Red Mile: Test Of Faith, Fire Start Hanover sharp in Bluegrass victories

Test Of Faith and Fire Start Hanover kept winning streaks going with victories in Friday afternoon's Bluegrass divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies at The Red Mile.

In the first $133,500 split, Marsala Hanover (Scott Zeron) controlled the tempo through panels of 28, 55 4/5, and 1:24, but Test Of Faith (David Miller), who came first-up from fourth on the last turn, blew by her in the lane while under complete wraps and then drew off with authority to win by 3 1/4 lengths in 1:50 3/5. Marsala Hanover held second and JK Alwaysbalady (Yannick Gingras) took third.

A filly by Art Major, Test Of Faith is trained by Brett Pelling for owners Melvin Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable, and Eddie Gran. She has seven victories and a second from eight efforts, and she has now banked $434,500. Bred by Fred Hertrich, Test Of Faith fetched $92,000 at the 2019 Standardbred Horse Sale and is the fourth foal of the Cam's Card Shark mare Cannae Cammie (1:50 2/5, $538,140). This makes Test Of Faith a half-sister to Alexis Faith (American Ideal, 1:50 3/5, $584,224) and to Can't Beach That (Somebeachsomewhere, 1:49, $204,600). Test Of Faith paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

"We usually race two to three a year that we want to put back in the broodmare band. Melvin bought this yearling, and we had with Melvin the brother, Can't Beach That, who showed some real promise, but never could get really over the hump," said Ken Jackson from Kentuckiana Farms. "When Melvin bought this one, Brett loved her, and we decided we'd come in with him. He was generous enough to let us in. Great partners like that make it fun.

"When we started going to New York, Brett was pretty adamant that we had the best 2-year-old pacing filly in the country and definitely in New York. Maybe it's truly the case."

Fire Start Hanover (Dexter Dunn) pressed on past Lindy At The Beach (Gingras) for the top spot passing the 28 2/5 opening quarter in the other $134,500 flight, then released Blue Diamond Eyes (D. Miller) just after the 56 1/5 half. Blue Diamond Eyes maintained the lead around the final bend, to the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters, and into the lane, but Dunn sent Fire Start Hanover two-wide in the stretch, and she zipped around Blue Diamond Eyes en route to a 2 1/4 length decision in 1:50 4/5. Blue Diamond Eyes, the Pennsylvania and Kentucky Sires Stakes champion, had to settle for second, with Lindy At The Beach back in third.

The victorious daughter of Somebeachsomewhere is trained by Nifty Norman for owners Pinske Stables, David Hoese, and Lawrence Means. She now has a record of 5-1-0 from eight appearances, and she pushed her earnings to $145,836. Fire Start Hanover, who is out of the Art Major mare Fit To Frame (1:53 1/5, $16,134), was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. and was a $105,000 purchase at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale. Fit To Frame is a three-quarter sister to the Artsplace mare Glowing Report (1:49 2/5, $2,078,249). A 7-2 offering, Fire Start Hanover returned $9.60 to win.

"I know nothing about training a horse; I only watch, but she's done really well the last month," co-owner Marlys Pinske said about Fire Start Hanover, who has now won her last four starts.