Red Mile: Kentucky Proud Series champions crowned

Timothy stayed brave, making an uncovered assault from the half to the finish to earn a gritty 1:51 victory in the $50,000 Kentucky Proud Series final for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings on opening night at The Red Mile on Sunday (July 26), a night which featured over $400,000 in purses.

Leaving from post six, 20-year-old Zyler Maxwell floated Timothy, the 9-5 favorite, forward into third as Odds On Python (driven by Josh Sutton) motored to the lead approaching a 26 4/5 first quarter. Maxwell stayed put from third up the backstretch until Dragon Sting (Atlee Bender) started to tip off the pylons, forcing Maxwell to flush Timothy and lead the overland charge into a 55 2/5 half. Timothy plugged towards Odds On Python as the tempo stayed hot to three-quarters in 1:22 4/5 and the pair went toe-to-toe in the stretch, where Timothy muscled past the pace-setter and then staved off late charges to seize victory by a half-length in a 1:51 mile. Fletchers Field (Geremy Bobbitt) closed for second with L B I (Tim Tetrick) also rallying late to take third.

Victor Allen trains Timothy, a Catch The Fire-Designated Drinker colt, for owner Michael Tarkington. The colt won his sixth race from 13 starts, has now earned $64,725 and paid $5.62 to win.

Aerowulf (Andy McCarthy, 1:52 3/5 winning mile; $10.26 to win) opened the card with a first-up grind to win the Proud Series final for 2-year-old pacing fillies. McCarthy forged up the rim from a mid-pack spot after odds-on favorite and pace-setter Watermelon Sizzle (Devon Tharps) posted a quick early clip of 26 2/5 and 55 1/5. Aerowulf steadily advanced on the favorite through the last turn and, after three-quarters in 1:24 1/5, thrusted past and strode comfortably to a four length win. Tammy's Wish (Tim Tetrick) persevered from a wide trip out of post 10 for second with Midnight Beauty (Zyler Maxwell) splitting through traffic for third. Carter Pinske trains Aerowulf, a Catch The Fire-Lyons Katrina filly, for owner Dr. Madonna Morrison.

Doc's Girl Friday (Randy Jerrell, 1:52 1/5; $9.92) swarmed to the front after following cover from her stablemate and landed a neck win on 2-5 favorite Rocksy (Tim Tetrick) in the Proud Series final for sophomore pacing fillies. Jerrell caught a tow from Odds On Ufo (Marvin Luna) approaching a 55 2/5 half cut by Rocksy and readied for a stretch sprint while passing three-quarters in 1:23 3/5. As Odds On Ufo faltered into the stretch, Doc's Girl Friday lifted and reached for the lead late to nail Rocksy in the final strides while pocket-sitter Caviart Santa Fe (Joey Putnam) settled for third. Randy Jerrell trains Doc's Girl Friday, a Shadow Play-Doc's Hope filly, for owner Dr. Andrew Roberts.

Pillsbury (Andy McCarthy, 1:54 4/5; $7.56) emerged from a ground-saving trip to collar loose longshot leader Festival (Josert Fonseca) to win the Proud Series final for sophomore trotting fillies. Festival, off at 55-1, repelled challenges from Woodside Jasmine (Geremy Bobbitt) and Songbird (Marvin Luna) through fractions of 28 4/5, 57 2/5 and 1:25 2/5 while building a four length cushion rounding for home. She wavered in the lane following the duels while McCarthy had ample clearance at the inside to gather momentum with Pillsbury and, once finding a seam late in the stretch, darted forward to win by a length with Julie Palema (Tyler Miller) recovering from a break at the start to take third. Carter Pinske trains Pillsbury, a Gimpanzee-Flame Mearas S filly, for owner Dr. Madonna Morrison.

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Mustang Baby (Tim Tetrick, 1:56 2/5; $4.22) took the lead past a 28 2/5 first quarter and held firmly to the finish to win the Proud Series final for rookie trotting fillies. She strolled comfortably through middle fractions of 57 seconds and 1:27 1/5 while turning away the challenge from long-parked Countrydiamondmama (Andy McCarthy) when spinning for home. The Rod Debeck-owned and-trained daughter of International Moni-Crazy Grigio coasted to a 1 1/2 length win chased by Thrill Me (Tyler Miller), who rallied from third-over to take second. Ms Ladybug (Marvin Luna) saved ground through the mile and took third.

Easter Bb (Wyatt Avenatti, 1:55 2/5; $3.16) found a pocket trip and pounced smoothly for the win in the Proud Series final for 2-year-old trotting males. After taking control to a 28 2/5 first quarter, Easter Bb settled for a seat behind Yo Bo (Verlin Yoder) and, following splits of 57 seconds and 1:27 1/5, angled outside to attack the leader coming for home. The Phil Knox trainee hustled by Yo Bo and pulled clear for a 3 1/4 length win with Boitano (Anthony MacDonald) giving chase from a ground-saving trip for third. Brant Brower owns Easter Bb, a Creatine-Fear Her Makeup gelding who also posted his fifth victory in-a-row with the Proud Series score.

Deuce Pop (Andy McCarthy, 1:53 2/5; $3.30) rushed wide around the last turn to snatch command and hold to the finish for the victory in the Proud Series final for sophomore trotting males. McCarthy landed towards the back of the pack to a 28 1/5 first quarter as Yo Billie (Verlin Yoder) climbed towards and then planted onto the lead before a 56 second half. Yo Billie cruised unfazed on the lead to three-quarters in 1:24 4/5 while Deuce Pop roared three-wide and rolled for the finish with steam. Deuce Pop ripped past Yo Billie and bore in through the stretch as Zillionaire Kemp (Tim Tetrick) stormed onto the scene from near last late, but McCarthy kept Deuce Pop to task to the finish for a half-length win. Gorilla Sighting (Atlee Bender) gave chase at the inside for third. Randy Jerrell trains and co-owns Deuce Pop, a Tactical Landing-Atlantic Crest colt, with partners Atlantic Trot Inc. and Steve Stewart.

Crazygirlsburnsage (Josert Fonseca, 1:52; $5.26) pushed first-up after fast early fractions and sailed home a snug winner in the Proud Series final for rookie pacing males. Fonseca tipped his charge off the pylons nearing a 55 1/5 first-half and marched uncovered after pace-setter My Body Guard (Atlee Bender) to press for the lead. He surged past My Body Guard after three-quarters in 1:24 1/5 and crossed the line an easy winner by 1 3/4 lengths. Secret Sun (Zyler Maxwell) gave chase from a second-over trip for second while My Body Guard settled for third. Todd Luther trains Crazygirlsburnsage, a Perfect Sting-Sage N gelding, for owner Greg Luther Racing LLC.

Live harness racing at The Red Mile resumes on Monday (July 27) with a 15-race card headlined by a $35,000 division of Kentucky Sire Stakes for 4-year-old pacing males. First-race post time is 1 p.m. (EDT).

--press release (Red Mile)--