Brandon Blvd made it three-for-three in this year's Kentucky Championship Series for 2-year-old male pacers at The Red Mile with a 1:50 1/5 win in Sunday night's $80,000 event.
Treacherous (David Miller) cut the opening quarter in 27 1/5, then was overtaken by Lindy Dragonwater (Joe Bongiorno) past that station. Funky Buddha (Todd McCarthy) tracked Lindy Dragonwater's move on the outside and passed him to become the third leader beyond the 55 1/5 half.
Watching all that from fourth was Brandon Blvd (Tim Tetrick), and he went on the attack first-over on the far turn. Within a matter of strides he advanced to get side-by-side with Funky Buddha at the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters, then went by him before they entered the lane. From there Brandon Blvd was clear to the wire as he prevailed by a length and a half over a closing Ubrute (Yannick Gingras). Funky Buddha was third from Caviart Anders (Andy McCarthy) and Lindy Dragonwater.
Andrew Harris trains Brandon Blvd, a Downbytheseaside colt bred by Crawford Farms, and co-owns him with William Pollock and Bruce Areman. Brandon Blvd has won all four of his starts overall, has earned $125,500 and paid $3.46 to win.
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Two $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series divisions were won by:
--Toby Ornot Toby (by Tall Dark Stranger and bred by Spring Station Bloodstock, paid $28 to win) in 1:51 1/5 for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Scott Di Domenico and owners Oompa's Farm Inc. and Joseph Barbera;
--Captain Apple (by Captaintreacherous and bred by co-owner Let It Ride Stables Inc. with J L Benson Stables Inc., paid $6.24 to win) in 1:51 4/5 for driver Dexter Dunn, co-owner/trainer Chris Ryder and co-owners Lisa Ezzo and Alan Johnston.
A trio of $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series tests were also held and went to:
--Push Up (by Tall Dark Stranger and bred by Crawford Farms, paid $19.02 to win) in 1:52 2/5 for driver Andy McCarthy, trainer Tahnee Camilleri and owners Kap Singh Racing Stable and Stephen Klunowski;
--Thiago Hanover (by Tall Dark Stranger and bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., paid $3.30 to win) in 1:51 1/5 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Ron Burke and owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Larry Karr, Knox Services Inc. and Beasty LLC.;
--Kiss In The Sky (by Bettor's Wish and bred by Big Al Stables, paid $22.38 to win) in 1:52 3/5 for driver Dexter Dunn, co-owner/trainer Chris Ryder and co-owners William Ezzo, Mark Harder and Robert Mondillo.