Karl draws post 11 for Kentucky Futurity

Lexington, KY — Hambletonian winner Karl drew post 11 in the second tier for Sunday’s 132nd Kentucky Futurity for 3-year-old trotters at the Red Mile and was made the 6-5 morning-line favorite for harness racing trainer Nancy Takter and driver Yannick Gingras.

Karl has won nine of 11 races this season and earned $977,839. For his career, the son of Tactical Landing-Avalicious has won 18 of 21 starts and banked $2.01 million.

Takter captured last year’s Kentucky Futurity with Tactical Approach. The most recent trainer to win the Futurity in consecutive years was Takter’s father, Jimmy, who accomplished the feat with Pinkman in 2015 and Nuncio in 2014. Gingras drove Pinkman.

“(The draw) looks good to me,” Takter said. “It’s better than 10, 9, or 8, I think, so I’m happy with 11.

“I trained him this morning and I was really happy with him. He trained super. He’s going to be ready to go on Sunday.

“This is a really nice group of horses here. There are 10 really solid competitors, so you need a little racing luck, and things have to go your way. But like I said, my horse is coming into the race in great shape, so I’m really happy with him.”

Hambletonian runner-up Highland Kismet is the 3-1 second choice in the 11-horse Futurity field. He will start from post three for trainer Mark Etsell.

The Kentucky Futurity is the third jewel in the Trotting Triple Crown. The first, the Yonkers Trot, was won by Sir Pinocchio. Karl won the second, the Hambletonian.

Sunday’s Red Mile card also features the 59th Kentucky Filly Futurity for 3-year-old female trotters. Date Night Hanover, trained by Marcus Melander, enters the race with four wins and a second in her past five starts and was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite. She will leave from post 10 in the field of 11.

Hambletonian Oaks winner Warrawee Michelle is the 4-1 second choice, leaving from post seven for trainer Ake Svanstedt.

Following is the field for the Kentucky Futurity with trainers and morning-line odds.

PP – Horse – Sire – Trainer – Morning Line
1 – Wild Ticket (Chapter Seven) – Marcus Melander – 15-1
2 – Dame Good Time (Chapter Seven) – Travis Alexander – 8-1
3 – Highland Kismet (Father Patrick) – Mark Etsell – 3-1
4 – Amazing Catch (Walner) – Ake Svanstedt – 12-1
5 – Secret Agent Man (Chapter Seven) – Julie Miller – 15-1
6 – Tony Adams S (Muscle Hill) – Ake Svanstedt – 15-1
7 – Mr Bluebird (Six Pack) – Ake Svanstedt – 20-1
8 – Sig Sauer (Muscle Hill) – Noel Daley – 6-1
9 – Bella’s Musclehill (Muscle Hill) – Nifty Norman – 20-1
10 – Security Protected (Father Patrick) – Marcus Melander – 20-1
11 – Karl (Tactical Landing) – Nancy Takter – 6-5

Following is the field for the Kentucky Filly Futurity with trainers and morning-line odds.

PP – Horse – Sire – Trainer – Morning Line
1 – Paulina Hanover (Father Patrick) – Noel Daley – 20-1
2 – R Melina (Chapter Seven) – John Butenschoen – 6-1
3 – Buy A Round (Walner) – Noel Daley – 9-2
4 – Sadbirdstillsing (Chapter Seven) – Tony Alagna – 15-1
5 – Sambuca Hanover (Bar Hopping) – Nifty Norman – 20-1
6 – Miss I La (Walner) – Noel Daley – 15-1
7 – Warrawee Michelle (Walner) – Ake Svanstedt – 4-1
8 – Allegiant (Tactical Landing) – Vernon Beachy – 5-1
9 – Soiree Hanover (Walner) – Lucas Wallin – 6-1
10 – Date Night Hanover (Chapter Seven) – Marcus Melander – 3-1
11 – French Champagne (Muscle Hill) – Ake Svanstedt – 15-1

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA