Meadowlands: Karl returns with powerful qualifier

Karl, last year's Breeders Crown and Dan Patch Award-winning 2-year-old colt trotter, turned in an eye-catching 1:52 1/5 mile in his first qualifier of the year on Saturday morning at the Meadowlands.

Driven by Yannick Gingras, Karl went right to the top from post seven, led the way through fractions of 29 3/5, 58 and 1:25 3/5, and charged home in 26 3/5 to win by 7 3/4 lengths for owners Christina and Nancy Takter, Black Horse Racing, Crawford Farms Racing and Bender Sweden Inc.

"Couldn't be more excited for his 'road to the Hambletonian,'" Michelle Crawford of Crawford Farms, who also bred the 3-year-old Tactical Landing colt, posted on X. "He's the horse that gives you goosebumps."

Takter and Gingras also won a later qualifier with Caviart Belle, a 3-year-old Captaintreacherous filly who bagged the 2023 Three Diamonds final. She rallied into the lead in the stretch three-wide from third and tallied by four lengths in 1:53. Caviart Belle was bred by Hanover Show Farms and is owned by Caviart Farms.

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Gem Quality, another of last year's Breeders Crown champions, blasted home in 25 1/5 after a three-hole trip and defeated Mirage Hanover by a nose in 1:52 1/5 in the 14th qualifier. The victorious 3-year-old Captain Crunch colt is trained by Chris Ryder for co-owner/breeder Let It Ride Stables Inc. and co-owners Odds On Racing, Brad Grant and Enviro Stables Ltd.

Four-year-old Sweet Lou gelding It's My Show, last year's North America Cup and Little Brown Jug champion, won his second straight qualifier at the Meadowlands in the 17th, prevailing from the pocket in 1:49 3/5 with Scott Zeron at the controls for trainer Linda Toscano and owners/breeders Richard and Joanne Young.