Lexington, KY — Hambletonian winner Tactical Approach made his return to the Bluegrass State a triumphant one with a 1:51.3 win in the $80,000 second round of the Kentucky Championship Series for 3-year-old male trotters on Tuesday (Aug. 15) at the Red Mile. Better Is Nice collected his third straight win and stamped himself as one to watch in the 2-year-old male pacing division with a 1:53 score.

Point Of Perfect (Yannick Gingras) assumed command at the beginning of the sophomore colt trot while the Hambletonian winner settled in fifth from his rail position. Point Of Perfect led the field of nine through fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.1, but he had rivals on his trip to the finish line.

Ari Ferrari J (Dexter Dunn) and Khaosan Road (Åke Svanstedt) made their bids a bit earlier than Tactical Approach and winning driver Scott Zeron, but the son of Tactical Landing-Sarcy used :26.1 closing speed to slip past Ari Ferrari J by three-quarters of a length and collect his fifth victory in 10 starts this year. Khaosan Road was third.

Tactical Approach took flight off cover to visit the Red Mile winner’s circle after his second-round Kentucky Championship Series event. Amanda Stephens photo.

Tactical Approach has a record of 15-7-0-1 and has banked $657,989 for the partnership of Robert LeBlanc, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco and JAF Racing. The Nancy Takter trainee paid $3.36 to win.

Andrew McCarthy and Better Is Nice annexed their third victory from four career starts in second-round action in the Kentucky Championship Series for freshman male pacers.

Snap Count (David Miller) went to the lead at the beginning of the mile while Better Is Nice stalked patiently in fourth place. After pacing the opening quarter in :28.1, Ivy Park (Gingras) passed Snap Count. He clicked off fractions of :56.2 and 1:25.2 before Tua Many Captains, Better Is Nice and Dancin Champion came to call. Better Is Nice struck the front and outlasted a determined Dancin Champion to win by a neck. Tua Many Captains (Andy Miller) was third.

Better is Nice, bred by Alagna Racing and Marvin Katz, is trained by Tony Alagna for Alagna Racing, Pryde Stables and Birnam Wood Farms. The Bettor’s Wish-Thatsoveryverynice colt has a record of 4-3-0-1, has earned $178,600, and paid $2.54 to win.

Todd McCarthy sweeps Kentucky Commonwealth Series splits

Driver Todd McCarthy made his second steer of Kissincaptain a winning one in the $30,000 second-round division of the Kentucky Commonwealth Series for 2-year-old colt pacers in 1:53.2. The $275,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase is trained by Alagna and owned by Riverview Racing LLC, Marvin and Lynn Katz, and KissinCaptain Racing. He paid $12.80 to win.

Kentucky stalwart Prince Of Honor ($2.80) kicked off his season a perfect two-for-two in the leg for sophomore male trotters with a final time of 1:54. He is trained by Carter Pinkse and owned by Pinske Stables and David Hoese.

Djimon ($12.66) and Gingras took the division for sophomore male trotters in 1:54.1. The son of Tactical Landing is trained by Mark Steacy and owned by Hudson Standardbred STB Inc., Dale Larson and Steven Downey.

Arson lights up Goldenrod Series

Todd McCarthy guided Arson (Captaintreacherous-Western Montana) to victory in a new lifetime mark in the $15,000 Goldenrod Series leg for 2-year-old colt pacers. He paid $2.70 to win. My Favorite Dali ($11.16) and Mitchell Cushing won the second division for freshman male pacers in 1:53.4.

Chamba (1:55.3, Svanstedt, $4.06), Kenobi (1:55, Tetrick, $8.04) and Pedal On Medal (1:55.3, Tetrick, $3.50) won their respective divisions for 3-year-old male 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 with a 15 percent takeout, Pick-4 events, and guaranteed pools offered in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program. The Red Mile races on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday afternoons with a 1 p.m. (EDT) post time through Oct. 8. Free program pages, race replays and a daily live stream are available at redmileracing.com.