Red Mile: Pyro upsets foes in Kentucky Sire Stakes

Ron Burke trainee Pyro survived a heated clip to take the quicker of two $30,000 Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS) divisions for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers at The Red Mile on Saturday, Sept. 7 in 1:49.

Pyro sat third while Tony Alagna trainee U S Captain cleared to command from post seven before a 26 second first quarter. Driver Elliott Deaton then tipped Pyro from third and circled to the front in the backstretch while U S Captain’s stablemate, odds-on favorite Captain Ahab, rushed uncovered towards the top nearing a 52 3/5 half.

Captain Ahab failed to clear the lead from Pyro circling the final turn and began to backtrack past three-quarters in 1:21 2/5. Odds On Boca Raton circled his tiring stablemate entering the stretch and gave chase while U S Captain slipped from the pocket to challenge the leader late. Pyro kept a neck in front at the finish while U S Captain and Odds On Boca Raton settled for second and third, respectively.

Returning $29.80 to win, Pyro collected his fourth victory from 15 starts this season and his sixth from 28 overall, earning $121,491. The Sweet Lou gelding—bred by Diamond Creek Farm LLC.—races for owners Burke Racing Stable, Larry Karr, Phillip Collura, and Weaver Bruscemi.

Dancin Lou darted from a pocket trip to deliver as the odds-on choice in the other KYSS colt split, winning in 1:49 2/5.

Leading the field past a 28 2/5 first quarter, Dancin Lou yielded command to Can’t Beach That, who brushed uncovered from fourth moving to a 55 second half. He slowed the tempo approaching three-quarters in 1:23 but failed to withstand a stretch bid from Dancin Lou, who pounced from the pocket to win by one and a half lengths. Can’t Beach That settled for second while Major Deception, stalking the top two, held third.

Bred by Anvil And Lace Farm, Dancin Lou won his eighth race from 13 starts this season and his ninth from 23 overall, earning $120,203. Tahnee Camilleri conditions the Sweet Lou colt for owners David Kryway and 1362313 Ontario Ltd. Marcus Miller drove the $3.20 winner.

Sent off as the 1-9 favorite, Beautyonthebeach continued to near a potential KYSS sweep as she collected her third consecutive victory in preliminary competition when taking the sole $30,000 dash for 3-year-old pacing fillies.

Deaton dashed the heavy betting choice to the top from post eight moving to the first turn and faced little challenge from there. The daughter of Somebeachsomewhere set fractions of 27 2/5, 55 1/5, and 1:23 2/5 on the lead while only enduring mild far turn pressure from stablemate Prescient Beauty, who quickly gave way turning for the finish. Beautyonthebeach widened to a 4 1/4 length victory at the finish while chased by pocket-sitter Summer Charm. Alii Nui took third.

A homebred for James Avritt Sr., Beautyonthebeach won her fourth race from 11 starts this season and her ninth from 24 overall, earning $349,873. Gregg McNair trains the $2.10 winner.

--press release (The Red Mile)--