Dancin Champion upsets, Allegiant flies to the winner’s circle at Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Dancin Champion (Sweet Lou-Dancewiththebest, David Miller) took full advantage of a miscue by leader Ivy Park in mid-stretch to spring a mild upset at 7-1 in the $80,000 fourth round leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for 2-year-old male pacers on Tuesday (Sept. 5) at Red Mile. Allegiant (Tactical Approach-Too Good For You, Scott Zeron) collected her second consecutive harness racing victory in the division for freshman filly trotters.

The 15-race card also featured two $30,000 fourth round legs of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series and five $15,000 fourth round legs of the Kentucky Goldenrod Series.

Dancin Champion and Miller left sharply from post position two and tracked Ivy Park (Yannick Gingras) as that rival paced directly to the lead. The 1-9 favorite Better Is Nice (Andrew McCarthy) settled in third.

The top three remained in that order for the majority of the mile as Ivy Park established fractions of :28.4, :56.3 and 1:24.1. As the horses came out of the final turn Dancin Champion and Better Is Nice launched their bids for the wire. Ivy Park remained on top but became rough-gaited in the middle of the stretch and went off stride.

Dancin Champion took control and repelled the advance of Better Of Nice to collect the first win of his career in 1:51.2 by three-quarters of a length. Tua Many Captains (Andy Miller) was third.

DANCIN CHAMPION REPLAY

Trained by Ron Burke, Dancin Champion scored his first win in his sixth start at odds of 7-1. His record now stands at 6-1-2-1 and he has earned $94,531.

Dancin Champion is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Knox Services, Weaver Bruscemi and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby. A $90,000 purchase at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling sale, Dancin Champion was bred by Anvil And Lace Farm. His older half brother is world champion and three-time Ohio Older Pacer of the Year, Dancin Yankee (Yankee Cruiser, $2 million).

Allegiant and Zeron employed gate to wire tactics to capture the filly’s second consecutive race in the Championship event for 2-year-old filly trotters. She proved to be too good for this field of six with a 1:52.2 mile.

The even money favorite set fractions of :28.4, :56.4 and 1:24.2 while never seriously threatened. Volcanic Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) was a length and half back in second. Special Talent (Dexter Dunn) was third.

ALLEGIANT REPLAY

Trained by Vernon Beachy, Allegiant is owned by Ryan Smith, who purchased her for $50,000 at last year’s Standardbred Horse Sale. She possesses a resume of 8-5-1-0 and has banked $183,400. The final time was a new lifetime mark.

Allegiant’s dam has produced nine foals that have made more than $100,000, including this filly, from 15 foals.

Allegiant paid $4.24 to win.

French Champagne remains undefeated in Commonwealth Series

Pop the cork for French Champagne (Muscle Hill-French Café, Svanstedt) as she remained a perfect four-for-four with a triumph in 1:53 in the $30,000 fourth round leg of this series for 2-year-old trotting fillies.

Trained by her driver, French Champagne competes as a homebred for Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. She has earned $60,000 in purse money and is the first foal out of her dam, who amassed $228,331 on the racetrack. French Café’s dam is 2008 Hambletonian Oaks winner Creamy Mimi (Conway Hall, $927,169).

French Champagne paid $2.88 to her supporters as the public’s choice.

Rockinpoppin (Pet Rock-Noseitall, Tony Hall) paid a healthy $61.18 for his 1:50.3 victory in the division for freshman male pacers. He is conditioned by Jeff Smith.

Owned by James Everhart and his breeder, Kathy Smith, the gelding collected his second win from five starts. He has earned $24,300 and his final time was a new lifetime mark.

Arson scorches in Goldenrod Series

Arson (Todd McCarthy, $3.62) took the first of two $15,000 Goldenrod Series events for male freshman pacers. Nuclear (A. Miller, $7.06) won the second division.

Pizelle (A. McCarthy, $21.28), It’s My Hill (Gingras, $4.58) and Chartreuse (Brian Sears, $21.52 won the three fourth round legs for 2-year-old filly trotters.

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 Red Mile