Red Mile: Hambletonian déjà vu for Tactical Approach in Kentucky Futurity

For seven eighths of a mile, it appeared as if driver Scott Zeron's approach to capturing the $450,000 Kentucky Futurity may have let him down as favored Tactical Approach appeared hopelessly shuffled and out of contention. Fortunes changed for Zeron and the Hambletonian winner, though, as the pair used almost the identical approach that was successful in the Hambo to capture the sport's oldest stakes race on Sunday afternoon at The Red Mile. The rally along the pylons saw Tactical Approach, the 3-5 choice surge past leader French Wine to victory.

Zeron had Tactical Approach on the gate and leaving well at the start but waited as Point Of Perfect and Todd McCarthy swept past him from post nine to take control of the early pace. Tactical Approach took the lead before the 27 2/5 opening quarter but yielded soon after to Kilmister, driven by Brian Sears and part of a solid Marcus Melander-trained ensemble in the Futurity. Oh Well, one of Melander's top contenders, surged to the lead before the 55 1/5 half but was under assault himself.

On the outside Air Power and Mattias Melander surged up with power to challenge his stablemate with French Wine closely following his cover. Air Power appeared to be getting the front midway on the final turn when he took a bad step and nearly fell. Melander quickly got him out of harm's way, and French Wine and Andy Miller quickly took advantage of the circumstance, vaulting to the front past three-quarters in 1:23 4/5 and looking to open up ground on the competition.

For a majority of the stretch French Wine appeared safe as Miller kept to a drive behind the Bar Hopping-sired colt. Oh Well tried to re-rally coming off the pylons, as did early leader Kilmister, and that was all that Zeron needed to find a clear path to victory. Taking the shortest route, the Nancy Takter-trained Tactical Approach exploded home full of trot and went by French Wine in the final strides in the 1:52 mile. French Wine held second, with Celebrity Bambino coming from well-back to finish third ahead of Kilmister, with Ari Ferrari J fifth across the wire.

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"The cards were stacked against me. I was out of position," said Zeron of his plight on the final turn. Asked what he was thinking, Zeron said, "I was thinking Nancy is going to kill me, but he bailed me out."

With the win Tactical Approach, owned by Robert Leblanc, John Fielding, Joe Sbrocco and JAF Racing, became the sport's newest millionaire with his eighth win in 15 starts as a 3-year-old. As the betting choice he returned $3.44 to win.

The victory was a sweep of the Futuritys for stallion Tactical Landing, having sent Mommamia Volo to victory in the Filly division a few races earlier. Tactical Approach was bred by Steve Stewart and Oakwood Farms.

In the $50,000 Futurity Consolation Prince Of Honor and Todd McCarthy rallied in the homestretch to victory in 1:52 1/5 for trainer Carter Pinske. The Walner-sired gelding is owned by Pinske Stable and David Hoese and was a winner for the fifth time in seven starts this year. The even-money choice scored over runner-up Djimon, with Espresso third in the mile.