King Lil Joe was back in the winner’s circle Monday, Sept. 11 at The Red Mile. The Indiana sired veteran pacer earned his first win of the season in 1:53.1.
Two Indiana sired horses, King Lil Joe and Mr Rock My Night, battle down the stretch with King Lil Joe getting the win on the outside Monday, Sept. 11 at The Red Mile.
Starting from post nine, King Lil Joe rallied out of the gate on the outside seeking a spot up close as The Leaping Cowboy and Pat Curtin took over the top spot. As Track Announcer Gabe Prewitt said, King Lil Joe was left out and looking for a seat heading to the quarter in :27.1. Guided by Geremy Bobbitt, King Lil Joe followed along as Stevies Got Skills and Marvin Luna moved out and around to the lead, leaving the field in single file to the half in :54.4. Heading into the final turn, Mr Rock My Night and Andy Miller were able to flush cover from Rosa’s Rebel and Devon Tharps. King Lil Joe also moved out and followed on the outside around the turn.
At the head of the stretch. Mr Rock My Night took over from Rosa’s Rebel and King Lil Joe tipped off his back to the outside. The petite gelding went to work, pacing home in :28.1 to capture the win by one length over fellow Indiana sired horse Mr Rock My Night. Captain Hill and Atlee Bender, the second longest shot of the field, closed in gamely for third.
King Lil Joe paid $10.90 for the win. It was his first of the season for longtime owner Turrondus Smith of Mississippi. Joe Schwartz bred the eight-year-old son of He’s All That, who now has 32 career wins in 130 starts.
King Lil Joe started his career off on the Indiana Sired Fair Circuit in 2017. He has continued to pay his way, picking up his career best time of 1:49.4 as a six-year-old at The Red Mile. He was claimed once from Smith, who claimed him back a few months later. King Lil Joe is now trained by Donricus Blackmon. It was the second win on the card for Geremy Bobbitt.
King Lil Joe was one of three yearlings sold at public auction in 2016. He was part of the first Indiana crop of He’s All That, who moved to Indiana from Michigan. He was sold at the Blooded Horse Sale for $1,200. He now has $139,000 on his card for Smith and has spurred future racehorses owned by Smith to pick up similar names, including Lil Joe III, Lil Joe IV, and Lil Joe V.
Earlier in the card, another Indiana sired horse was a gate to wire winner as Defining Moment and Andy Miller won in 1:52.3. The JK Endofanera freshman filly paced home in :27.4 for the win over Ticktock Ticktock and Atlee Bender. Innuendo and Pat Curtin finished third.
Defining Moment paid $3.56 for the win as the favorite. She is owned and trained by Rodney Debeck of Kentucky. Odds on Nourir of Florida bred the filly, who earned a new lifetime mark in the effort. The filly is now two for three in her brief career.