Stars ready to shine in KYSS Unbridled Evening of Champions

The undefeated 3-year-old colt trotter Hartmann and 2-year-old filly pacer Co Ed Desire lead a star-studded cast of Kentucky-sired Standardbreds that will be in action Sunday, Aug. 31, at The Red Mile in the $2.4 million Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) “Unbridled Evening of Champions.” After a month-long series of preliminaries, the best in the Bluegrass State will line up behind the starting gate in eight $300,000 championship finals, the richest single-night event of its kind in U.S. history.

Hartmann has been impressive as he stretched his career winning streak to seven. A half brother to the $1.8-million winning champion mare Cameron Hall, Hartmann comes into Sunday’s $300,000 final off a career-best 1:55.2 victory Sunday, Aug. 24, as he completed his sweep of his three preliminary KYSS legs at The Red Mile. The son of the Walnut Hall Ltd. stallion Like A Prayer is trained by Brent Davis for the Hatfield Stables of Columbus, Ohio, with Jeff Nisonger getting the driving nod.

Co Ed Desire is five-for-five in her young career as she too swept through her KYSS preliminaries, including a career-best 1:52.1 effort Aug. 11. The daughter of Brittany Farms stallion Real Desire is trained by Fred Grant for owner Scott Woogen of Mechanicsville, Va. Hall of Fame driver Mike Lachance will drive Co Ed Desire in Sunday’s rich KYSS final.

Several other stars swept through their trio of KYSS divisions on their way to the Unbridled Evening of Champions, including the 3-year-old filly pacer Unique Legacy, the 3-year-old filly trotter Body Surfing, and the 3-year-old gelding pacer Blue Claw. Also, the 2-year-old colt pacer Carnivore was two-for-two in KYSS action.

“From what we’ve seen on the racetrack the past month from a terrific group of Kentucky-sired horses, the Unbridled Evening of Champions should provide even more excitement,” said Kentucky Horse Racing Commission deputy executive director Marc Guilfoil. “It will certainly be a showcase night at the historic Red Mile, one of the sport’s most famed racetracks.”

As a bonus, The Red Mile will be offering free admission during the Unbridled Evening of Champions. Also, more than $13,000 in prizes—including one winner walking away with a $5,000 cash prize—will be given away in raffles during the night to fans 18 and older. Besides additional cash drawings, the special giveaway includes prizes such as gas cards and a Macbook Air laptop computer.

Local radio celebrities Twitch and Mary Jane of Z-Rock 103.3 will kick off the night’s festivities with a celebrity match race, with the battle taking place one-half hour before the Unbridled Evening of Champions card gets underway at 6:30 p.m.

Also, music by The Downtown County Band will liven up the evening, and a “Kid’s Korner,” that includes pony rides, face painting and an inflatable obstacle course will be open free of charge to children.

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