Filly trotters in action in ISS divisions

The second week of Grand Circuit action at The Red Mile is also the time for final preps for the upcoming Breeders Crown championships for 2 and 3 year olds at Woodbine, and on Tuesday afternoon it was the freshman filly trotters in action in five $65,800 divisions of the International Stallion Stakes (ISS).

 

Merrie Annabelle winner Poof She's Gone won the fifth division with a 1:55.2 effort for driver David Miller. Miller tucked the 2-5 favorite Poof She's Gone into fourth at the start and remained there until the final turn when he tipped his charge on a first-over journey to the front. She cleared turning for home and cruised to the win. John Campbell was able to split horses in midstretch with Southwind Samurai to get second, with Munis Blue Chip third.

 

"That was our plan, to race her off the pace," Miller said afterward. "It's a positive note going into next week (in the Breeders Crown elim)."

 

Bred by Tara Hills Stud and owned by Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman, David McDuffee and John D. Fielding, Poof She's Gone is trained by Richard "Nifty" Norman. The daughter of Kadabra finished third in her career debut before going on a six-race win streak, which was snapped Sept. 20 in the Peaceful Way final when she finished a close second. Her career earnings now stand at $588,399.

 

Driver Tim Tetrick settled Up Front Juansteen in second behind the leading Brian Sears-driven Levi’s Lady before moving his charge back to the front and taking control en route to a 1:55.3 victory in the first ISS division.

 

Making Up Front Juansteen’s job a lot easier came at the start when the 4-5 favorite, Impressive Kemp, made a break with driver Andrew McCarthy. Impressive Kemp was coming off an impressive 1:55.3 win in a Bluegrass division last week at The Red Mile.

 

Making her first Lexington appearance of the year and coming off a fourth-place finish in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship one week ago at The Meadows, Up Front Juansteen trotted a career best while scoring for the third time in 11 starts. Trained by Kelly O’Donnell, the Hanover Shoe Farms-bred winning daughter of Andover Hall has career earnings of $108,286 for owners Ed Mullinax and Murray Brown.

 

Fashion Feline pounced on her rivals for a 4 ¼-length win over Bar Slide in the second ISS division in 1:54.3. Driven by Brian Sears, Fashion Feline took the lead for good from eventual third-place finisher Barham Hanover past the opening quarter to win in a career best.

 

A daughter of Broadway Hall, Fashion Feline has now won three straight, coming off a win in the $200,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final Sept. 29 at The Meadows. Bred by Arlene and Jules Siegel and owned by the Siegel’s Fashion Farms, Fashion Feline is trained by Jim Campbell. Her earnings increased to $319,273 with the victory, her seventh overall in 10 starts.

 

Full Tank won the third ISS division with a 1:57.1 effort for driver George Brennan, with Religulous and driver Ron Pierce second and In The Mean Time and Mike Lachance third.

A daughter of Muscles Yankee, Full Tank was bred by Robert Rosenheim Stables and owned by Little E LLC. Bob Bencal trains Full Tank, who has earnings of $69,074.

 

In the fourth ISS division, Sears got away fourth with favorite Spicy Wings, moving up a place early down the backstretch when second-choice Perfect Chance made a break in the three hole. Sears then moved Spicy Wings to the lead, yielded around the final turn to the George Brennan-driven Tequila Slammer, hoping to repeat her winning Bluegrass effort of a week ago, before angling back around the front-ender and going on to a 1:55.4 victory.

 

Ultimate Cameron rallied late to get second-place honors for driver Lachance, with Tequila Slammer settling for third.

 

Bred by Hanover Shoe Farms and owned by Let It Ride Stables, Mentally Stable and Jerry Silva, Spicy Wings is trained by Ross Croghan. The win, just a tick slower than her previous career mark set last week in a Bluegrass split at The Red Mile, was her second in nine starts to increase her earnings to $118,655.

 

“She’s a nice filly,” said Croghan afterward. “She’s had the time of her life here in Lexington. I told Brian (Sears) just be kind to her at all times…she’s a bit flighty.”

Croghan said Spicy Wings is now likely heading to Woodbine for the upcoming Breeders Crown.

 

“We might take a shot now,” he said. “It’s a likely scenario.”