Red Mile: Yo Tillie, Sippinonsearoc sparkle in Kentucky Championship Series

Yo Tillie and Sippinonsearoc found the winner's circle in their respective $80,000 first legs of the Kentucky Championship Series for 3-year-old filly trotters and sophomore colt and gelding pacers on Sunday night at The Red Mile.

Driven by Todd McCarthy, Yo Tillie improved to five-for-five this year with a 1:51 1/5 tally in her tilt. She sat third on he pylons while Pink Bomb (Andy McCarthy) cut fractions of 28 3/5 and 55 1/5 and then came to the outside prior to three-quarters, which was posted in 1:23 3/5. Yo Tillie was in front by the time the field entered the stretch, and she pulled away to win by three lengths over Stash Some Cash (Yannick Gingras). R Lady W (Scott Zeron) closed well to get third.

Trainer Andrew Harris also co-owns Yo Tillie, a daughter of Tactical Landing bred by Gbw Breeding Farms Inc. and Black Creek Farm, with partners William Pollock and Bruce Areman. Yo Tillie has 13 wins, a second and a third from 17 tries overall, has banked $467,383 and paid $2.10 to win.

In the race for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, Sippinonsearoc (Gingras) worked his way past Captain Arturovico (Geremy Bobbitt) for the top spot beyond the 27 4/5 quarter and maintained command to a 55 2/5 half and a 1:22 1/5 three-quarters. From there, Sippinonsearoc kicked away, and his 26 3/5 final quarter propelled him to a 3 1/2 length win over a rallying Lite Up The World (James MacDonald) in a 1:48 4/5 mile. Captain Arturovico held third at 151-1.

Ron Burke trains Sippinonsearoc, a colt by Downbytheseaside, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., R A S Racing LLC. and Knox Services Inc. Sippinonsearoc has a summary of 8-4-2 from 19 appearances, has put away $680,900 and returned $4.26 to win.

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Harrisburg Heist (by Downbytheseaside and bred by Brittany Farms and Marvin Katz, paid $5.46 to win) won the lone $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series dash for 3-year-old male pacers in 1:49 4/5 for Gingras, Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Knox Services Inc., Phil Collura and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.

A pair of Kentucky Commonwealth Series divisions for 3-year-old trotting fillies were held, and the winners were:

--Kadena (by Gimpanzee and bred by Mission Brief Stable, paid $10.50 to win) in 1:52 1/5 for driver Andy McCarthy, trainer Marcus Melander and owners Jeff Snyder and S R F Stable;

--My Honor (by Muscle Hill and bred by owners Brittany Farms and Marvin Katz with Al Libfeld, paid $8.84 to win) in 1:52 1/5 for driver James MacDonald and trainer Ake Svanstedt.

Two $15,000 splits of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series for sophomore pacing males went behind the gate, with victories taken by:

--Higher Ground (by Always B Miki and bred by 1876472 Ontario Inc., paid $12.24 to win) in 1:50 2/5 for driver Scott Zeron, trainer Tony Alagna and owners Robert Leblanc and Pryde Stables Inc.;

--Blue Onyx (by Tall Dark Stranger and bred by co-owner Crawford Farms Racing, paid $7.30 to win) in 1:50 3/5 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Tony Alagna and co-owners Pryde & Alagna Stable, Brad Grant and William Beattie.

The three-year-old trotting fillies were divided into three Kentucky Commonwealth Series flights, and getting the job done were:

--Rita Dawns Halo (by Googoo Gaagaa and bred by Steve Stewart and Martti Ala-Seppala, paid $3.92 to win) in 1:53 4/5 for driver Andy McCarthy, trainer Tony Alagna and trainer Ken Jacobs;

--Dusty D Lite (by Walner and bred by Al Libfeld, paid $5.72 to win) in 1:54 1/5 for driver Todd McCarthy, trainer Carter Pinske and owner Eric Good;

--Anativenewyorker (by Greenshoe and bred by owner Marvin Katz with Al Libfeld, paid $2.98 to win) in 1:53 4/5 for driver Dexter Dunn and trainer Marcus Melander.