Duke Of Walner rewarded his supporters as the post time favourite with a 1:54.1 triumph in the sole $80,000 division of the Kentucky Sire Stakes for two-year-old male trotters at The Red Mile on Sunday, July 30.
G O A T (Atlee Bender) snatched the lead off the gate until Going Green (David Miller) assumed command at the half-mile marker after a first panel in :28.4. Going Green relinquished the lead to Duke Of Walner after a half-mile in :57.2. Once he reached the front, the colt continued with plenty of trot to the wire, crossing 2-3/4 lengths in front for Tim Tetrick.
Duke Of Walner, who broke his maiden in his third lifetime start, was followed home by Vocalize (Andrew McCarthy) and Longfellow S (Brian Sears) was third.
Bred by K R Breeding LLC, Duke Of Walner (Walner-Nashville Lindy) was a $90,000 purchase at the 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by Berg Bros Racing, Joe Sbrocco, Daniel Plouffe and Lucaswallinjafracingmyfab. He is a half sibling to Shake It Off Lindy (Crazed, 1:52.4, $253,348) and Tennessee Lindy (Muscle Hill, 1:55.4, $127,760).
Duke Of Walner is trained by Lucas Wallin. The colt has earned $46,000 in purse money.
He paid $5.16 for his victory.
Alamo Mission (Walner-Adios Lindy) hit the line on top in 1:54.1 in the first $30,000 second-leg division of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series for two-year-old trotting males. Dexter Dunn was in the bike for the Dominico Cecere. He competes as a homebred for Lindy Farms. The winner paid $5.16 as the top choice. Bright Star was second and Skydiver finished third.
International Law (International Moni- Love N Lindy) did not allow the eight-hole to deny him a decisive victory in the second $30,000 division. Steered by Trace Tetrick to the 1:54.2 victory, the gelding is owned by his trainer, Erv Miller, along with Douglas Overhiser, D & M Trading II LLC and John Stefanos. He was bred by K R Breeding LLC.
Jgs Pal (Tactical Landing-Dressed To Impress) upset favourite Militant to take the first $15,000 division of the Golden Rod Series in 1:56.2 for Scott Zeron and Linda Toscano. He paid $29.76 to win.
Favourites took the other splits with Luke The Spook (Greenshoe-Noblesse Blue Chip) winning in 1:56.4 for driver Mathias Melander and trainer Marcus Melander, and Swan Explosion (Swan For All-Explosive G) scoring in 1:56.1 with Peter Wrenn in the bike for Melanie Wrenn. Luke The Spook paid $3.96 and a Swan Explosion ticket was worth $7.38.
(With files from The Red Mile)