Red Mile: Venerable impresses again in Kentucky Sires Stakes

Jim Doherty Memorial winner Venerable rung her unbeaten streak to five when venturing uncovered to a 1:54 1/5 victory in the $40,000 Kentucky Championship Series second preliminary for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Sunday (Aug. 15) at The Red Mile.

Off the 3-5 favorite, Venerable landed in fifth as the overflow field of 12 stacked into the first turn. Penelope J powered to the lead from post 10 and took the field past the quarter in 28 1/5, with opening-round winner Selfie Queen sitting the pocket. Towards the back of the pack entering the backside, second-tier starter Pink Gypsy angled off the pylons and prompted the hands of American Beauty and then Venerable to tip overland in the march to a 57 second half.

Venerable led the two-wide tier into the final turn, making steady gains on the bend, and soon clearing the lead from Penelope J. The Richard "Nifty" Norman trainee tripped three-quarters in 1:26 as Selfie Queen raced anxiously and soon lost stride from third inside, and sailed through the stretch chased by a wall of pursuers. More Than Ever emerged from the charge to snag second in the mile, with Pink Gypsy to the center of the track taking third, and Spendthemoneyhoney sliding up the pegs for fourth.

A daughter of Walner, Venerable's unbeaten streak has pushed her bankroll to $300,255 for owners David McDuffee, Mel Hartman, Paul Bordogna, and Steven Arnold. David Miller piloted the $3.40 winner.

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Ron Burke pupil S I P popped pocket and coasted to a 1:53 4/5 win in the lone $40,000 second-round division of the Kentucky Championship Series for freshmen trotting colts and geldings.

Fast As The Wind fired for the front from post nine while S I P, leaving from post eight, followed suit to settle into the pocket approaching a 28 3/5 first quarter. Driver Yannick Gingras stayed put with the Bar Hopping colt while Fast As The Wind raced uncontested to a 57 second half.

The leader soon after faced first-over pressure from Bully Boy Hill heading to three-quarters in 1:26 1/5 but turned that challenger away coming to headstretch. However, the tempo-setter could not withstand the fresh legs of S I P, as that pocket-sitter soared through the stretch to a two length victory while chased home by first-round winner Double Deceiver. Fast As The Wind faded to third, with Rebuff rallying for fourth.

Owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC., Hatfield Stables, Brixton Medical Inc., and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, S I P scored his third win from seven starts, banking $132,432. He paid $9.00 to win.

Branded By Lindy ($5.80) led the winners of the three $20,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series divisions with a 1:54 mile for Scott Zeron and trainer Domenico Cecere, who sent out three winners on the card. Access ($9.60) scored in the opening division in a time of 1:55 3/5 for trainer Bob Stewart and driver Andrew McCarthy, while Bright Side Up ($14.40) rolled to a 1:55 3/5 victory in the other division for trainer Marcus Melander and driver Mattias Melander.

Date Night ($2.80) dominated her $20,000 division of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series for 2-year-old trotting fillies with a 1:54 3/5 victory by driver Andy Miller for trainer Julie Miller. The other divisions went to Moni Heist ($5.40), driven by Yannick Gingras to a 1:56 win for trainer Domenico Cecere, and Medley, piloted by Andrew McCarthy to a 1:56 1/5 mile for trainer Brett Pelling.

--press release (Red Mile)--