Karl takes lifetime mark in $240,000 NJSS Final

Karl (Tactical Landing) and harness racing driver Yannick Gingras make it look easy in capturing the $240,000 Final of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for three-year-old trotting colts at The Meadowlands Friday (May 31) and scoring a lifetime best performance.

Earlier on the race card, it was time to pop the cork as French Champagne won the $240,000 NJSS Final for three-year-old trotting fillies.

The 10^th race co-feature for the colts saw Tony Adams S (Dexter Dunn) move out to the early lead with Benn J (Andy McCarthy) sitting the two-hole trip. But that was short lived after an easy :28.1 opening quarter mile as Karl and Gingras, the overwhelming 1/9 favorite, were on the move first-over.

Karl was able to clear to the lead with ease and sped to the half mile in :56.1. As the field raced down the backstretch, Pantoran (Ake Svanstedt) came flying up first-over and they were actually able to collar Karl at the three-quarters in 1:24.

Then in the stretch drive, Karl pulled away from the field to win in a romp by seven open lengths in 1:51, the last half in :54.4. Benny J came on for second with Tony Adams S third.

KARL REPLAY

Undefeated in three starts this year, Karl now sports 12 wins in his 13 lifetime starts for trainer Nancy Takter. He is co-owned by Christina and Nancy Takter, Black Horse Racing, Crawford Farms Racing and Bender Sweden. He was bred by Crawford Farms, LLC. and paid just $2.10 to win.

“He’s been super so far,” Nancy Takter explained. “I’m really happy with him. He has been well within himself every time he has raced. So far so good. It was the first time that someone was actually that close to him tonight. But I was pretty confident. It looked as if Yannick has him well in-hand. I knew he was going to finish well. He always finishes his races rather well. I knew there was plenty left in the tank.”

In the 8^th race $240,000 NJSS Final for three-year-old trotting fillies, it was driver Tim Tetrick finding a seam along the pylons in the stretch with French Champagne (Muscle Hill), who squeezed through to win at odds of 6-1.

It was 40-1 Miss I LA (Joe Bongiorno) who grabbed the early lead with a speedy first quarter in :26.3 followed by Allegiant (Scott Zeron) leaving from post eight and grabbing the two-hole seat.

Then before the half mile in :55.2, Yannick Gingras came first-over with the 2/5 race favorite Spy Coast, who was seeking a sweep of the NJSS Series. She worked her way to the front and led to the three-quarters in 1:24.2. Local Honey (Brett Beckwith) was first-over and then Tove Palema (Andy Miller) came three-wide. Meanwhile, sitting fifth on the rail was French Champagne.

As they came down the stretch, Spy Coast bore out from the pylons and Tetrick waited and then shot through with French Champagne. Once cleared they tore off to win by two and one-half lengths in 1:52.1. Miss I LA was second with Tove Palema third and Spy Coast fourth.

FRENCH CHAMPAGNE REPLAY

It was a lifetime mark for French Champagne and her second win in three starts this year for trainer Ake Svanstedt. The filly was bred and is owned by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld of Ontario and paid $14.20 to win.

“We got a good easy trip in there,” said winning driver Tim Tetrick. “I stayed left, and it opened up and she responded like all of Ake’s does. It opened up late there late and she felt really good.”

Gingras finished the night with five wins on the card to become the first driver at The Big M this year to do that twice. Jason Bartlett (on Jan. 19) and Andy McCarthy (Feb. 24) are the only others to record five-baggers during 2024. Gingras did it for the first time on May 3. … All-source handle totaled $3,178,707 on the 14-race program. … Racing resumes Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

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

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink