Freshmen in KYSS action

Thursday night was the third and final preliminary leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) for 2-year old trotters and pacers, as they made their last push to earn enough points to be included in the $2.4 million Night of Champions on Sunday, Sept. 6.

 

It was a familiar scene in the lone $25,000 KYSS leg for filly pacers, as Best Boss (Mike Lachance) scored her third consecutive KYSS victory and stamped herself as the one to knock off in next week’s $300,000 final with an impressive 1 3/4-length victory in 1:52.3.

 

The filly did not have an easy journey as she started from the outside post (10) in the crowded field of 11, and Lachance moved the daughter of Cambest-Head Of The House first-over as they entered the final turn after getting away sixth in the early going. She responded with a :27.2 final quarter to get past Ultimate Best (Andy Miller) who held on for second, while Lay’nuptreasures (Peter Wrenn) rallied for third.

 

Best Boss, a $100,000 private purchase three weeks ago, is trained by Richard Ringler for M & M Harness Racing LLC, Ira Rosenblum, and Pat Lachance.

 

The 2-year old filly trotters needed just a single $25,000 division for round three of the KYSS as well, as Felicity Hall (Mike Lachance) was a gate-to-wire winner to record her third career victory in as many starts. The daughter of Like A Prayer-Favorite Hall cruised through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.2, and 1:30.3 before putting away the field down the lane to easily pick up the 1 3/4-length score in 1:59.3, a new lifetime best.

 

The filly is trained by Fred Grant for Walnut Hall Ltd. Striking Victress (Luke McCarthy), a 50-1 longshot, parlayed a pocket trip into the place spot, while Just A Valley Gal (Joe Putnam) rallied for third.

 

The 2-year old colt trotters settled leg three of the KYSS with two $15,000 divisions. The first saw Victor’s Future (Brad Hanners) use different tactics than normal by rushing up to the lead past the half-mile marker, but producing the same result as he made it a perfect three-for-three sweep of the KYSS preliminary legs with a 2 3/4-length victory in 1:59.1, a lifetime best.

 

The son of Valley Victor-Baby Bella is trained by Jeff Smith and owned by Terry and Cynthia Kinsley, along with James and Fred Everhart. Kentucky Wildcat (Wrenn) finished second behind his nemesis for the third consecutive week, while Cardura Hall (Lachance) held third.

 

The second $15,000 KYSS division for 2-year old trotters looked to be another win for the connections of trainer Jeff Smith as they sent out the dominate 1-2 favorite Quantum Lightning (Hanners). However, Victory Nut (McCarthy) was able to avenge two straight second-place finishes to the favorite, by scoring the upset.

 

It was a two-horse race down the lane as Victory Nut took the lead at the head of the stretch and used a :27.4 final quarter, along with a two-length head start, to fend off the favorite who was a half length back to finish a very game second. Trot to Victory (Robert Taylor) was 5 1/2 lengths back in third.

 

Victory Nut, a son of Valley Victor-Garbo Hanover, picked up his first career victory with the 1:57.3 clocking, for trainer Noel Daley and owners John Wagner and Scott Woogen.

 

The 2-year old colt pacers were also split into two $15,000 divisions for leg three of the KYSS. The first of which proved to be a wide open affair, with the top five within three-quarters of a length of each other at the finish.

 

Roys Beach Boy (Dan Noble), a son of Jenna’s Beach Boy-Miss Doshie, was a game winner after settling fourth in the early going and coming first-over around the final turn, using a :28.2 final quarter to hold off the challengers and score the 8-1 upset in 1:56.3. Roys Beach Boy is trained by Bradley Crates for Henry Ruppel and the Krak the Whip Stable.

 

Electrifying Cam (Marcus Johansson) closed from last to within a head of the winner, with Onemoreroundocrown (Trace Tetrick) only a neck away from the win in third.

 

The other $15,000 division for 2-year old pacers also completed a clean sweep of the three preliminary legs of the KYSS for High Def Z Tam (Lachance). Lachance tucked the gelded son of Real Desire-Caribbean away second around the first turn, but quickly took control as they straightened out up the backstretch, cruising through a half in :57.1, three-quarters in 1:27.3, before kicking home in :26.4 to post a 3 1/4-length score in 1:54.2.

 

Ringler trains the likely favorite in next week’s $300,000 final, and he is owned by Z Tam Racing LLC and Pat Lachance. Main A Dieu Too (Tetrick) used a pocket trip to hold second, with Spartan Justice (Wrenn) rallying late for third. (Red Mile)