Red Mile: Kentucky Sires Stakes season begins

On Sunday (July 30) Duke Of Walner (Walner-Nashville Lindy) rewarded his supporters as the post time favorite with a 1:54 1/5 triumph in the sole $80,000 division of the Kentucky Championship Series for 2-year-old male trotters at The Red Mile.

G O A T (Walner-This Dreams On Me) and pilot Atlee Bender snatched the lead off the gate until Going Green (Greenshoe-Majestic Lexi) and David Miller assumed command at the half-mile marker after a first panel in 28 4/5. Going Green relinquished the lead to Duke Of Walner after a half-mile in 57 2/5. Once he reached the front, the colt continued with plenty of trot to the wire.

Duke Of Walner, who broke his maiden in his third lifetime start, was followed home by Vocalize (Father Patrick-Speak To Me, Andrew McCarthy) and Longfellow S (Greenshoe-Crysti Dream, Brian Sears) was third.

Duke Of Walner was a $90,000 purchase at the 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Owned by Berg Bros. Racing, Joe Sbrocco, Daniel Plouffe and Lucaswallinjafracingmyfab, he is a half sibling to Shake It Off Lindy (by Crazed, 1:52 4/5, $249,236) and Tennessee Lindy (by Muscle Hill, 1:55 4/5, $127,760).

Duke Of Walner paid $5.16 for his victory. He is trained by Lucas Wallin and was driven by Tim Tetrick. The colt has earned $46,000 in purse money and was bred by K R Breeding LLC. Vocalize paid $10.86 to place and Longfellow S $4.80 to show.

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Alamo Mission (Walner-Adios Lindy) hit the line on top in the first $30,000 division of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series in 1:54 1/5. Dexter Dunn was in the bike for the Dominico Cecere. The winner paid $5.16 as the top choice. Bright Star (Muscle Hill-Morningstar, Andrew McCarthy/Tony Alagna) provided the public with $8.30 to place. Skydiver (Greenshoe-Arianna G, Brian Sears/Marcus Melander) nailed down the show spot at $3.78.

The winner competes as a homebred for Lindy Farms.

International Law (International Moni-Love N Lindy) did not allow the eight-hole to deny him a decisive 1:54 2/5 victory in the second $30,000 division of Kentucky Commonwealth Series action for 2-year-old trotting males. Steered by Trace Tetrick, the gelding is owned by his trainer, Erv Miller, Douglas Overhiser, J & M Trading II LLC and John Stefanos. He was bred by K R Breeding LLC.

Jgs Pal (Tactical Landing-Dressed To Impress) upset favored Militant (Six Pack-Christina M) to take the first $15,000 division of the Golden Rod Series for Scott Zeron and Linda Toscano. He paid $29.76 to win after stopping the timer in 1:56 2/5.

Favorites Luke The Spook (Greenshoe-Noblesse Blue Chip, Mattias Melander/Marcus Melander) and Swan Explosion (Swan For All-Explosive G, Peter Wrenn/Melanie Wrenn) took the second and third splits in 1:56 4/5 and 1:56 1/5, respectively. Luke The Spook paid $3.96, and a Swan Explosion win ticket was worth $7.38.

--press release (The Red Mile)--