Red Mile: Dancin Champion, Allegiant shine in Kentucky Championship Series

Dancin Champion (David Miller) took full advantage of a miscue by leader Ivy Park in mid-stretch to spring a mild upset at 7-1 in the $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series race 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 rookie filly trotters.

The 15-race card also featured two $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series events and five $15,000 splits of the Kentucky Golden Rod Series for the same groups.

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 4/5, 56 3/5 and 1:24 1/5.

As the horses came out of the final turn, Dancin Champion and Better Is Nice launched their bids for the wire while Ivy Park remained on top, but he became rough-gaited in the middle of the stretch and then went off-stride. Dancin Champion took control and repelled the advance of Better Is Nice to collect the first win of his career by three-quarters of a length in 1:51 2/5. Tua Many Captains (Andy Miller) was third.

Trained by Ron Burke, Dancin Champion is a son of Sweet Lou-Dancewiththebest. His record now stands at 1-2-1 from six appearances, and he has earned $94,531. Dancin Champion is owned by 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 (by Yankee Cruiser, $2 million).

Allegiant and Zeron employed gate-to-wire tactics to capture the filly's second consecutive race 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 1:52 2/5 mile.

The even-money favorite set fractions of 28 4/5, 56 4/5 and 1:24 2/5 while never seriously threatened. Volcanic Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) was a length and half back in second. Special Talent (Dexter Dunn) was third.

Trained by Vernon Beachy, Allegiant is owned by Ryan Smith, who purchased her for $50,000 at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale. She possesses a summary of 5-1-0 from eight trips behind the starting gate and has banked $183,400. The final time was a new lifetime mark. Allegiant's dam has produced nine foals that have made more than $100,000, including this filly, from 15 foals.

Allegiant paid $4.24 to win.

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French Champagne remains undefeated in Commonwealth Series

Pop the cork for French Champagne (Svanstedt), as the daughter of Muscle Hill-French Cafe improved to a perfect four-for-four with a triumph in 1:53 in the $30,000 test 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. French Cafe's dam is 2008 Hambletonian Oaks winner Creamy Mimi (by Conway Hall, $927,169). French Champagne paid $2.88 to her supporters as the public's choice.

Rockinpoppin (Tony Hall) paid a healthy $61.18 for his 1:50 3/5 victory in the contest for rookie male pacers. The son of Pet Rock-Noseitall is conditioned by Jeff Smith. Owned by James Everhart and his breeder, Kathy Smith, the gelding collected his second win from five starts. He has earned $24,300 and his final time was a new lifetime mark.

Arson scorches in Golden Rod Series

Arson (Todd McCarthy, $3.62, 1:50 4/5) took the first of two $15,000 Golden Rod Series dashes for male 2-year-old pacers. Nuclear (A. Miller, $7.06, 1:50 3/5) won the second grouping.

Pizelle (A. McCarthy, $21.28, 1:54 4/5), It's My Hill (Gingras, $4.58, 1:55 1/5) and Chartreuse (Brian Sears, $21.52, 1:54 2/5) won the three battles for 2-year-old filly trotters.

--press release (The Red Mile)--