Freshmen ready to open Grand Circuit meeting in Lexington

Harness racing’s best will return to The Red Mile beginning on Thursday afternoon (Sept. 29) with the first of its six-day stakes meeting. Freshman trotting colts and geldings and freshman pacing fillies take center stage Thursday in a total of five Bluegrass Stakes divisions.

Trotting colts and geldings take the first swing in the first of three divisions of the $328,000 Captain Corey Bluegrass Stakes in the afternoon’s fourth race. Kentucky Championship winner French Wine will try to overcome the outermost post in the field of eight, in rein to Andy Miller for conditioner Julie Miller, after toppling Peter Haughton champ Kilmister in the state-sponsored championship. Kilmister will again start from post one after having only drawn wider than post two once in his seven starts. Brian Sears has the driving duties on Kilmister for trainer Marcus Melander.

Division two of the Captain Corey goes as race seven on the 10-race program and gathers a field of budding talent attempting to breakthrough. Prince Of Honor steps into the top ranks off a 1:53.2 victory in the Kentucky Goldenrod final and will start at the pylons with Todd McCarthy in the sulky for trainer Carter Pinske. He’ll spar against seven others including Kentucky Commonwealth champ Espresso, who has a polar-opposite starting spot with post eight. Andy Miller has another high-draw driving assignment with Espresso for trainer Julie Miller.

Ari Ferrari J will try for his first picture in his career in the last division of the Captain Corey. In eight starts, the Tony Alagna pupil has yet to head for the winner’s circle, but enters the race nine contest off a second-place finish to French Wine in the $400,000 Kentucky Championship final. Dexter Dunn retains the driving duties and will score Ari Ferrari J from post two against eight other foes.

First-race post time is 1 p.m.