing LLC. Goldie's Legacy bagged his ninth lifetime victory, and he now shows earnings of $271,985. He returned $3.00 to win as the 1-2 favorite.