Red Mile: Tetrick has a strong arsenal for Kentucky Futurity day

The best 3-year-old trotters in North America along with the elite from the older divisions will converge in Lexington at The Red Mile on Sunday afternoon. When the stakes are high there is no better option in the bike than perennial leading money-winning driver Tim Tetrick.

In the featured Kentucky Futurity, Tetrick will guide Your So Vain in the second of two eliminations. The 3-year-old son of Donato Hanover is coming off an impressive off-the-pace score at The Red Mile with Tetrick in the bike for the first time this year.

“If anyone saw the race and saw how good he was, they would have to say he is a contender,” said Tetrick, who emphasized that Your So Vain closed from last despite the leader setting a slow 29 2/5 opening quarter.

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Your So Vain has turned his year around since entering the Bradley Maxwell barn. Since that faithful moment, the colt has three wins and two seconds in five starts for owner P G Van Camp Stables.

The road to the winner’s circle in Your So Vain’s elimination, race 11, could go through Spider Blue Chip. The Chuck Sylvester trainee came back from a break-filled effort at Delaware to post a powerful 1:51 3/5 victory over the famed red clay in Lexington.

“Spider Blue Chip raced very well last week, but [Your So Vain] can go with him; definitely,” said Tetrick, who will steer the colt from post six.

In order to win the $368,900 Kentucky Futurity final, you must finish in the top five in your elimination and return a few races later to finish first in the second heat, race 14. Should Your So Vain reach the second heat, he will likely face Hambletonian winner Royalty For Life, who drew post four in the first elimination (race 10).

Tetrick was feeling good about most of his stakes drives on Sunday, but perhaps his highest praise was reserved for Kentucky Filly Futurity starter Classic Martine. The 31-year-old native of Illinois elected to drive Classic Martine over Handover Belle, a filly he won with last week at The Red Mile in 1:52 2/5. His comments made the decision clear.

“I love her,” said Tetrick about Classic Martine. “She has speed, class and everything you need to do well.”

Classic Martine will start from post six against eight other trotting fillies in the $87,900 first heat (race 2). All nine fillies will return for the $205,100 second heat, with post positions for the fifth race Filly Futurity finale decided by finish position from the elimination.

Perhaps Tetrick’s most well-known drive will come behind 2012 Hambletonian winner Market Share. After a spectacular sophomore campaign, the Linda Toscano trained son of Revenue S has had his share of ups and downs.

“Ever since Canada (July) he hasn’t been like himself,” said Tetrick. “He had a few bumps in the road. He had some sickness, bleeding (he added Lasix on 9-21) and a few other things, but I know he is going to show up again like he was.”

Market Share starts from post eight against a tough field of 10 in the $172,200 Allerage Farms final for older trotters.

One of the more anticipated races on the card is the $175,000 Allerage Farms final for older pacers. Tetrick will steer the warrior A Rocknroll Dance from post three against the likes of Bolt The Duer and likely favorite Pet Rock.

A Rocknroll Dance has strung together seven consecutive sub 1:49 miles and reaffirmed his status as one of the top pacers in the world after a dry patch at the end of his sophomore year.

“What a job they did to bring him out of the funk he was in last year and back to this level,” said Tetrick, who admitted it is hard to fault the son of Rocknroll Hanover.

The Red Mile has a first race post time of 1 p.m. on Sunday, closing day for the meet.