Best Boss served notice for the final in her sharp preliminary win

It was a familiar scene in the lone $25,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes leg for filly pacers, as Best Boss (Michel Lachance) scored her third consecutive Kentucky Sire Stakes victory and stamped herself as the one to knock off in next week’s $300,000 final with an impressive 1-¾ length victory, in 1:52.3.

The filly did not have an easy journey, as she started from the outside post (10) in the crowded field of 11, and Lachance moved the 2-year-old daughter of Cambest--Head Of The House first-over as they entered the final turn, after getting away sixth in the early going. She responded with a :27.2 final quarter to get past Ultimate Best (Andy Miller) who held on for second, while Lay’nuptreasures (Peter Wrenn) rallied for third.

Best Boss, a $100,000 private purchase three weeks ago, is trained by Richard Ringler for M&M Harness Racing, Ira Rosenblum and Pat Lachance.

Felicity Hall was never headed in her victory

The 2-year-old filly trotters needed just a single $25,000 division for round three of the Kentucky Sire Stakes, as well, as Felicity Hall (Michel Lachance) was a gate-to-wire winner to record her third career victory in as many starts. The daughter of Like A Prayer--Favorite Hall cruised through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.2 and 1:30.3 before putting away the field down the lane to easily pick up the 1-¾ length score, in 1:59.3, a new lifetime best. The filly is trained by Fred Grant for Walnut Hall Ltd.

Striking Victress (Luke McCarthy), a 50-1 longshot, parlayed a pocket trip into the place spot, while Just A Valley Gal (Joe Putnam) rallied for third.

The 2-year-old colt trotters settled leg three of the Kentucky Sire Stakes with two $15,000 divisions, the first of which saw Victor’s Future (Brad Hanners) use different tactics than normal by rushing up to the lead past the half-mile marker. It produced the same result, as he made it a perfect three-for-three sweep of the Kentucky Sire Stakes preliminary legs with a 2-¾ length victory, in 1:59.1, a lifetime best.

The son of Valley Victor--Baby Bella is trained by Jeff Smith and owned by Terry and Cynthia Kinsley and along with James and Fred Everhart.

Kentucky Wildcat (Peter Wrenn) finished second behind his nemesis for the third consecutive week, while Cardura Hall (Michel Lachance) held third.

Victory Nut (4) upset Quantum Lightning in their division

The second $15,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes division for 2-year-old trotters looked to be another win for the connections of trainer Jeff Smith, who sent out the dominant, 1-2 favorite, Quantum Lightning (Brad Hanners). However, Victory Nut (Luke McCarthy) was able to avenge two straight second place finishes to the favorite by scoring the upset. It was a two horse race down the lane as Victory Nut took the lead at the head of the stretch and used a :27.4 final quarter, along with a two length head start, to fend off the favorite, who was one-half length back to finish a very game second. Trot to Victory (Robert Taylor) was 5-½ lengths back, in third.

Victory Nut, a son of Valley Victor--Garbo Hanover, picked up his first career victory with the 1:57.3 clocking for trainer Noel Daley and owners John Wagner and Scott Woogen.

The 2-year-old colt pacers were also split into two $15,000 divisions for leg three of the Kentucky Sire Stakes, the first of which proved to be a wide-open affair, with the top five within three-quarters of a length of each other at the finish.

Roys Beach Boy (Dan Noble), a son of Jenna’s Beach Boy--Miss Doshie, was a game winner after settling fourth in the early going and coming first-over around the final turn, and using a :28.2 final quarter to hold-off the challengers and score the 8-1 upset, in 1:56.3.

Roys Beach Boy is trained by Bradley Crates for Henry Ruppel and the Krak the Whip Stable. Electrifying Cam (Marcus Johansson) closed from last to within a head of the winner, with Onemoreroundocrown (Trace Tetrick) only a neck away from the win, in third.

Nigel Soult photos

Hi Def Z Tam remained perfect in Kentucky Sire Stakes preliminary action

The other $15,000 division for 2-year-old pacers also completed a clean sweep of the three preliminary legs of the Kentucky Sire Stakes for High Def Z Tam (Michel Lachance). Lachance tucked the gelded son of Real Desire--Caribbean away second around the first turn, but quickly took control as they straightened out up the backstretch, cruising through a half in :57.1, the three-quarters in 1:27.3, before kicking home in :26.4 to post a 3-¼ length score, in 1:54.2.

Richard Ringler trains the likely favorite in next week’s $300,000 final, and he is owned by Z Tam Racing and Pat Lachance.

Main A Dieu Too (Trace Tetrick) used a pocket trip to hold second, with Spartan Justice (Peter Wrenn) rallying late for third.

Racing action will return to The Red Mile on Sunday night, as 3-year-old trotters and pacers will have their last chance to earn points for the $2.4 million Night of Champions with round three of the Kentucky Sire Stakes. Post time will be at 6:30 p.m., eastern.