Red Mile: Setyoursightshigh shines again in Kentucky Championship Series

Setyoursightshigh won her third straight stakes event - all at different tracks - after she took the $80,000 first leg of the Kentucky Championsip Series for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Wednesday evening at The Red Mile in a national season's record 1:53 1/5.

With Jason Bartlett in town and in the bike, Setyoursightshigh floated out from post nine in the field of 11 and was positioned in eighth while two-wide at the quarter in 28 seconds. She remained on the rim but advanced in the backstretch, then flushed out cover from Avenzee (Todd McCarthy) past the 56 1/5 half-mile marker. Avenzee moved up to engage Madam Cheval (Yannick Gingras) for the lead on the final bend, and they were side-by-side at the 1:25 4/5 three-quarters as Setyoursightshigh worked up into perfect striking position.

Avenzee took a narrow lead in the upper part of the lane but was no match for the closers late in the going, as Setyoursightshigh rolled by her and on to the victory by three-quarters of a length. Carve (Andy McCarthy) found space and had trot after she took a bad shuffle to get second and Victorianas Secret (Scott Zeron) closed well to get third. Next Big Think (Dexter Dunn) and Avenzee completed the top five.

Marcus Melander trains Setyoursightshigh, a daughter of In Range bred by Kentuckiana Farms, for owners Heights Stable, Mantorp LLC., Amg Stable Inc. and K Kjellgren Livs Ab Inc. She has a summary of 3-1-0 from four outings, has earned $175,000 and paid $9.68 to win.

The rookie filly trotters also faced off in four $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth divisions, and the winners were:

--Lainey W (by Bar Hopping and bred by Kentuckiana Farms and Perry Soderberg, paid $7.02 to win) in 1:54 3/5 for driver Scott Zeron, trainer Marcus Melander and owners Brittany Farms and Marvin and Lynn Katz;

--Heart For Two (by Gimpanzee and bred by Louis Baudron, paid $14.34 to win) in 1:55 1/5 for driver Todd McCarthy, co-owner/trainer Andrew Harris and co-owners William Pollock and Bruce Areman;

--Rani Hanover (by Walner and bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and Crawford Farms Racing, paid $3.24 to win) in 1:55 2/5 for driver Jason Bartlett, trainer Tony Alagna and owner Ken Jacobs;

--Opulence (by Walner and bred by Mel Hartman, Little E LLC., Steve Stewart and Maumee River Stables, paid $8.40 to win) in 1:56 for driver Andy McCarthy, trainer Tony Alagna and owner Princess Dayna Stables.

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There were also four $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series splits that were taken by:

--Meme Queen (by Propulsion and bred by Windsong Stable, paid $5.38 to win) in 1:57 1/5 for driver David Miller, trainer Carter Pinske and owners Yolanda Fellows, Blair Corbeil and Windermere Stable LLC.;

--Kerstin (by Gimpanzee and bred by Order By Stable Ab, paid $3.88 to win) in 1:55 3/5 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Per Engblom and owners Engblom Stable LLC., R A W Equine Inc., Daniel Sarafian and Evans Nation;

--Guinevere (by Tactical Landing and bred by Bob and Lynda Stewart, paid $4.56 to win) in 1:55 4/5 for driver Dexter Dunn, trainer Chris Ryder and owners W.J. Donovan and Fair Winds Farm Inc.;

--All Fancy Like (by Tactical Landing and bred by Buckstone Land Livestock, paid $26.38 to win) in 1:55 1/5 for driver Dexter Dunn, trainer Chris Ryder and owners Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco, Hutchison Harness LLC. and In The Gym Partners.