Princess sets a world mark

Pampered Princess raced like royalty Wednesday in the fifth of six Bluegrass divisions for 2-year-old filly trotters, stepping to a world-record 1:54.4 victory over The Red Mile. John Campbell is the master at working out a second-over drive, and that was where he had the freshman filly in the last turn before rallying past the leaders and going on to the open-lengths win.

A $240,000 yearling purchase by Bob and David Anderson, and trained by Jimmy Takter, Pampered Princess is now unbeaten in seven career starts. In her last appearance over a "sloppy" track at Mohawk Sept. 18, Pampered Princess won the $487,097 Oakville. With the winner's share of the $79,500 Bluegrass purse, she now has career earnings of $417,644.

Pampered Princess is a daughter of Andover Hall out of the $531,000-winning mare Bold Dreamer. She is a half sister to the Ontario Sire Stakes-winning colt Was It A Dream. Pampered Princess was bred by William Weaver's Valley High Stable.

Godiva Hall, who dominated her Kentucky Sire Stakes contests at The Red Mile, proved she can step up to open competition with a career-best 1:57 victory in another of the Bluegrass divisions.

Driven confidently by Dave Palone, Godiva Hall rushed from fourth to first approaching the final turn and then held off the inside-rallying Adelaide Hall to win for the fourth straight time. She was coming off a 1:58.2 win in the $200,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final Sept. 14. Aiken For Clay finished third.

Godiva Hall, a daughter of Like A Prayer, is owned by Michiganders Gene and Stephen Oldford, who recently sold half-interest to North South Partners 2 of Georgia. A $30,000 yearling purchase, Godiva Hall increased her career earnings to $199,860 with the winner's check of the $79,500 purse.

The first $79,500 Bluegrass split went to Possess The Magic and driver Mike Lachance in 1:58.1, with Julieannie second and Celebrity Lady third. Possess The Magic earlier this year trotted to her career best of 1:56.1 while capturing the $175,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final at the Meadowlands.

Bred and owned by Brittany Farms, Ron Gurfeins trains the daughter of Self Possessed. The win was her seventh in 10 starts, increasing her earnings to $344,690.

Chris Christoforou made the trek to Kentucky from his Ontario base for just one drive Wednesday, and it paid off when he directed Likely Volo to a 1:57 maiden-breaking victory in the second $80,500 split. Celebrity Speedie was second with Rhonda T third.

A daughter of Yankee Glide, Likely Volo was coming off a break in her last start in the Oakville final after finishing fifth in her elim. She had just one third to show for three starts coming into the Bluegrass. She is owned by Norwegian Ely Rishaug Iversen and trained by Anders Wolden.

Trainer Don Swick turned the lines over for the first time to driver David Miller behind Wishful Me and that move paid off with a 1:57.2 victory over Treasure Me Always and Sand Lavender-Blu in the third $79,500 Bluegrass division.

A daughter of Yankee Glide, Wishful Me is owned by William Peshina's Royal Wire Products and bred by Tom Crouch. The win was her fourth in six starts and a career best.

The final $79,500 Bluegrass division went to Michelle's Angel and driver Brian Sears, who held off Sheer Soul and Fabulous Kemp to score in 1:56.3. The time was a career-best for the daughter of Andover Hall out of World Filly Trotting Derby winner Almost An Angel. She is owned by Jeff Snyder and trained by Richard Norman. The time lowered her career mark by more than a second.

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