Lexington, KY — Dancin Champion (David Miller) took full advantage of a miscue by leader Ivy Park in mid-stretch to spring a mild 7-1 upset in the $80,000 fourth-round leg of the Kentucky Championship Series for 2-year-old male pacers on Tuesday (Sept. 5) at the Red Mile. Allegiant (Scott Zeron) collected her second consecutive 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 by three-quarters of a length in 1:51.2. Tua Many Captains (Andy Miller) was third.

Dancin Champion, a son of Sweet Lou-Dancewiththebest trained by Ron Burke, scored his first win in his sixth start at odds of 7-1.

Dancin Champion, who paid $17.50 to win, scored his first win in his sixth start. His record now stands at 6-1-2-1 and he has earned $94,531. Ron Burke trains the Sweet Lou-Dancewiththebest colt for 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.

Allegiant and Zeron employed gate-to-wire tactics to capture a second consecutive win in the Championship event for 2-year-old filly trotters. The daughter of Tactical Approach-Too Good For You proved to be too good for this field of six with a lifetime best 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 (Åke Svanstedt) was 1-1/2 lengths back in second; Special Talent (Dexter Dunn) was third.

Allegiant, a $50,000 purchase by Ryan Smith at last year’s Standardbred Horse Sale, now possesses a resume of 8-5-1-0 and has banked $183,400. Amanda Stephens photos.

Vernon Beachy trains Allegiant for owner Ryan Smith, who purchased her for $50,000 at last year’s Standardbred Horse Sale. She possesses a resume of 8-5-1-0, has banked $183,400, and paid $4.24 to win. Of 15 total foals, Allegiant’s dam has produced nine that have made more than $100,000, including this filly.

French Champagne remains undefeated in Commonwealth Series

Pop the cork for French Champagne (Svanstedt) as the daughter of Muscle Hill-French Cafe remained a perfect four-for-four with a 1:53 triumph 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. Her grandam is 2008 Hambletonian Oaks winner Creamy Mimi. French Champagne paid $2.88 as the public’s choice.

Rockinpoppin (Tony Hall) paid a healthy $61.18 for his 1:50.3 lifetime best victory in the division for freshman male pacers. The Pet Rock-Noseitall gelding, conditioned by Jeff Smith, collected his second win from five starts for owner-breeder Kathy Smith and partner James Everhart. 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 (Andy Miller, $7.06) won the second division.

Pizelle (Andy 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.

The 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 with a percent takeout, and Pick-4 events with a $10,000 guaranteed pool in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.

The 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.