Lexington, KY — Hambletonian champion Karl made a winning return to the races and Sippinonsearoc became the fastest 2-year-old pacer in history as the Red Mile hosted second-round action in the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series on Tuesday (Aug. 13).
Karl won the $80,000 KYSS Championship Series leg for 3-year-old male trotters by 1-3/4 lengths over Secret Agent Man in 1:51.1. Dame Good Time finished third.
It was Karl’s first appearance since his victory in the $1 million Hambletonian on Aug. 3 at The Meadowlands.
Piloted by regular driver Yannick Gingras, Karl went to the front from fourth after Ways N Means took the field to the opening quarter in :27.2. From there, Karl reached the half in :55.4 and three-quarters in 1:24.4 on his way to his seventh win in eight races this season.
Karl is trained by Nancy Takter, who owns the colt with her mother, Christina, as well as Black Horse Racing, Crawford Farms Racing, and Bender Sweden. The son of Tactical Landing-Avalicious was bred by Crawford Farms.
For his career, Karl has won 16 of 18 races and earned $1.83 million.
Sippinonsearoc became the fastest 2-year-old pacer in history on Tuesday when he won the $80,000 second leg of the Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series for freshman male pacers in 1:48.2 with Yannick Gingras in the sulky.
The previous record of 1:48.3 was shared by three horses, all also driven by Gingras at the Red Mile. Warrawee Ubeaut, a filly, established the mark in 2018. It was equaled by males Elver Hanover in 2019 and Caviart Camden in 2021.
Sippinonsearoc took the lead coming out of the first turn and set fractions of :27.1, :54.4, and 1:21.2 on his way to victory by three lengths over Fallout. Blue Onyx was third. Sippinonsearoc is undefeated in four races this season.
The Ron Burke-trained son of Downbytheseaside-Queen Ann M is owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, R A S Racing, and Knox Services Inc. The colt was bred by Trent Stohler Stable and Alesha Binkley. He sold for $77,000 at the Lexington Selected Sale.
American Son remains undefeated in Commonwealth Series
American Son (Dexter Dunn) improved to three-for-three with a triumph in the second leg of the $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series for 2-year-old male pacers.
The son of American-Ideal-Lady Captain established a new lifetime best of 1:49.3. Fusion (Gingras) was second, and Harrisburg Heist (Devon Tharps) was third at odds of 124-1.
American Son resides in Chris Ryder’s shed row and is owned by Henderson Farms. He was consigned to the 2023 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by Brittany Farms and went through the ring for $80,000.
He paid $6.28 to win.
Skydiver (Gingras) provided his driver with the second of three stakes triumphs on the day when the regally-bred son of Greenshoe-Ariana G hit the line in 1:52.2 in the second $30,000 leg of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series for sophomore male trotters. Bargain (Andy McCarthy) was second and favored Bright Star (Zeron) was third.
The colt is trained by Marcus Melander and owned by Brixton Medical Inc., Marvin Katz and Hatfield Stables. He was bred by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld.
Skydiver paid $24.60 to win.
Racing continues at the Red Mile on Sunday (Aug. 18) with a first post of 5:05 p.m. For free program pages, visit redmileky.com.
— with files from the Red Mile