On Monday (Sept. 19) and Tuesday (Sept. 20), The Red Mile hosted six $100,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series finals and eight $50,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series finals for freshman and sophomore male and female freshman and sophomore trotters and pacers. Taurasi and Prince Of Honor continued to visit the winner’s circle in their respective events to collect Kentucky crowns.
On Monday (Sept. 19), Taurasi and Devon Tharps paced away from the field after the first quarter mile for his seventh consecutive victory and a Kentucky championship in the $100,000 Commonwealth Series finals for three-year-old male pacers. Boston (Dexter Dunn) was third and Threshold (Brian Sears) was third.
Taurasi took over from Boston after the first quarter in :26.1 to lead the rest of the mile in :53, 1:20.2 and 1:49.1.
The gelding has earned seven consecutive victories since a sixth-place finish in his debut at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming on June 27. Taurasi is trained by Tony Alagna. He competes as a homebred for M T Pockets Stables and Victoria Howard. The gelding has a record of 8-7-0-0 and has banked $128,300.
The son of Racing Hill-Voluminous paid $2.64 to win.
On Tuesday (Sept. 20), Prince Of Honor remained undefeated with a 1:53.1 triumph in the Kentucky Golden Rod Series division for two-year-old trotters. The son of Walner-Princess Aurora remains undefeated in four pari-mutuel engagements. Mohatu As (Tim Tetrick) was second and Grizz Wyllie (David Miller) was third.
Prince Of Honor has earned $47,500 and paid $4.28 to win.
Hungry For Love, Queen Of Success lead off triumphs in Commonwealth Series
Hungry For Love and Dave Miller assumed command after the first quarter mile to hit the line in 1:51.1 in the Commonwealth final for two-year-old filly pacers. Constellation (Todd McCarthy) was second and Seashell (Andrew McCarthy) was third.
A daughter of Stay Hungry-Lover Of Art, Hungry For Love is trained by Ron Burke. The filly is owned by Thomas Dillon and Scott Dillon. Hungry For Love now has a record of 9-6-1-0 and has earned $145,000.
The filly paid $2.30 to win and was bred by Brittany Farms.
Queen Of Success (Andrew McCarthy) paced a :25.4 last quarter-mile to fend off Lock Bridge (Dave Miller) and Style For A Mile (Dexter Dunn) to capture the Commonwealth Series final for three-year-old filly pacers.
Trained by Alagna, the daughter of Captaintreacherous-Cashaway is now 21-8-4-2 and has banked $230,467.
Queen Of Success was bred by Brittany Farms and Marvin Katz. She is owned by Alagna Racing, Caviart Farms and Robert Leblanc. Queen Of Success paid $2.68 to win.
Commonwealth Series
Iwont Back Down As (Tony Hall) won the final for three-year-old male trotters for conditioner Anette Lorentzon. Kens Walner (Todd McCarthy) was second and Just For Trix (Dave Miller) was third.
Espresso (Chapter Seven-Biscotti) and Andy Miller took the division for two-year-old male trotters in 1:53.3. Brodeur (Hall) was second and Sayinwhatimthinkin (Tim Tetrick) was third.
Tetrick and Alagna collected another victory with Yes Please (Father Patrick-Speak To Me) in the two-year-old filly trot final. Railee Something (Dunn) was second and Hush Moni (Yannick Gingras) was third.
The final time was 1:53.4
.Golden Rod Series
Grande (Chapter Seven-Ariana G) stopped the clock in 1:54.4 for trainer Nancy Takter with Gingras in the bike. Picaboo Lady (Todd McCarthy) was second and Sadie Hanover (Andy McCarthy) was third in the final for freshman trotting fillies.
Gingras and Fly Like An Angel flew home in 1:50.4 to win the three-year-old filly pace final for trainer Linda Toscano. Kentukylady (Tetrick) was second and Acrimony (Devon Tharps) was third.
Ezra and Atlee Bender captured the final for sophomore trotting colts for trainer Erv Miller in 1:53.1. Aggiornamento (Tetrick) was second and Prank Me (Dave Miller) was third.
Admiral Hill (Sweet Lou-Laura Hill) and Dunn won the Golden Rod series final for two-year-old male pacers in 1:50 for trainer Chris Ryder. Larceny (Dave Miller) was second and Captain Albert G (T. McCarthy) was third.
Unleashed Kemp and Andy McCarthy won the sophomore filly trot in 1:52.3 for trainer Noel Daley. Saffron Girl (Gingras) was second and Blue Bayou Deo (John MacDonald) was third.
Soft Spot (Nob Hill High-Ideal Love) and Dave Miller won the two-year-old filly pace final for trainer Brian Brown in 1:52.2. My Nay Nay (Dunn) and Caviart Sabrina (Tharps) were third.
Peter Foley’s charge Outwit Outrun captured the three-year-old male pace with Andy McCarthy holding the lines in 1:51. Danger Zone (Tetrick) was second and Ovanight Celebrity (Dunn) was third.
The Red Mile is on hiatus until Thursday (Sept. 29) when the Grand Circuit arrives in Lexington.
(Red Mile)