Yo Tillie Lands Return Victory in KYSS at Oak Grove

April 27, 2026

Oak Grove, KY — Trainer Andrew Harris brought his star trotting mare Hunterton Sold Yo Tillie back to her old stomping grounds of Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel for her 4-year-old bow and comfortably found the winner’s circle as the 2-5 favorite in the lone $50,000 dash of Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) for trotting mares on Monday (April 27).


R Dutchess (driven by Tim Tetrick) fired for the lead inside of Yo Tillie (Todd McCarthy) and relinquished controls to the favorite past a :27.1 first quarter. Yo Tillie coasted to a :57.4 half and gradually upped the tempo into the backstretch as Winnpanzee (Yannick Gingras) advanced uncovered out of fourth. Winnpanzee reached for the leader passing three-quarters in 1:25.4 and remained at her throat into the stretch, but Yo Tillie easily staved off the pressure in a sprint to the finish of a 1:53.2 mile for the win by a half length. Voguish (Dexter Dunn) saved ground for third and R Dutchess settled for fourth.


Yo Tillie, a winner in a KYSS series at Oak Grove as a 2-year-old when campaigned by Verlin Yoder, competes for owners William Pollock, Bruce Areman and Andrew Harris. The daughter of Tactical Landing won her 20th race from 25 starts, has now earned $1,309,495 and paid $2.94 to win.


Team Harris also opened the day’s KYSS action with a victory by recent acquisition Unreasonable, who also won in a KYSS series at Oak Grove, but as a 3-year-old. The now 4-year-old daughter of Huntsville ground uncovered on the rim after steep fractions of :26 and :54.1 cut by Duration (David Miller) and into a sprint to three-quarters in 1:21.1 before surging to the front and holding her ground for a 1:49.2 win as the 2-5 favorite. Rose (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) burst free from a pocket trip to finish a fast-closing second with Odds On Chesapeake (Todd McCarthy) rallying from second over for third. Pacesetter Duration tired to fourth.


Unreasonable won her 12th race from 27 starts and added to her bankroll now worth $726,634. She’s owned by William Pollock, Bruce Areman and Andrew Harris and paid $2.86 to win.


Brett Pelling pupil Three Times Bettor (Dexter Dunn) scored in the other KYSS division for 4-year-old pacing mares. Dunn circled his charge to the lead after a :26.2 first quarter and comfortably cut middle fractions of :55.3 and 1:22 in progress to a 1:49.1 victory by 2-1/4 lengths over pocket-chaser Champagne Room (Yannick Gingras). Caviart Delight (Todd McCarthy) followed in third and The Last Martini (Doug McNair) finished best of the rest in fourth.


Three Times Bettor, a daughter of Bettor’s Delight, won her 10th race from 18 starts for owner Thaddeus Wier and has now earned $198,814. She paid $4.38 to win.


Higher Ground (David Miller) foiled a potential Ron Burke sweep of the KYSS events for 4-year-old pacing horses and geldings when downing 6-5 favorite Harrisburg Heist (Yannick Gingras) in the closing strides of a 1:50.3 mile in the first division. After Harrisburg Heist posted splits of :27.1 and :56.1 on the lead, Miller lifted Higher Ground out of fourth and fired forward to press the leader to three-quarters in 1:22.3. Higher Ground persisted against the pacesetter spinning for home and eventually edged past in the closing strides for a half-length win. Harrisburg Heist held second while Fusion (Todd McCarthy) rallied from second over for third and Bourbon County (Doug McNair) gave chase in fourth.


Michael Hitchcock trains Higher Ground, a gelding by Always B Miki, for owners William Hartt and H & H Stable. He won his fifth race from nine starts this season and his ninth race from 31 starts in his career, earning $199,107. He paid $11.12 to win.


Burke trainee Banderas (Yannick Gingras) later delivered with authority in the second KYSS split for 4-year-old pacing males in a 1:50 mile as the 1-5 favorite. Gingras looped the chalk to the point after a :26.2 first quarter cut by Delray Beach (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) and carried his speed to a :54.3 half and 1:22.2 three-quarters. Confronted by first-over Handsome Stranger (Andy McCarthy) moving to the last turn, Gingras gave Banderas the cue to sprint and he promptly peeled away from the competition to register a 3-1/2-length win. Delray Beach held second with Somelousomewhere (Tim Tetrick) rallying from second over for third and Handsome Stranger settled for fourth.

A son of Tall Dark Stranger, Banderas bagged his fourth win from five starts this season and his ninth win from 36 starts in his career, earning $258,634. He’s owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Frank Canzone, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Joe Di Scala Jr. and paid $2.28 to win.


Carter Pinske’s speedy son of Greenshoe, Go Dog Go (Todd McCarthy), took top honors of the two KYSS splits for 4-year-old trotting horses and geldings with a game 1:52.4 win in his seasonal debut. McCarthy floated forward and took the lead briefly past a :28 first quarter and soon got looped by longshot Youngblood (Archie Buford) heading past three-eighths, prompting McCarthy to slip off the pylons and retake the lead heading to a :57 half. Once back in front, Go Dog Go strode comfortably to three-quarters in 1:24.2 and to a 2-1/4-length victory in a 1:52.4 mile chased by Gimpanzee Dancer (David Miller), who made a big three-wide brush up the backstretch and settled for second. Royal Comet (Marvin Luna) closed for third and Boots N Beer (Joey Putnam) rallied for fourth.


Go Dog Go, an eight-time winner from 23 starts, has now earned $636,234 for owners Wiesman Farms LLC and Al Libfeld. He paid $3.42 to win.


My Degenerate (Tyler Miller) went down the road from the widest draw in the other KYSS split for 4-year-old trotting horses and geldings to pull a slight upset in 1:53.3. He crossed to the lead after a :27 first quarter and faced little threat through middle sectionals of :56.2 and 1:24.2 before sealing the win by three lengths. Vugoo (David Miller) charged furiously from last to take second while pocket-sitter Onemore Volo (Todd McCarthy) held third and Herecomesdajudge (Andy McCarthy) took fourth.


Julie Miller trains My Degenerate, a gelding by Muscle Hill, for owners Knutsson Trotting Inc., Little E LLC, Lindy Farms of Connecticut and Andy Miller Stable Inc. He won his eighth race from 29 starts, earning $362,006, and paid $14.06 to win.


The Monday card at Oak Grove also featured a pair of $25,000 prep races for the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks, which will have eliminations alongside the inaugural Oak Grove Trotting Derby next Monday (May 4). Anthony MacDonald and Eric Patalan swept the pair of preps with Jailbird Jog (1:54 winning mile, $2.52 to win) and Degas (1:53.4, $27.62) winning. Jailbird Jog, a daughter of Tactical Landing, races for owners Thestable Jailbird Jog, P23 Bloodstock and Hutchison Harness LCC, and Degas competes for owner Thestable Degas Group.


Racing at Oak Grove resumes on Tuesday (April 28) with a 14-race card headlined by a $30,000 Open Handicap Trot, carded as Race 6. First-race post time at Oak Grove is 1:10 p.m. (CDT). For more information, visit oakgrovegaming.com. And for more information on the upcoming Oak Grove Festival of Racing, visit oakgrovederby.com.

Topville Lucky wins Nadia Lobell for 3-year-old pacing fillies

July 19, 2026
Columbus, OH – Just before the four $100,000 Grade 3 events at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Saturday, storms rolled through the area, but after nearly an hour long postponement, the races did not disappoint with some exciting finishes. It was a mad dash to the wire in the Nadia Lobell for 3-year-old pacing fillies with Topville Lucky and Andrew McCarthy getting up to win in 1:50.2. I’m A Lou Lou and Tim Tetrick went to the lead midway through the first turn and set the fractions of :27, :55.4 and 1:23. Topville Lucky got the second over tow behind Sangria Summer (Brett Miller) and by the third-quarter was sitting fourth. At the top of the stretch, McCarthy fanned Topville Lucky wide to get up for her first victory of the season by a quarter length. Sangria Summer was second with Shacarri (Chris Page) coming up the passing lane to be third. “I’ve watched this mare race a lot; she’s got a lot of high speed if the trip works out,” said McCarthy after the race. “I was just lucky enough to get a decent trip in there and, you know, she did her job in the stretch.” Topville Lucky went off at 6/1 and paid $14.00 By Sweet Lou out of the Somebeachsomewhere mare Warrawee Winx, Topville Lucky was a $27,000 Harrisburg purchase from Jeremy Yoder. Owned by Punisher 11 Stable, Topville Lucky now has seven wins in 10 lifetime starts and $422,000 in earnings.

Fragment romps in NYSS leg at Tioga

July 18, 2026
Nichols, NY — Hunterton Bred, Born & Sold Fragment (Jason Bartlett) captured the $123,900 leg of New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for sophomore colts and geldings at Tioga Downs on Saturday (July 18). Knoxville (Tyler Buter) was first to the quarter in :27.4, but Fragment ($2.24) wasted no time taking over the lead with a lap to go. On the engine, the favorite led to the half in :55.4 and cruised to three quarters in 1:23.2. As they reached the stretch, Fragment found another gear and left second second- and third-place finishers Knoxville and Fearless Partners (Colin Kelly) is his dust. Fragment stopped the clock in a lifetime best time of 1:49.3. Fragment is a 3-year-old colt by Huntsville trained by Per Engblom for owners Douglass Sipple, Peaceful Acre Farm, and Engblom Farm LLC. The victory was his third win this season and 12th career tally. Bartlett registered a driving hat trick while Dan Daley had a driving-training double. Kelly and Leon Bailey collected driving doubles and Jared Bako added a training double. Tioga Downs returns to live racing on Sunday (July 19) starting at 12:30 p.m. For more information visit www.tiogadowns.com .

Miki And Minnie wins Cleopatra Invitational

July 18, 2026
Hall of Fame driver David Miller picked up the drive behind Miki And Minnie and gave the 4-year-old mare a perfect steer to capture Saturday's $100,000 Cleopatra Invitational for older pacing mares at Scioto Downs in a sizzling 1:48 3/5 mile. Sent off as the heavy favorite, Miki And Minnie got away fifth in the early stages as Always B Naughty and Austin Hanners made two aggressive moves through a 26 second first quarter to secure command. Second choice Three Times Bettor left and took a tuck in third for Chris Page. Approaching the half, Miller moved Miki And Minnie and flushed the cover of Three Times Bettor. With a half in 54 seconds, the pace picked up noticeably on the backstretch as Always B Naughty protected the lead and Three Times Bettor applied pressure, reaching three-quarters in 1:21 1/5. Miller sent Miki And Minnie three-deep late on the final turn, and the Chris Ryder-trained mare took off and rolled home powerfully. Yannick Gingras steered Louies Girl N from well back in the pack for the place spot with Three Times Bettor settling for third. It was the fifth win in seven starts this year for the Chris Ryder-trained mare owned by Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo and Lawrence Minowitz. As the 1-5 public choice, Miki And Minnie returned $2.60 to win.

Jula Florence in NYSS at Buffalo Raceway

July 15, 2026
The second division, worth $55,750, saw Jula Florence ($4.66) take the victory over Wavy Xavier by a half length in 2:00.0 with the tempo setting Little By Little (Jason Bartlett) finishing in third at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday afternoon (July 15).  Little By Little was able to take the battle for early control with splits of :30.0, 1:00.4 and 1:31.0. But with a quarter mile to trot, the action picked up as Jula Florence and Wavy Xavie got into contention. Around the final bend, Jula Florence pulled to the outside while Wavy Xavie made her closing bid in the passing lane, sandwiching Little By Little. In the stretch, Jula Florence got on even terms then was able to slowly pull away to score with Wavy Xavie taking a solid second place and Little By Little finishing in third. Co-owned by the Andy Miller Stable, Inc., Windsong Stables and Domain Haven Farms, LLC, Jula Florence ( Chapter Seven -Jula Shes Magic) is conditioned by Julie Miller. The victory was worth $28,750 and pushed her career earnings to $31,750.

Dame Frances Rips Track Record in Oak Grove KYSS Final

July 13, 2026
Oak Grove, KY — In just the second start of her career, Erv Miller trainee Hunterton Born & Sold Dame Frances fired first up on the rim to the last turn and kicked by pacesetter Banana Beach to win the $80,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) final for 2-year-old pacing fillies under wraps in a track-record 1:50.4 mile on Monday (July 13) at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel. Leaving from post 6, driver Atlee Bender landed into fourth with 3-5 favorite Dame Frances while Banana Beach (driven by Ronnie Gillespie) grabbed command from an inside draw to a :26.1 first quarter. Gillespie settled on the lead but kept the pace strong to a :55 half as Bender readied his charge for an attack in the backside. Dame Frances edged off the pegs in the backstretch and punched forward to match strides with Banana Beach past three-quarters in 1:23.2 before crisply disposing of that rival in the lane while pulling clear for victory by a widening 3-1/4 lengths under a hand drive. Banana Beach held second from Sweet As Silk (Todd McCarthy) in third with Bordeaux Station (Scott Zeron) rallying from last for fourth. A filly by Pebble Beach -Coronet, Dame Frances remains unbeaten from two starts with $60,000 earned for owners Ervin Miller Stable Inc., Andy Miller Stable Inc., Stepbystep Racing and Bryn Campbell. Her 1:50.4 mile, a lifetime best, lowers the track record for 2-year-old pacing fillies set last year when Caviart Daisy won the KYSS final. She paid $3.44 to win.

Midnight Drive wins KYSS 'A' Division

July 13, 2026
Hunterton Bred, Born & Sold Midnight Drive (Dexter Dunn) found a smoother trip off a defeat in last week’s “A” division to score in the $80,000 KYSS final for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings in a 1:52.4 mile on Monday (July 13) at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel. Dunn fired forward out of post 7 and found the pocket after a :27.1 first quarter when odds-on favorite Lone Cypress (Todd McCarthy) looped to the lead as Ballarddrgoldfngr (Archie Buford) chugged up the rim to challenge for the front. Lone Cypress battled with Ballarddrgoldfngr to a :55.3 half and rebuffed that rival passing three-quarters in 1:24. As Ballarddrgoldfngr retreated through the turn, Midnight Drive found clearance to angle outside and laid aim on the leader spinning for home. Midnight Drive reached the front midway down the stretch and held firmly to the finish as Bluebird Beach (Scott Zeron) swooped from near last to take second, beaten a half length. Lone Cypress settled for third and Fenway Station (Atlee Bender) hugged the pylons for fourth. Jamie Sullivan trains Midnight Drive, a 2-year-old colt by Stay Hungry -Turnoffthelights, for owners David Hamm, Glenn Phillips and Frank Chick. He won his second race from three starts, has now earned $75,000 and paid $7.88 to win.

Apex, Endurance win G3 Dancer divisions

July 11, 2026
East Rutherford, NJ – Hambletonian hopefuls Hunterton's Apex and Hunterton Bred, Born & Sold Endurance won their respective divisions of the Grade 3 Stanley Dancer Memorial, for 3-year-old male trotters, on Saturday (July 11) at the Meadowlands, both as favorites and both in 1:52. The Grade 1 Hambletonian, America’s Trotting Classic for 3-year-olds, is Aug. 8 at the Meadowlands. Eliminations, if necessary, are slated for Aug. 1 at the Big M. Apex is No. 1 in Meadowlands announcer/analyst Ken Warkentin’s Road to the Winning Key Farm Hambletonian rankings while Endurance entered Saturday ranked No. 4. Marcus Melander-trained Apex fought off stablemate American Power in the stretch before pulling away for a 1-1/2-length win in the second Dancer division, going for a purse of $144,650. Inexpressable finished third. Long shot Jim Beam led the field to the opening quarter in :28.3 before driver Dexter Dunn moved Apex to the top on their way to the half in :57.2. American Power made a first-over bid on the final turn and, after reaching three-quarters in 1:26, pulled even with Apex in the lane. Apex, though, came home in :26 to secure the victory. Apex turned on the jets and threw down a :26 final quarter to seal victory in his division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial. Apex, last year’s divisional Dan Patch Award winner, has won back-to-back starts since a second-place finish by a neck to American Power in his seasonal debut. The son of Walner -Mission Brief has captured eight of 12 career races and earned $1.06 million for owners Jeff Snyder, S R F Stable, and Steve Stewart. The colt was bred by the Mission Brief Stable. “I think he’s feeling better and better every week now,” Melander said about Apex. “I feel like he’s in good form at this point and I’m looking forward to the next couple weeks here. “It’s a long season and I don’t want to peak him too early. I’m very happy with how his schedule has been looking so far. I think we’ll just go straight now to the (Hambletonian) eliminations in three weeks.” Sent off as the 1-9 favorite, Apex paid $2.20 to win. In the first Dancer division, going for a purse of $145,900, driver Andrew McCarthy and Endurance posted a half-length win over It Could Be Worse with Silverstein another half length back in third. It Could Be Worse went to the front from post 7 in a :28.2 opening quarter before McCarthy put Endurance in motion from third and grabbed the lead on the way to a :57.3 half. Nix Nacken, who had been parked out from the start, pulled alongside Endurance as they reached three-quarters in 1:25.2, but Endurance turned away that challenge before keeping It Could Be Worse and Silverstein at bay through the stretch. Endurance, a son of Captain Corey -Love Session, has four wins in five starts this season for trainer Chris Beaver. He has won three in a row since a second-place finish in the Oak Grove Trotting Derby on May 16. “I was impressed (in the Oak Grove Trotting Derby); he went a really tough trip,” Beaver said. “Every race since, he was in pretty soft, but he had plenty of trot every time. Today, he was in with some good horses. He kind of had his way, but it wasn’t really his kind of trip, either.” For his career, Endurance has won 10 of 13 races and earned $848,799. The colt is owned by Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming, and Mark Moger. He was bred by Steve Stewart and Martti Ala-Seppala. “I think he’s kind of a special colt,” Manes said. “Chris bought him and asked us if we wanted to be partners with him and he’s turned out to be far more than what we ever expected.” Sent off as the 3-5 favorite, Endurance paid $3.40 to win.

Frattina Diablo S wins Philly’s PA Sires Action

July 10, 2026
Chester, PA – $178,654 was on the line during races for three-year-old trotting fillies Friday (July 10) afternoon with Harrah’s Philadelphia during third round preliminary action of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes (two divisions) and Stallion Series (four sections). Frattina Diablo S became the only filly to post two PaSS wins in this grouping to date when she trumphed in 1:52.3. Despite not racing since her other Sires win 26 days ago, “Frattina” set fractions of :28.2, :57.1, and 1:25, then dug in to ward off persistent pocket challenger Little Road by a head with a :27.3 finishing kick. Tim Tetrick was in the sulky for trainer Tony Alagna and owners Steve Stewart and Dreamlover AB.

Gobstopper wins All-Star Event at Pocono Downs

July 6, 2026
Wilkes-Barre, PA – Two-year-old pacing colts and geldings made their first stakes appearances Monday (July 6) afternoon at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania, contesting three $30,000 divisions of their Pennsylvania All-Stars event. The Sweet Lou – Captiva Island colt Hunteron Bred, Born & Sold Gobstopper became the only successful stakes winning favorite on Monday when he defeated Hard Four in 1:54.1 for his first winning mile. Gobstopper tailed Hard Four, who came uncovered after early splits of :28.3 and :58.2 before getting a short lead by the 1:26.4 three quarters; the winner then paced his individual last quarter in :27.1 to catch the game first-over by a head. Anthony Napolitano was in the sulky for trainer Michael Deters and owner Rick Berks.

Honky Tonk Baby wins Stallion Series division.

July 1, 2026
Hollywood Casino at The Meadows welcomed the start of three Stallion Series divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies. Sitting third through a pedestrian three-quarters in 1:30.4, Dunn moved Honky Tonk Baby to the outside, avoided confusion in the stretch, and the Julie Miller trainee trotted home in :28.4 to capture the third Stallion Series division. Willow Oak Racing LLC of Tennessee bred and owns the daughter of Greenshoe .
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