Raceoff settles classic

The 41st Kentucky Futurity Friday at The Red Mile came down to a two-filly raceoff between Passionate Glide and Queen Serene, but it was P Glide who came away a 1:53 winner after sitting second after a patient drive by Ron Pierce.

Trond Smedshammer set fractions of :28.4, :57 and 1:25.3 with Queen Serene, who won the second heat and automatically received post position one. She had just Passionate Glide to contend with after elim winner Four Starz Lindy was scratched by Smedshammer, and Pierce was patient with his charge as he bided his time behind.

Pierce tipped Passionate Glide to the outside coming out of the first turn and ranged up alongside Queen Serene, and then with a wave of his hand to Smedshammer that sent a roar through the crowd, urged his 3-year-old filly on home an easy winner.

"I figured I might as well have some fun with it," Pierce said afterward of his wave goodbye to Smedshammer. "I wasn't worried at all. I knew that as long as I was close to him I could go by him."

The two-filly match-up was set up when Queen Serene, under a masterful drive by Smedshammer, set all the fractions and trotted to a world-record 1:52 victory in the second heat, knocking one-fifth off Continentalvictory's mark set in the 1996 Hambletonian.

Pierce and Passionate Glide just could not catch up after getting away fourth as Smedshammer set fractions of :28.1, :55.2 and 1:23.4 before Queen Serene kicked home in :28.1 to seal the victory.

Passionate Glide and Four Starz Lindy won their respective eliminations for the Filly Futurity, and will attempt to wrap up the title in the second heat while taking on eight challengers. Passionate Glide won in 1:52.2, just one-fifth off the world record, while Four Starz Lindy rallied to a 1:54.3 victory.

The first elimination was similar to the Delvin Miller Memorial final where Queen Serene and driver Smedshammer got away to a quick lead and set fast fractions. Queen Serene, with Susie's Magic and driver David Miller trying to keep up in second, reached the quarter in :27.1 and half in :54.4. Pierce sat about six lengths back in third with Passionate Glide, but began to work his way up to the leaders at that point.

In the Miller Queen Serene had a nine-length lead at the three-quarters and had to settle for second behind Passionate Glide, and this time around it was the same as she could not hold off her fast-charging rival who0 won for the 11th straight time this year. Susie's Magic held for third, with Buck I St. Pat and Keystone Gratitude earning a spot in the second heat.

Four Starz Lindy got a second-over trip from Brian Sears and it paid off as she was able to rush to the win over Workout Doll and KD Girl, with Winning Sister and Stardust also finding a spot in the second heat. The win atoned some for Four Starz Lindy's uncharacteristic break in last week's Bluegrass action, and it was her third win of the year in 11 attempts.

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