Red Mile: Niki Hill kicks away from foes in Glen Garnsey Memorial

Niki Hill, making just the fourth start of her 3-year-old campaign, put on an amazing performance in capturing Sunday's $205,000 Glen Garnsey Memorial for 3-year-old pacing fillies at The Red Mile in a sparkling and career-best 1:48 4/5 clocking.

A daughter of Always B Miki, Niki Hill left with purpose but allowed others to move to the front, with Dexter Dunn racing her patiently on the outside. Queen Of Success and Andrew McCarthy was first to secure the front into the first turn, followed at the quarter by Sea Silk, who cut that marker in 27 2/5. Sea Silk stung the favored Niki Hill another eighth of a mile before allowing Dunn to clear the front.

Once in front, Niki Hill kept to cruising speed, hitting the half in 54 4/5 and then needed to pick up the pace a bit as Max Contract and driver Andy Miller applied serious pressure, coming to near even-terms with Niki Hill at three- quarters in 1:22 3/5. With Boudoir Hanover second-over and Wickedly Innocent third-over, the race appeared to set up for the closers, but Niki Hill was having none of that. By early stretch she disposed of Max Contract and then drew clear from the field without Dunn doing much in the bike.

A final quarter of 26 1/5 put Niki Hill over the $1 million mark in career earnings as the Tom Hill-owned filly was a winner for the 11th time in just 14 career starts. Queen Of Success and McCarthy were able to knife between horses in the stretch and rally for the place spot while Max Contract settled for third.

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Trained by Chris Ryder, Niki Hill paid $2.72 as the prohibitive favorite.

"I couldn't be more proud of her," said Ryder following the victory. "She's a phenomenal athlete."

Ryder said Niki Hill, the 2-year-old Breeders Crown champion, will go next in the sophomore edition later this month at Woodbine Mohawk Park. She captured last year's She's A Great Lady at that venue.