Red Mile: Party Girl Hill orders up a dozen following Bluegrass blowout

Party Girl Hill made it a perfect dozen for her career with another devastating mile, capturing one of three divisions of the Bluegrass Stakes for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Sunday afternoon at The Red Mile. With Dexter Dunn in tow, Party Girl Hill scored in a 1:48 mile, the fastest of her career, in the race worth $79,200.

Marloe Hanover and Joe Bongiorno had the field at the quarter in 26 4/5 with Party Girl Hill tucking in fourth in the early stages. Dunn sensed a slowing pace and moved Party Girl Hill in cruising speed to lead before the 54 4/5 half-mile station. From that point, it was virtually a one-horse race as the daughter of Captaintreacherous clicked off three-quarters in 1:22 1/5 and separated herself from the field, storming to the wire with a 25 4/5 final quarter. Lyons Sentinel made a long and uncovered march for second, with Marloe Hanover settling for third.

Sent postward as the lowest possible public choice, Party Girl Hill returned $2.10 for the win. Owned and bred by Tom Hill, Party Girl Hill is trained by Chris Ryder.

"She keeps getting better and better," said Dunn, who again noted that the filly finished with the earplugs in. "I don't think we've gotten to the bottom of her."

Peaky Sneaky benefited from avoiding Party Girl Hill in the entry box and scored at 4-1 in the first $78,200 division. With Scott Zeron in the bike, the Bettor's Delight-sired lass was able to put favorites Baby Your The Best and Reflect With Me in compromised positions through slow fractions of 28 and 56 for the opening half. Zeron put the pedal down in the final half, and Peaky Sneaky sizzled her back half in 53 1/5 to complete the mile in a career-equaling best time of 1:49 1/5. Baby Your The Best held on for second, with Reflect With Me third.

Nancy Takter trains Peaky Sneaky for owners Howard Taylor, Judith Taylor, and Order By Stable.

Takter came back to double in the event when favored JK First Lady captured the final $79,200 division in 1:49 2/5 for driver Yannick Gingras.

Rocknificent took the field to the quarter in a snappy 26 2/5 after having to navigate much of the opening bend three-deep, with New Year pressing her wide. Zeron had Rocknificent at the half in 54 3/5 with the field comfortably in line, but Gingras took JK First Lady on an aggressive first-over move at that point. However, he had to check briefly when New Year popped the pocket shortly before the 1:22 4/5 three quarters. Despite the stalled cover, Gingras had little issue compelling the daughter of Western Ideal past the leaders to a very safe score. New Year held on to the place, with Rocknificent third.

Owned and bred by 3 Brothers Stables, JK First Lady won for the fourth time in nine starts this year. She returned $3.00 for the win.