33-1 longshot shocks field in $80,000 KY Sire Stakes

In a “you must see it to believe it” harness racing closing effort, Luke The Spook (Greenshoe) and driver Mattias Melander shocked the field, making a break at the start and then closing from 8^th place at the three quarters in winning the $80,000 opening round of the Kentucky Championship Series for three-year-old trotting colts Monday at the Red Mile.

The longest shot on the tote board, Luke The Spook went off at odds of 33-1 and paid $68.64 to win.

The 6^th race co-feature got underway with Ways N Means (David Miller) first on the lead with Bright Star (Dexter Dunn) second to the first quarter in :28.4. Bright Star then quarter moved and took the lead before the half mile in :57.3.

In full control of the race, Bright Star led to the three-quarters in 1:26.3. Meanwhile, Luke The Spook caught the field and was in 8^th place when the trotter kicked in another gear and started to pass horses, moving into third place by the top of the stretch and then with a :26.2 final quarter burst, came on to beat Bright Star by three-quarters of a length in 1:54. Ways N Means was third.

LUKE THE SPOOK REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark and the fourth win of the season for Luke The Spook, who is trained by Marcus Melander for owner-breeder AM Bloodstock, Inc.

Trainer Marcus Melander made it a double Monday as he sent out Super Chapter (Chapter Seven) in the 13^th race $80,000 second leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for two-year-old trotting colts.

This time Melander’s horse was not the longest shot on the board, but the race favorite. Leaving from post nine with Dexter Dunn driving, Super Chapter worked his way to the lead after a :28.2 opening quarter mile.

Super Chapter raced uncontested to the half mile in :56.4 and then Chat Room (Yannick Gingras) came first-over to challenge but could not gain on Super Chapter by the three-quarters in 1:25.3.

From there Super Chapter breezed home to win by two and one-half lengths in 1:53. Chat Room was second with Jeffery J (Andy McCarthy) third.

SUPER CHAPTER REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark and the third straight win for Super Chapter. He is owned by Jeff Snyder and Arthur Pronti. He paid $3.50 to win.

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

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink