Red Mile: Multiple heats no problem again for Atlanta in Kentucky Filly Futurity

Hambletonian champion Atlanta demonstrated an affinity for two-heat racing again in Sunday afternoon's Kentucky Filly Futurity for sophomore trotting fillies at The Red Mile, as just like she did on the first Saturday in August, she went from second in her elimination to first in the $224,000 final.

The two elimination races were won by Lily Stride (Tim Tetrick) from first-up in 1:50 2/5 and Plunge Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt), who tied her own world record of 1:49 4/5 in defeating Atlanta (Scott Zeron) by a neck. Manchego (Yannick Gingras) led most of the way in that second elimination, but she tired in the lane and was scratched from the final, as was post ten-drawing Supergirl Riley (Marcus Miller).

With those two defections, eight fillies went behind the gate for the final, and it would be Atlanta making front from post three and chopping out opening-half fractions of 28 2/5 and 56 1/5. Plunge Blue Chip was right on Zeron's helmet early, but then in the far turn she came to a walk, trapping Lily Stride in behind her and letting Atlanta open up a three-length advantage on a first-up Seviyorum (Andy Miller) at the 1:24 3/5 three-quarters.

Through the stretch Seviyorum chipped into Atlanta's margin after dropping to the inside, but Atlanta held sway, winning by a length in 1:51 1/5. Nixie Volo (Corey Callahan) was third, followed by Top Expectations (Marcus Miller) and Pat Matters.

Scott Zeron and his father, trainer Rick Zeron, noted that Atlanta raced without shoes and with bell boots in the final.

Rick Zeron trains Atlanta, a daughter of Chapter Seven, for owners Rick Zeron Crawford Farms, Holland Racing Stable, Howard Taylor, and Bradley Grant. This was her 11th career victory, and she went over the $1 million mark in career earnings. She was the 6-5 favorite in the final and paid $4.20 to win.

"They were both huge for us. The Hambo is the Hambo, it's tough. It's a one-in-a-lifetime thing I think, but this was fantastic," said Al Crawford from Crawford Farms. "She is so tough. I had all the confidence in her in the second heat, just the way she raced in the Hambo."

This win added to Crawford Farms's big weekend as their Homicide Hunter trotted the fastest mile in harness racing history (1:48 4/5) on Saturday afternoon.

"I think Rick thinks she knows how to race two heats better than anyone," added Michelle Crawford. "As long as he's cool and calm about it, I'm cool and calm about it. We couldn't ask for a better 2018, and I hope it continues."