Sunday, September 16, 2018 – from the Kentucky Sire Stakes
Lexington, KY — The combination of the $2 million Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS) Super day and the inaugural Fayette County Fair brought out a large crowd to Red Mile on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 16). While several music acts performed on two stages, including rising star and Lexington native Walker Montgomery, eight $250,000 KYSS finals highlighted the 10-race card that also included a pair of $50,000 consolation events.
The revamped KYSS program was in full evidence on Sunday as seven different stallions were represented in the winner’s circle, with the only two-time winning sire being Yankee Glide, who was just retired from active stud duty at the age of 24 by the Lexington-based Kentuckiana Farms.
The first KYSS final was for 2-year-old male trotters and it appeared odds-on favorite Don’t Let’em, who earlier this year won the Peter Haughton Memorial at Meadowlands, was on his way to victory as the field of 10 came out of the last turn. But Don’t Let’em suddenly went on a break, which paved the way for the two-hole sitting Forecast to take advantage and score a 1:53.4 victory. Shake N Bake (Tim Tetrick finished a length behind in second and just ahead of show finisher Reign Of Honor (Dexter Dunn).
Corey Callahan was in the sulky for trainer John Butenschoen behind Forecast, who won for the fifth time in nine starts while posting a career best. A $70,000 yearling purchase and owned by Bill Wiswell, Jean Goehlen and Eugene Schick, Forecast now has career earnings of $186,650. The son of Cantab Hall was bred by Diamond Creek Farm.
Callahan and Butenschoen teamed up for a second KYSS champion with the 3-year-old filly trotter Nixie Volo, who redeemed herself after making a break in last year’s final. Leaving from post eight, Nixie Volo was parked the entire mile but was still able to hold onto the lead she finally secured in deep stretch to win in a career-best 1:51.1. Pat Matters (Jimmy Takter) was a head back in second, with Live Laugh Love (David Miller) third.
A daughter of Yankee Glide, Nixie Volo was a $22,000 yearling purchase and now owned by Kentuckiana Racing Stable, VIP Internet Stable, 83 Racing and the University of Kentucky football team’s offensive coordinator Eddie Gran. With her fourth win of the year Nixie Volo boosted her seasonal earnings to $215,486 and career total to $286,786. She was bred by Jorgen Jahre Jr.