Keg Stand matches track record in Kentucky Sire Stakes final

May 29, 2023

Hunterton born and sold.

Oak Grove, KY — Driver Yannick Gingras masterfully rated the mile with 7-5 favorite Keg Stand, who scored a measured victory by a neck in the $150,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final for 4-year-old trotting horses and geldings — one of four $150,000 finals contested on Monday (May 29) at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming and Hotel.


Leaving from post six, Keg Stand cleared command past a :26.2 first quarter as Golden Wall As (Tony Hall) strung him out through the first turn. Gingras snagged a breather to a :55.2 half and accelerated up the backside while Longshot (Chris Lems) came calling along the rim with Jaqen H’ghar (Peter Wrenn) in tow.


Keg Stand clocked three-quarters in 1:23.1 and cut the corner for home to cling onto victory in a 1:51.1 mile while holding off a furious charge from Jaqen H’ghar. Iwon’t Backdown As (Todd McCarthy) motored off a pylon trip to take third and Golden Wall As settled for fourth.


A stallion by the late Bar Hopping, Keg Stand matched the all-age trotting record of 1:51.1 set in June 2022 by Cuatro De Julio. He collected his ninth win from 28 tries and has now banked $494,926 for owners Black Horse Racing, Christina Takter and John Fielding. Nancy Takter trains the $4.74 winner.


A surprise sprung from the $150,000 final for 4-year-old trotting mares when 1-2 favorite Yanaba (John MacDonald) took off the speed and then broke stride twice through the mile. Pioneer As (Tony Hall) took advantage of the opportunity and lively cover to land a 14-1 upset in a 1:52.3 mile.


Saint Antoine (Gingras) hustled to the point with Adore Me (Andy Miller) settling into the pocket towards a :27.1 first quarter while Hall sat Pioneer As in sixth, about eight lengths from the lead. The field stayed in order through a :56.3 half, but Saint Antoine soon came under pressure.


Eternal Lee (Andy McCarthy) marched out of third with Pioneer As on her back and swooped to the lead after three-quarters in 1:24.1 to open a 1-1/2 length advantage to the top of the stretch. She trotted for the finish evenly while Pioneer As came steaming to her outside to grab command late.

Adore Me shook free from a shuffled pocket and hit her best stride nearing the finish but missed the win by a head with Eternal Lee holding third and Disclosure (Wrenn) closing for fourth.


Pioneer As paid $31.26 in her upset victory, which also was her sixth win from 33 tries and padded her bankroll now worth $257,678. Anette Lorentzon conditions the daughter of Devious Man for owner-breeder ACL Stuteri AB.


Tony Alagna swept the finals for pacing 4-year-olds, first scoring a 1:50.2 win with Boudoir Hanover (Todd McCarthy) in the $150,000 final for pacing mares.


McCarthy wasted little time to put Boudoir Hanover on the point and seized control from Ainthesamewithoutu (Hall) past a :26.2 first quarter. She faced no pressure to a :55 half, which readied her for the first-over push from stablemate Queen Of Success (Andy McCarthy) as the field charged towards three-quarters in 1:22.4.


Boudoir Hanover spun for home and responded to McCarthy’s encouragement to draw away by 1-1/4 lengths to secure the victory. Queen Of Success regained her momentum in the straightaway to take second from fast-closing Idealinfun (Gingras) with Ainthesamewithoutu settling for fourth.


Boudoir Hanover has now won 12 races from 31 starts and banked $999,338 for owners Riverview Racing, Alagna Racing, Caviart Farms and D. Plouffe and S. Head. The daughter of Captaintreacherous paid $2.54 to win.


Her barnmate I Did It Myway (Andy McCarthy) also delivered as the public choice in the $150,000 final for pacing horses and geldings with a coast-to-coast effort in 1:49.1.


I Did It Myway beat All Or Nothing (Dave Palone) to the first-turn punch and notched a :26.2 first quarter to begin the speed game. McCarthy kept the Alagna pupil plugging along through a :54.2 half and three-quarters in 1:22 while All Or Nothing readied to pull the pocket moving towards the top of the stretch.


However, All Or Nothing could not muster an ample challenge to I Did It Myway, who held his ground on the lead through the lane and to the finish while withstanding a late bid from stablemate Taurasi (Todd McCarthy) by a quarter-length. All Or Nothing held third and American Classic (Andy Miller) took fourth.


I Did It Myway has entered millionaire’s row with the win, having now banked $1,018,403 while bagging his 15th victory from 33 starts. The son of Captaintreacherous races for owners Country Club Acres, Joe Sbrocco, Don Latore and Alagna And Fodera Racing. He paid $3.06 to win.


Following the stakes action, the co-featured $28,000 Open Trot went to gate as part of the 13-race card Monday. Sweet Mr Pinetucky (Wrenn) took the lead and faced little pressure from his peers to tab a 1:53.2 tally and pay $12.56 to win in the mild upset over 1-2 favorite It’s A Herbie (Verlin Yoder). Lester Raber trains Sweet Mr Pinetucky, a 9-year-old gelding by Pinetucky, for himself and co-owner Floyd Raber.


Racing returns to Oak Grove next Sunday (June 4). Please note that the race card slated for Tuesday (June 6) has been cancelled and shifted to the tail of the meet on Monday (July 10). Oak Grove will operate on a Sunday-Monday schedule next week.


First-race post time at Oak Grove is 3 p.m. (CDT).

Show Me Your Ace wins Commonwealth at The Red Mile

July 27, 2025
Lexington, KY – On yet another sweltering Sunday evening infringed upon by some intriguing pop-up storms, The Red Mile hosted a preview of future stars of tomorrow as freshman pacing colts demonstrated their talents over the historic mile oval. Hunterton Sold Show Me Your Ace (Dunn), Hurrikanelouexiii (Andrew McCarthy) and Papi Rick (A. McCarthy) captured their respective divisions of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series by a head, neck and nose, respectively. Trained by Chris Ryder, Show Me Your Ace was the public’s second selection in the field of seven at odds of nearly 3-1. The son of American Ideal-Trip Aces Hanover is owned by his trainer, Anne Demers, Lawrence Minowitz and Ake Svanstedt. Bred by In The Dark Racing LLC, Show Me Your Ace broke his maiden in his first trip to the gate and has now earned $15,000. The colt was a $150,000 purchase at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Show Me Your Ace provided $7.78 to those who selected him on their tickets and stopped the clock in 1:52.2. 

Fletchers Field wins Golden Rod at The Red Mile

July 27, 2025
Lexington, KY – On yet another sweltering Sunday evening infringed upon by some intriguing pop-up storms, The Red Mile hosted a preview of future stars of tomorrow as freshman pacing colts demonstrated their talents over the historic mile oval. Hunterton Born & Sold Fletchers Field (Geremy Bobbitt) was the only non-favored horse to win his Golden Rod division in 1:52.3. He is trained by Rodney De Beck and owned by his trainer with Randy Donahue. The son of Tall Dark Stranger -Coronet paid $9.94 to win.

Seaside Angel wins Buckeye Stallion Series division at Northfield

July 23, 2025
There were five $27,397 Buckeye Stallion Series divisions for two-year-old pacing fillies at Northfield Park. Queen Valerie (1:57; $4.60) kicked off the winners for driver Chris Page and trainer Ron Burke, Hunterton Sold Seaside Angel (1:55.1; $4.80) then connected for Page and a different Ron -- trainer Ron Steck. Rhodena Blue (1:57; $16.80) was the longest priced winner of the group with Aaron Merriman up for trainer Neil MacInnis. Lil Keisha (1:57.1; $5.60) provided a double in BSS action for Page and Burke, with the stakes divisions capped by Eyes Up in the fastest split (1:54.4; $2.40) for driver Dan Noble and trainer Deborah Swartz.

Vic Zelenskyy sparkles at The Red Mile

July 22, 2025
Lexington, KY — On Tuesday (July 22), The Red Mile conducted two $35,000 first round legs of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Series for older male and female trotters. Vic Zelenskyy returned from a vacation as a victor and Black Velvet As collected her second consecutive triumph in sire stakes company. The impeccably bred ( Hunterton Born & Sold) Vic Zelenskyy ( Greenshoe -Mission Brief) has experienced trouble staying flat throughout his career yet demonstrated his affinity for the red clay with his fifth triumph over the Lexington oval. With Dexter Dunn at the controls for conditioner Marcus Melander, the stallion commenced trotting from post position five as Bargain (Marvin Luna) took control out of the gate from post position seven through a first quarter in :28.1. Dunn, however, decided it was time to place Vic Zelenskyy in command prior to a half in :56.1. The stallion never relinquished that position through three-quarters in 1:24.2 and hit the line in 1:51. Bargain came on again with a drive in the lane, but Vic Zelenskyy was best. Mister Dad (David Miller) rounded out the trifecta. Sent off as the favorite in the field of eight, the stallion is owned by S R F Stable as well as Holly Lane Stud East LTD. He was bred by Mission Brief Stable. Vic Zelenskyy was a $550,000 purchase at the 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is the first foal out of world champion Mission Brief’s five offspring of racing age to break the $100,000 barrier after today’s win. The 4-year-old’s stallion’s record now stands at 15-6-2 and he has banked $113,510. He last competed in the 2024 Breeders Crown elimination where he broke in the final, but he did win an elimination of last year’s Kentucky Futurity. Vic Zelenskyy paid $5.14 to his supporters.

Peace Talks wins Kentucky Sire Stakes at The Red Mile

July 21, 2025
On Monday (July 21) The Red Mile hosted two $35,000 first legs of the Kentucky Sire Stakes for 4-year-olds and older for male and female pacers. Hunterton Bred, Born & Sold Peace Talks (Dunn) was content to allow heavily favored Bath Bomb (Andrew McCarthy) to lead the way right from the gate. Dunn sat in the garden spot while Bath Bomb reeled off splits of :27.3, :56.1 and 1:23.3 but he and his horse were prepared to pounce and did exactly that heading around the final turn. Bath Bomb offered some resistance, but Peace Talks would not be denied and came home in a brisk :25.4. The daughter of American Ideal-Triple V Hanover stopped the clock in 1:49.3. Bath Bomb held second and Capytreach (Andy Miller), the longest shot in the field of five at 32-1, came on late to snatch the show spot. Trained by Chris Ryder, Peace Talks is owned by Henderson Farms, Fac Racing LLC and Robert Mondillo. The mare paid $9.64 for her efforts. Peace Talks was bred by Donald Robinson, Michael Robinson, Steve Stewart and James Daut. The mare improved her resume to 40-5-10-11. This was her first triumph of the season from 12 trips to the post. Her time was a new lifetime mark. Peace Talks has collected the most purse money from her dam’s six foals with $536,329 in the bank. She is half-sibling to Fulsome ( Betting Line , $302,399) and Vici (Lazarus N, $327,261). The mare was a $87,000 purchase at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

Jasper Hill wins $25,000 Grassroots division at Woodbine

July 21, 2025
Two-year-old pacing colts stepped into the spotlight with a trio of $25,000 Grassroots divisions at Woodbine Mohawk Park on July 21. Trainer Anthony Beaton picked up victories in a pair of Grassroots divisions, with Hunterton Born Jasper Hill overcoming post ten to score first-over in 1:54.1. Tom Hill's homebred son of Cattlewash-Pretty Katherine was driven to his first career victory in his second outing by Doug McNair as the even-money favourite.

Royal Captain Sets Sail In Millard Farms At Mohawk

July 21, 2025
Woodbine Mohawk Park played host to a pair of $20,000 divisions of the first leg of the Millard Farms Series for two-year-old trotters on Monday (July 21) seeing Hunterton Born and Sold Royal Captain cruise in 1:54.4 to stay perfect in his young career and Halton Hill breaking his maiden in 1:58.3 as the 1-2 choice in the second split. Royal Captain and driver Tyler Jones made quick work of the outside post seven, blitzing to the top and trotting three-lengths clear to the quarter pole in a quick :27.1. Royal Captain remained a loose leader to the half in :57.1 over pocket-sitter Tymal Starstruck (Doug McNair) while Captain Code (Scott Young) advanced into third first-up. Captain Code continued to march to the leader's wheel on the final turn, with Royal Captain reaching three-quarters first in 1:26.3. Under confident Jones handling, Royal Captain remained just out of reach in the lane of both Captain Code and Tymal Starstruck, reaching the wire a length clear in 1:54.4. Captain Code edged out Tymal Starstruck by three parts of a length to be second. Trained by Dustin Jones, the winning son of Captain Corey-You Will Be Queen is now two-for-two to start his career. Bred by Dustin Jones Stables and Hebert Horses Inc., Royal Captain has bagged $18,000 for owners Royal Captain Group.

‘Tillie’ tough in Geers at Big M

July 19, 2025
East Rutherford, NJ — Hunterton Sold Yo Tillie maintained her current standing as the top horse in her division as a Hambletonian contender Saturday night at The Meadowlands when four divisions of the Tompkins-Geers Stake were contested for 3-year-old trotters of each sex. Yo Tillie remained unbeaten in four tries this season after displaying an awesome closing kick rather than the dazzling early speed she showed in each of her first three starts this year. “Her last couple of starts she’s been awesome,” said winning driver Todd McCarthy. “I’ve been racing her pretty aggressively and that was kind of the plan for tonight, but she’s come back so smart this year and she’s learned how to settle in. It’s an advantage when you can race them like that.” The daughter of Tactical Landing -Consolidator raced in fourth past the five-eighths in the $37,125 first dash for fillies, then moved to the outside on the far turn before unleashing a powerhouse final quarter of :26.3 to win by 3½ lengths over R Charm in 1:52.3. Jersey Slide was third. “I knew when I tipped and asked her that she would give me a pretty good last quarter,” said McCarthy. Not eligible for the Hambletonian Oaks, Yo Tillie, who returned $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favorite, is being pointed toward the Kentucky Filly Futurity and Breeders Crown, among other stakes events this year, according to trainer Andrew Harris.

Onajetplane wins the Tompkins-Geers Stake

July 18, 2025
Hunterton Sold Onajetplane threw his hat into the ring as a Hambletonian contender Saturday night at The Meadowlands when four divisions of the Tompkins-Geers Stake were contested for 3-year-old trotters of each sex. Onajetplane used a quick brush to command down the backstretch to secure the top just after the half and then had to hold off a late-charging Hey Porter to take the first division for colts and geldings – which went for a purse of $39,125 – by a head in a lifetime-best equaling 1:52.1. Warrior was third.  “He doesn’t love being in front, he starts looking around a little,” said winning driver Andy McCarthy. “He got to wondering a little but once Scottie [Zeron, driving Hey Porter] came to us, he got back to business.” In the opinion of his driver, the son of Walner -Noble Lover is a Hambletonian contender. “This horse is good enough [to compete in the Hambo]. He needs a good draw and a good trip and he’ll be right there.” As the 4-5 public choice, Onajetplane, a Noel Daley trainee, paid $3.60 to win.

No Better Air Stars In Grassroots At Mohawk

July 18, 2025
Hunterton Born and Sold No Better Air was one of four Cattlewash freshman pacing filly winners in Ontario Sires Stakes action on Friday night, July 18 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Congratulations to owners Andrea Lea Racingstables Inc, Scott McEneny and Carlisle-Aristi Varsakis, trainer Scott McEneny and driver Trevor Henry. 
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