Red Mile: Karl, Louprint annex Kentucky Championship Series contests

Karl and Louprint went off as the favorites in two $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series races on Sunday evening at The Red Mile and both of them won.

Three-year-old colt trotter Karl (Yannick Gingras) tipped out of third past the 27 1/5 quarter and made his way to the lead around Hung Over (Dexter Dunn) past the 55 3/5 half. Karl kept control through three-quarters in 1:23 3/5 and then sprinted home in 26 4/5 to score by a length and a quarter in 1:50 2/5, lowering his lifetime-best clocking by a tick. Secret Agent Man (Andy Miller) took a run at Karl from first-up in the stretch but had to settle for second and Hung Over held third.

By Tactical Landing, Karl is trained by Nancy Takter. Bred by Crawford Farms, he is co-owned by them in partnership with Nancy, her mother Christina, Black Horse Racing and Bender Sweden Inc. He has a summary of 17-1-1 from 19 starts, has earned $1,879,816 and returned $2.10 to win.

Rookie pacing colt Louprint (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) yielded to sit in the pocket behind American Son (Dunn) beyond the 28 second opening quarter in his tilt. From there American Son rolled through a half of 54 4/5 and three-quarters in 1:23, but Wrenn Jr. had Louprint off the pylons before the latter station. In the lane American Son was game, but Louprint was able to get by him inside the final eighth, and then Wrenn Jr. had Louprint in-hand late as he tallied by a length and a half in a life's-best 1:49 1/5. American Son was second and Fallout (Marvin Luna) finished third.

Ron Burke trains Louprint, a son of Sweet Lou, for owners/breeders Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC. and Phil Collura. Louprint has four victories and a second in five trips behind the gate, has pocketed $119,864 and paid $3.78 to win.

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Gingras and Takter also won the lone $30,000 Commonwealth Series dash for 2-year-old male pacers with Fusion (by Always B Miki, bred by Diamond Creek Farm and retained by their racing operation, paid $2.10 to win) in 1:51.

For July rallied to capture the single Commonwealth Series showdown for the sophomore trotting males in 1:52. Mattias Melander handled the driving for trainer Lucas Wallin, co-owner/breeder D Farm LLC. and co-owners Harbor Racing Stable LLC. and Order By Stable. For July returned $28.48.

Takter added two more triumphs in the $15,000 Golden Rod Series events for rookie pacing colts and geldings, prevailing with Caviart Act Two (by Captain Crunch, bred by owner Caviart Farms, paid $5.36 to win) in 1:52 1/5 with Andy McCarthy in the bike and with Delray Beach (by Tall Dark Stranger, bred by Christina Takter, Marvin Katz and Brixton Medical Inc., paid $13.46 to win) in 1:51 2/5 with Yannick Gingras at the controls.

A trio of Golden Rod Series splits went behind the gate for sophomore trotting colts and geldings and getting the victories were Devious Mojito As (by Devious Man, bred by co-owner/trainer Anette Lorentzon and co-owner Acl Stuteri Ab, paid $9.58 to win) in 1:53 2/5 for driver Tony Hall, Duke Of Walner (by Walner and bred by K R Breeding LLC., paid $4.32 to win) in 1:52 3/5 for driver Scott Zeron, trainer Lucas Wallin and owners Berg Bros. Racing LLC., Joe Sbrocco, Daniel Plouffe and Lucaswallinjafracingmyfab and Naked Cowboy (by Tactical Landing, bred by Crawford Farms, paid $3.12 to win) in 1:52 3/5 for driver Andy McCarthy, co-owner/trainer Dylan Davis and co-owner Howard Taylor.