Red Mile: Homicide Hunter trots fastest mile in harness racing history

Homicide Hunter trotted the fastest mile in the history of harness racing on Saturday afternoon at The Red Mile, rallying wide through the lane off a third-over trip to win the $145,000 Allerage Farms Open Trot in 1:48 4/5.

Driven by Brian Sears, Homicide Hunter settled into the fifth position and watched as Lindy The Great (Scott Zeron) took the lead from Guardian Angel As (Matt Kakaley) passing the 26 3/5 opening quarter. Will Take Charge (Tim Tetrick) then did take charge, brushing from fourth to first going to the 53 2/5 half-mile marker.

On the final bend Guardian Angel As made a second move, tipping first-over from third. That gave a second-over trip to Pinkman and a third-over journey to Homicide Hunter as the field reached three-quarters in 1:22.

Guardian Angel As forged his way by Will Take Charge in upper stretch, but Sears cut Homicide Hunter loose on the far outside, and he surged into the lead inside the final eighth. Homicide Hunter then kicked on and away, winning by three lengths over Guardian Angel As. Pinkman was third.

The 1:48 4/5 clocking lowered the previous all-track, all-age, all-sex record of 1:49 set by Sebastian K at Pocono in 2014.

"I love this horse. I race him at Yonkers and he can do it all," said Sears.

Asked whether or not he thought the record was in reach, Sears replied, "Those were some quick fractions, and I hadn't yet asked my horse to trot."

A 6-year-old gelding by Mr. Cantab, Homicide Hunter is trained by Chris Oakes for owner Crawford Farms Racing. This was Homicide Hunter's 38th career win, and he has now earned $1,463,927. Homicide Hunter was the 8-5 favorite and paid $5.20 to win. Homicide Hunter was bred in Illinois by Patrick Graham.

"He'll go to the invitational at Yonkers next," remarked Oakes. "He's a gelding, so hopefully we'll just keep putting money on his card."