Red Mile: Two-year-old pacing males meet up in Bluegrass Stakes action

Tim Tetrick tripled and Jeff Gillis, Brian Brown, and David Miller doubled in Bluegrass action for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Saturday night at The Red Mile.

Tetrick and Gillis joined forces with owner Geoff Lyons Mound to win the first two $73,800 splits with Lyons Night Hawk and Lyons Johnnyjnr. Lyons Night Hawk pulled first-up from fifth past the half, took the lead away from Captain Trevor (Andrew McCarthy) in upper stretch, and held sway to the wire, winning by a neck in 1:50 2/5. Rock Candy (David Miller) split foes from the pocket through the lane and was second, with Sugar Factory (Corey Callahan) third from second-over.

Lyons Night Hawk, by Sweet Lou, scored his second win and pushed his earnings to $136,071. Bred by Vieux Carre Farm, he was a $60,000 Standardbred Horse Sale buy and is out of Weapons Against, a Western Terror half-sister to A Rocknroll Dance. Lyons Night Hawk was the 3-1 third choice and paid $8.00 to win.

Lyons Johnnyjnr and Tetrick sat a pocket trip to Captain Victorious (Andy Miller) through sensible fractions of 28, 57 4/5, and 1:25 3/5, then slipped up the inside in the lane to defeat the pace-setter by a neck in a 1:52 1/5 mile. Loutenant (Matt Kakaley) collected third at 67-1.

A Well Said colt, Lyons Johnnyjnr is now a two-time winner, and he has pocketed $108,718. Lyons Johnnyjnr, bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., was purchased for $45,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is out of Stolly Up Bluechip (Art Major), making him a half-brother to six-figure earners Stacia Hanover and Spider Man Hanover. Lyons Johnnyjnr was a 21-1 offering and returned $45.00 to win.

Brian Brown then took over the proceedings for the next two $72,800 divisions, winning with Air Force Hanover (David Miller) and Workin Ona Mystery (Tetrick).Nigel SoultAir Force Hanover took flight in the lane

Air Force Hanover showed the way through panels of 27 4/5, 55 4/5, and 1:24 1/5, then sprinted home in 26 4/5 to defeat a first-up Mangogh (Tetrick) by a length and a half in a 1:51 clocking. Waterway (Brett Miller) took third after a two-hole trip.

By Somebeachsomewhere, Air Force Hanover competes for owners Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco, Richard Lombardo, and W.J. Donovan. Air Force Hanover has a record of 3-2-2 from nine trips behind the gate, and he has put $103,888 in the bank. Air Force Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., fetched $60,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, and is out of the Real Desire mare Allamerican Cognac. She is a half-sister to millionaire Caviart Ally and $800,000+ earner All Speed Hanover. The even-money choice, Air Force Hanover paid $4.20 to win.

Workin Ona Mystery and Tetrick popped pocket to take control beyond the 27 3/5 opening quarter in the next grouping, then kept command through middle-half stations of 56 1/5 and 1:24 2/5. Workin Ona Mystery then kicked it into high gear through the lane, pulling away to win by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:50 3/5. Artie's Ideal (Marcus Miller) was the runner-up, with Blood Money (Yannick Gingras) third.

The victorious Captaintreacherous colt is owned by James Stambaugh, Alan Keith, Milt Leeman, and Wingfield Brothers LLC. He has now won all four of his starts and pushed his earnings to $69,400. Workin Ona Mystery was bred by White Birch Farm and was taken out of the Standardbred Horse Sale for $30,000. He is out of the Dragon Again mare Dragon's Tale, a sister to four six-figure earners. Sent off at 1-2, he returned $3.00 to win.

Completing the Bluegrass winners for rookie pacing males was Covered Bridge and David Miller. He was sixth through opening-half fractions of 28 1/5 and 56 2/5, then followed cover from second-over to three-quarters in 1:25 3/5. Miller tipped Covered Bridge three-wide for the stretch drive, and he exploded home, catching and passing leader and favorite Love Me Some Lou (Callahan) to prevail by three-parts of a length in 1:52. Black Smile (Tetrick) brushed from eighth and last to third in the final quarter.

Jessica Okusko trains Covered Bridge, a colt by American Ideal, for owners David Smith and James Giannuzzi. Covered Bridge made his third appearance in the winner's circle, and he has now pocketed $116,259. Covered Bridge, bred by Winbak Farm, is out of millionaire Stonebridge Kisses (Artiscape). Covered Bridge was the 7-2 third choice and paid $9.60 to win.