posted on 9/29/2012 4:52 pm

Divisions for the $404,000 Bluegrass for the two-year-old colt trotters and the $326,100 Bluegrass for two-year-old filly pacers were contested on Friday, September 28.

Major Athens comes from off the pace to win the first of four Bluegrass divisions

The Richard Gillock trained Major Athens took the first of a quartet of Bluegrass divisions on Friday for the two-year-old colt trotters.

Getting away towards the back of the field, Major Athens was priming to make a late effort, while tempo setter Here’s Johnny dueled with 4-5 Mystical Dew. Through fractions of :29.3, :58.3 (:29) and 1:27.3 (:29), Major Athens began his bid into the stretch. Four wide and charging, ‘Athens’ passed an off stride San Donato and a surging Pine Credit. Athens had another gear left in him and got his nose in front to win. Mystical Dew was second, Pine Credit was third and Here’s Johnny was fourth.

Major Athens is by Andover Hall out of the mare Miss Athens by Self Possessed. He is owned by Thomas Brice and Charles Receski, trained by Richard Gillock and Brian Sears was in the bike.

Major Athens returned $4.80 to win.

James Rattray guided All Laid Out to an 11-1 upset victory in division two

Rattray ‘laid out’ the perfect trip for his colt All Laid Out to nip My Man Can at the line in 1:57.1.

My Man Can was the tempo setter heading into the first turn, bearing the challenge of Fashion Blizzard. Eventually, Fashion Blizzard took the lead by the quarter in :29.1. Jacks To Open pulled the pocket from fourth and cleared the lead at the half-mile in :57.1 (:28).

Bullish was flushed into the two wide flow heading into the far turn. Max Andover picked up his cover and Fashion Blizzard was looking for room. Passing three-quarters in 1:28.1 (:29), Rattray gave the queue to All Laid Out, fanning wide into the stretch and charging after My Man Can. Fashion Blizzard was coming up the rail and All Laid Out was surging down the center. At the wire, All Laid Out got his nose in front to defeat My Man Can, while Fashion Blizzard finished third and Cashco was a closing fourth.

All Laid Out, a son of Yankee Glide and foaled by Adelaide Hall, is owned and trained by Noel Daley and James Rattray picked up the drive. 

All Laid Out paid $24.60 to win.

Creatine trotted off cover to surge by rivals in third division

Creatine found racing room after being shuffled back in the mile and rallied by competition to win the third Bluegrass division.

Creatine was the leader into the first turn. Caveat Emptor came first over and cleared the front by the opening quarter in :30.1. Spider Blue Chip and Possessed Fashion broke at the start, being eliminated from contention. After a leisure half timed in :59.1 (:29), Broadway Prince came first over as the field rolled into the far turn. Caveat Emptor and Broadway Prince were dueling for the lead at three-quarters in 1:29.2 (:30.1).

An open pocket allowed Creatine to fan onto the outside into the stretch. Caveat Emptor was dropping back from the battle with Broadway Prince. Creatine was already in front of the field by 2 lengths entering the sixteenth pole and Broadway Prince narrowed the margin to 1 length at the finish, timed in 1:57.1 (:27.4). Broadway Prince was second, Your So Vain split horses to finish third and Possessed Fashion was fourth.

Creatine is by Andover Hall out of the mare Berry Nice Muscles by Muscles Yankee. He is owned by Diamond Creek Farm LLC, trained by Bob Stewart and Mike Lachance was in the bike.

Creatine returned $14.60 to win.

Punxsutawney saw his shadow in the spotlight of the wire, taking the final division of Bluegrass

Punxsutawney surged past rivals in the final moments to win the final of four divisions of the Bluegrass stakes for two-year-old colt trotters.

Hall Of Muscles was three wide into the turn, with Amalfi Coast in between horses and Deadliest Catch at the rail. Hall Of Muscles cleared the front through a :28.4 opening quarter. Amalfi Coast backed into second and Deadliest Catch was in third. Deadliest Catch made a first over bid for the front after a tepid :59.3 (:29.4) half-mile. Punxsutawney came second over and Crazy About Pat was third over.

At three-quarters, Hall Of Muscles was holding onto the lead. Deadliest Catch overtook command past the three-quarter pole in 1:29.2 (:29.4). Into the lane, Punxsutawney fanned off cover and flew on by Deadliest Catch. Punxsutawney was an easy winner in 1:57.2 (:28). Deadliest Catch was second, Crazy About Pat was third and Text Winner closed to finish fourth.

Punxsutawney, a son of Glidemaster and foaled by Sunseeker Kosmos, is owned by Jerry Graham, trained by John Butenschoen and was driven to victory by Tim Tetrick.

Punxsutawney paid $4.80 to win.

I Luv The Nitelife scores in first filly Bluegrass division

Highly-rated I Luv The Nitelife added another victory to her resume, winning the first of three divisions of the Bluegrass for two-year-old filly pacers.

Donna Lee led the field by the quarter in :28.2. Miss Madi M made a brush for the lead and cleared at the three-eighths. I Luv The Nitelife started up the two wide flow from sixth, supplying cover to Parlee Beach and Art Ideal. Passing the half in :57.1 (:28.4), Miss Madi M was unchallenged. ‘Madi’ faced pressure at three-quarters from a flushed out Belle Boyd. Three-quarters was timed in 1:25.3 (:28.2).

Into the lane, Belle Boyd took over the lead. I Luv The Nitelife fanned off cover and paced by Belle Boyd under minimal urging. I Luv The Nitelife strolled home in 1:52.4 (:27.1). Belle Boyd was second, Miss Madi M was third and Parlee Beach closed for fourth.

I Luv The Nitelife is by Rocknroll Hanover out of the mare Lisjune by Camluck. She is owned by Richard and Joanne Young, trained by Chris Ryder and Brian Sears was in the bike.

I Luv The Nitelife returned $2.60 to win.

Ritascape pulled off the 9-1 stunner in the second division

Off of a tough first over mile, Ritascape nipped Uf Dragon’s Queen at the wire in 1:52.2.

Want Answers lead the field by the quarter in :28.4. Uf Dragon’s Queen then brushed to the lead, clearing at the three-eighths. Live Entertainment was shuffled to third and Ritascape came first over from fourth. Novascotia Hanover, Mistresstothestars and Authorize picked up the cover, supplied by Ritascape. The two wide flow developed at the half in :56.3 (:27.4).

Into the far turn, Ritascape was narrowing in on tempo setter Uf Dragon’s Queen. Novascotia Hanover was tracking cover in fourth, with Want Answers at the rail in third. Past three-quarters in 1:25 (:28.2), Ritascape was now a head behind Uf Dragon’s Queen. Through a fierce stretch battle, Ritascape came out victorious. Uf Dragon’s Queen was second, Want Answers was third and Novascotia Hanover finished fourth.

Ritascape, a daughter of Artiscape and foaled by Rita J, is owned by Connie and Homer Hochstetler and South of the Tracks Racing Inc., trained by Homer Hochstetler and Jody Jamieson was in the bike.

Ritascape paid $20.20 to win.

Nikki Beach tracked footsteps and rallied late to win the final filly Bluegrass division

Nikki Beach got a perfect second over trip and flew by rivals to win the third and last Bluegrass division in 1:53.2.

South Pacific was first over on the lead at the quarter in :28. Clearing the lead approaching the half-mile, Wherethegirlsare came first over and Nikki Beach tracked cover. South Pacific led the field by the half in :57.2 (:29.2). Into the far turn, Wherethegirlsare slowly progressed first over in pursuit of South Pacific. South Pacific was still in command at three-quarters in 1:26.1 (:28.4).

Into the stretch, South Pacific was the one to catch. Wherethegirlsare was flattening out and Nikki Beach fanned off cover. Nikki Beach took over the lead, with Wherethegirlsare giving chase and South Pacific back in third. Nikki Beach won by a length in 1:53.2. Wherethegirlsare was second, South Pacific was third and Our Miss Lilly was fourth.

Nikki Beach is by Somebeachsomewhere out of the mare Western Wisdom by Western Hanover. She is owned by Brittany Farms, trained by Tony Alagna and Tim Tetrick was in the bike.

Nikki Beach returned $3.00 to win.

Tomorrow night’s card features a $20,000 guaranteed Pick 4, carded as races 6-9 tomorrow, September 29.

For a preview on Bluegrass action this weekend, tune into North American Harness Update by clicking the following link à http://www.blogtalkradio.com/north-american-harness-update/2012/09/29/north-american-harness-update-bluegrass-edition