from the Kentucky Sires Stakes

Lexington, KY — Tactical Landing, who won his Hambletonian elimination and then finished third in the $1 million final on Aug. 4 at The Meadowlands, and Wolfgang, winner of the $202,160 Goodtimes final and $181,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial division, will go to post together in Sunday night’s (Aug. 19) single $30,000 Kentucky Sires Stakes for 3-year-old male trotters at The Red Mile. Post time is 7 p.m. (EDT).

Both trained by Jimmy Takter, Tactical Landing will start from post one with Takter in the sulky, while Wolfgang and driver Yannick Gingras will line up in post seven in the 12-horse field (race nine).

Tactical Landing, a son of Muscle Hill who brought a price of $800,000 at the 2016 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has shown rapid improvement in five starts this year, culminating with a career-best 1:52.1 win his Hambletonian elimination and then post a third in the rich final after racing parked the entire mile.

After racing on Lasix all year, Wolfgang, a son of My MVP, competed in the Hambletonian without the anti-bleeding medication due to stake regulations. Tipped by Gingras past the quarter in his elimination, Wolfgang failed to fire and finished sixth, which left him out of the same-day final.

There is also a lone $30,000 division for 3-year-old colt pacers on the card (race six), with Takter also having a pair of entries, including Thinkbig Dreambig, who captured last Saturday’s $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial at Northfield Park. Jordan Stratton will drive the son of Bettor’s Delight from post three.

Takter will drive Grand Teton, who starts from post 10 in the 12-horse field. The son of A Rocknroll Dance finished second in last year’s $250,000 KYSS final.

The 2017 KYSS champion Band Stand is back to defend her title, lining up in post three in the first of two divisions for 3-year-old filly pacers (race three). Trainer Tony Alagna has enlisted Matt Krueger to drive the daughter of A Rocknroll Dance, who tuned up for Sunday’s race with a 1:53 overnight score on Aug. 9 at The Red Mile.

There is also KYSS action on Saturday night (post time 7 p.m.) with 2-year-old pacers of both sexes on the track. With new regulations in place that opens up the KYSS program — including having the mare reside in Kentucky for 180 consecutive days during the calendar year — star performers from other states have made their way to the Bluegrass. They include the 2-year-old colt pacer Hurrikane Emperor and the 2-year-old filly pacer Mollydooker, both winners of their respective New Jersey Sires Stakes finals last month at the Meadowlands.

Hurrikane Emperor, whose win in the $75,000 New Jersey final stretched his unbeaten streak to four, will start from post five in the last of three divisions for male pacers (race five). That division also includes Pyro, who has enough points to be in the field for the $252,000 Pennsylvania Sires Stakes final on Sept. 1 at The Meadows. Scott Zeron will drive the son of Hurrikane Kingcole for trainer John McDermott Jr.

Mollydooker starts from post four in the second of two distaff splits (race three) with Brett Miller driving for trainer Alagna. After suffering some equipment issues that took her out of contention in her first sires stakes try in New Jersey, the daughter of Great Vintage cruised to wins in the second leg and final.

All eight divisions for 2- and 3-year-olds will race in three preliminary legs before $250,000 finals on Sunday afternoon (Sept. 16), with a special post time of 3 p.m. For the first time there will be $50,000 consolation races, with those scheduled for Saturday night (Sept. 15).