Favorites prevail in KYSS 3-year-old divisions

There were no surprises among eight Kentucky Sire Stakes divisions for 3 year olds Thursday night at The Red Mile as seven favorites and a strong second choice prevailed in each of the $15,000 splits. Two of the four defending champions were successful in their initial 2010 KYSS venture as this year’s sophomore class heads toward the $300,000 finals on Sept. 5.

Undefeated in four starts last year, including the KYSS final for 2-year-old filly trotters, Felicity Hall had struggled in four starts this year in open competition at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. But a return to the Bluegrass apparently was all the daughter of Like A Prayer needed as she romped to an 8 ½-length win over four foes in the first division for 3-year-old filly trotters in 1:57.2.

Mike Lachance drove the winner for trainer Fred Grant and breeder-owner Walnut Hall Limited. The time was a career best while increasing her career earnings to $193,401.

Nannina made her first appearance of 2010 and the daughter of Valley Victor cruised to a 7 ¼-length win in 1:57.2 in the second split for second-year sophomore filly trotters. Brad Hanners trains and drives the winner for owner Freida Ivory. A winner once in 11 starts last year, Nannina’s effort Thursday night was a career best.

In the first KYSS division for 3-year-old filly pacers, Best Boss was able to turn the tables on defending champion Ultimate Best with an eight-length win in 1:51.2. Lachance was in the sulky behind the winning daughter of Cambest for trainer Pat Lachance, who shares ownership with M & M Harness Racing and Ira Rosenblum. The win was her first of the year in eight starts after most recently competing at the Meadowlands in the Mistletoe Shalee and Tarport Hap.

Bestofbothworlds, a recent addition to trainer Ron Burke’s barn, won her first start for the new conditioner with a career-best 1:50.4 effort in the second split for sophomore filly pacers, besting I Kissed A Girl by one length. Brian Sears drove the daughter of Cambest to her fourth win in 11 starts this year after having been competing at Mohawk. Bestofbothworlds is owned by Frederick Woolford and Park Lane Stables.

Last year’s KYSS champion and runner-up 2-year-old colt trotters both came up victorious in separate splits Thursday night for 3-year-old colt trotters. Quantum Lightning, who finished second last year behind (at the time) stablemate Victor’s Future, won the opener in 1:56.2, while Victor’s Future rallied late to win the second in 1:55.4.

Brad Hanner was in the sulky behind Quantum Lightning as he won for the second time in four starts this year while equaling his lifetime mark. The son of Like A Prayer scored by three-quarters of a length over Bullseye Valley. Jeff Smith trains the winner for owners Terry and Cynthia Kinsley.

Shortly after Victor’s Future won last year’s KYSS final he was sold and sent from trainer Smith’s barn to the New Jersey-based Trond Smedshammer. Although the son of Valley Victory hadn’t fully returned to form in five starts 2010, his fondness for The Red Mile showed on Thursday as he rushed home late to post his first win of the year for driver Sears. Rome finished a length back in second for John Campbell. While all the other seven KYSS winners were the bettors' choice, Victor's Future was the 9-5 second choice behind the 6-5 Onmygame, who finished fourth.

Joe Muscara now owns Victor’s Future, who lowered his career mark by four-fifths of a second with his Thursday-night effort.

KYSS action finished up with two divisions for 3-year-old colt pacers, with Campbell directing both Razzle Dazzle and Rockincam to victories.

Razzle Dazzle was a 1 ½-length winner over Real Hero in 1:51.3 in the first split, with defending KYSS champ High Def Z Tam making a break and not contending. Jerry Silverman trains the winning son of Real Desire for owner Ira Kristel.

Rockincam, unraced last year at two, is now five for five as a 3 year old after posting a career-best 1:50.3 win in the second division, defeating Top Gear by three-quarters of a length. The son of Cambest’s first three wins came at Pompano Park, with Thursday night’s race the second for the Warren Harp trainee since late May, coming on the heels of an Aug. 19 win at The Red Mile in a late-closing event. Rockincam is owned by Stephen Farrell.

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