Red Mile: Zero Tolerance quickest in Bluegrass filly paces

Joe Holloway trainee Zero Tolerance vaulted from off cover and nailed pace-setter Queen Of The Pride to win the second of three divisions of the $273,100 Artspeak Bluegrass Two-Year-Old Filly Pace, sponsored by the Artspeak Syndicate and Winbak Farm, in 1:51 on Friday, Sept. 28 at The Red Mile.

Driver David Miller positioned the daughter of Heston Blue Chip in fifth as Queen Of The Pride posted a 27 2/5 opening quarter on the front. She’s Allright, sitting third, was flushed first-over as Beautyonthebeach angled off the rail from fourth heading toward a 55.1 half. Zero Tolerance, still fifth, entered the flow third-over.

She’s Allright pressured Queen Of The Pride to three-quarters, while Beautyonthebeach fanned three-wide along with Zero Tolerance in behind. Past that station in 1:24, She’s Allright stalled as Queen Of The Pride accelerated into the stretch. Beautyonthebeach rallied but hung from off cover while Zero Tolerance rallied widest of all to slide past Queen Of The Pride in the final strides. Beautyonthebeach took third from She’s Allright.

Winning her seventh race from nine starts, Zero Tolerance competes for owners Val D’Or Farms and Ted Gewertz, earning $241,291 in the process. She paid $5.60 to win.

Stonebridge Soul paced to the top early and withstood late pressure to win the $90,700 first division of the Bluegrass in 1:52 1/5.

The Chris Ryder-trained daughter of Somebeachsomewhere cleared to command from early leader Bestseller Hanover at the quarter in 28 seconds flat. High Reward, sitting third, edged first-over past a 57 second half to apply pressure to the pace-setter around the final turn with Blue Ivy in tow second-over.

Maintaining a short lead by three-quarters in 1:25.3, Stonebridge Soul turned away High Reward in the stretch. Blue Ivy kicked off cover and began a pursuit towards the center of the track, with Louphoria wider and Sweet Lucy Lou weaving through competition towards the inside. Stonebridge Soul extended to the line as Blue Ivy snagged and held second from Louphoria, who charged home for third. Sweet Lucy Lou took fourth.

Winning her third race in eight starts, Stonebridge Soul, owned by Henderson Farms and Robert Mondillo, has earned $116,790. Dexter Dunn piloted the $5.60 winner.

Prescient Beauty blew off cover and swept to a length victory in 1:51 1/5 to take the final division of the Bluegrass filly pace.

Undefiable took the lead as Annie Hill pushed through at the rail for the pocket. Prescient Beauty sat seventh as Undefiable paced the first quarter in 29 1/5. St Somewhere, away fifth from post nine, edged off the rail heading to the half and sprinted to the top following a 56.4 half. May Bride Hanover tracked the backside brush, with Prescient Beauty on cover, but travelled uncovered into the final turn.

St Somewhere’s lead narrowed to three-quarters, timed in 1:24 3/5, as May Bride Hanover dug into the pace-setter on the outside. Prescient Beauty tipped three-wide into the stretch as May Bride Hanover retreated and St Somewhere continued on the lead. The odds-on favorite surged to the front late in the mile to best St Somewhere, with Annie Hill chasing third and Jk Mardi Says snagging fourth.

A homebred for owner James Avritt Sr., Prescient Beauty, a daughter of Art Major, won her fourth race in nine starts, collecting $178,537 in earnings. Doug McNair drove for trainer Gregg McNair and paid $3.40 to win.

--press release (Red Mile)--