Karl, Gifted One shine in $80,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes

Lexington, KY — On Sunday (Sept. 3) Karl (Tactical Landing-Avalicious) with driver Yannick Gingras remained undefeated in his brief career and Gifted One (Captaintreacherous-Creative Power) and driver Todd McCarthy broke her maiden in their respective $80,000 fourth round divisions of the Kentucky Championship Series for harness racing male and female freshman trotters and pacers at Red Mile in 1:54.2 and 1:52.4 respectively on the 14-race card at Red Mile, which was conducted under the lights for the first time since 2019.

There were also two $30,000 fourth round legs of Kentucky Commonwealth Series events and five $15,000 fourth round divisions of Kentucky Goldenrod Series contests.

Karl and his pilot commenced their mile from post position seven in the ninth race. Karl was the overwhelming favorite in the field of seven 2-year-old male trotters due to his powerful performance in the previous leg in this series on Aug. 20 where he stopped the clock 1:52.1 with ease.

This appearance, however, was a bit more subdued, yet with the same result: victory. The colt and his driver settled in third position as Vocalize (Todd McCarthy) clicked off the first fraction of the mile in :29.3. That’s when Dame Good Time (Scott Zeron) took control and established a split of :58.1 for the half-mile. Vocalize and his reinsman decided the pocket spot was not where they wanted to be and regained the lead after three-quarters in 1:26.4.

Gingras shook the lines at Karl heading into the stretch and the colt surged to the lead off a second-over trip to best the closing Topmost (John De Long) by a half-length to improve his record to a perfect three-for-three. Vocalize dug in to hold third.

KARL REPLAY

Trained by Nancy Takter, Karl was purchased for $135,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by his trainer, Christina Takter, Black Horse Racing, Crawford Farms Racing and Bender Sweden Inc.

The colt was bred by Crawford Farms and is a half-sibling to Lucius Vorenus (Father Patrick, $238,085). His dam earned $202,438 during her career.

Karl paid $2.30 to his supporters and has earned $90,000.

Gifted One visited the winner’s circle for the first time from five starts in the Championship Series event for freshman filly pacers. T. McCarthy guided the filly to the pocket seat after the duo commenced their mile. They were content to remain in that position as Capytreach (Zeron) went straight to the lead and clicked off fractions of :28.3, :57.3 and 1:26.2.

Gifted One simply popped the pocket in the lane and paced to the wire to collect her first win by a half-length. She has been knocking on the door but had the misfortune of chasing rising star Geocentric in her last three races. Asweetbeachhere (Atlee Bender) was second with a sizzling :25.3 final quarter panel after rallying from last. Capytreach was third.

GIFTED ONE REPLAY

Gifted One hails from the Tony Alagna barn and is the first foal from her dam. She was purchased by Robert Leblanc, Joe Sbrocco, Brad Grant, Pryde and JAF Racing for $180,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

She was bred by Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz and Lynn Katz and paid $12.90.

Gifted One’s record now stands at 5-1-2-0 and she has collected $84,000 in purse money.

Just A Miki Moment, Bright Star win Commonwealth Series divisions

Jus A Miki Moment (Always B Miki, Tim Tetrick) sprung a mild upset at and broke her maiden in her sixth career engagement in the $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series division for 2-year-old filly pacers in 1:50.3.

Trained by Jennifer Bongiorno, Jus A Miki Moment is out of World of Delight.

The filly was purchased for $53,000 by Joseph Di Scala Jr., Zippett Racing Stable, T L P Racing Stable and Jaf Racing at the 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.

Jus A Miki Moment was bred by Roll The Dice Stable and Brenda Reno.

She possesses a resume of 6-1-1-1 and has earned $25,100.

The filly paid $29.06 to win.

Bright Star (Muscle Hill-Morningstar, T. McCarthy) also broke her maiden with a triumph in 1:54.3 in fourth leg Commonwealth Series action for freshman filly trotters. The filly took advantage of costly breaks from the two favorites, International Moni, (Bender) and Fly By (Zeron) to come home first at odds of 15-1 for trainer Alagna. Pick Pocket (Peter Wrenn) was second and Show Me (Andy Miller) was third.

Bred by Brittany Farms, Bright Star paid $32.74 to win. The filly is co-owned by her breeder, Pryde Stables Inc., Caviart Farms, Plouffe and Riverview.

Bright Star is a half-sister to Starita (Trixton, $307,696) and was purchased at the 2022 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. She now has a record of 4-1-2-1 and a bankroll $33,600.

Her granddam is 2006 Hambletonian Oaks winner Passionate Glide.

McCarthy, Wrenn score twice in Goldenrod Series legs

T. McCarthy and Wrenn steered Direction (Always B Miki, $4.22) and Odds On Live Ball (Odds On Equuleus, $.6.90) in the two $15,000 fourth round legs of the Kentucky Goldenrod Series for 2-year-old filly pacers in 1:52 and 1:53.

T. McCarthy collected his fourth sire stakes triumph on the day when he drove Lockheed Martin ($3.38) to victory in the first of three divisions for freshman male trotters in 1:55.1.

Wrenn took the second split with Swan Explosion (Swan For All, $5.54) in 1:56.1.

Dexter Dunn was victorious in the third division with Mont Saint Michel (Cantab Hall, $4.98) in 1:56.2.

McCarthy led all drivers with four stakes wins on the card.

Red Mile offers a rich buffet of wagering items including a 20-cent Pick-6 with 15 percent takeout, a 50-cent Pick-5 with an industry low 12 percent takeout, a Super Hi-5 15 percent takeout, and Pick-4 events, with a $10,000 guaranteed pool in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.

Red Mile races on a Sunday, Monday, Tuesday schedule with a 1 p.m. EDT post time through Oct. 8. Free program pages are available at redmileracing.com in addition to race replays and a daily livestream of each card.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Kimberly French, for the Red Mile