Red Mile: Successful return for Hambletonian hero Tactical Approach

Hambletonian champion Tactical Approach was back in action in today's $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series contest for 3-year-old male trotters and got the job done again, scoring in 1:51 3/5. Better Is Nice, who won the New Jersey Sire Stakes final in his most recent outing, took the Championship Series clash for rookie pacing colts later on the program.

Point Of Perfect (Yannick Gingras), who won his Hambletonian elimination before ending up fifth in the final, set the tempo of 27 2/5, 56 3/5 and 1:24 4/5 with Khaosan Road (Ake Svanstedt) going first-up from third on last turn, followed by Ari Ferrari J (Dexter Dunn) and Tactical Approach (Scott Zeron).

Ari Ferrari J vaulted three-wide into the top spot in mid-stretch, but Tactical Approach had even more trot to his outside, and behind a 26 1/5 last quarter, Tactical Approach got up to win by three-quarters of a length. Ari Ferrari J was a solid second and Khaosan Road wound up in third.

A Tactical Landing colt bred by Steve Stewart and Oakwood Farms, Tactical Approach is trained by Nancy Takter for owners Robert Leblanc, John Fielding and Joe Sbrocco & Jaf Racing. This was his seventh win from 15 career starts, he has now earned $657,989, and he paid $3.36 to win as the favorite.

In the Championship Series showdown for 2-year-old male pacers, Snap Count (David Miller) was in front at the 28 1/5 quarter but would be overtaken by a brushing Ivy Park (Gingras) nearing the 56 2/5 half. Ivy Park continued on the front-end to three-quarters in 1:25 2/5, with Tua Many Captains (Andy Miller) out and moving from third and Better Is Nice (Andy McCarthy) tracking him.

Ivy Park managed to hold sway on the engine until inside the final eighth, as despite drifting out badly, Better Is Nice kept going forward as well and was able to win by a neck over a rallying-from-last Dancin Champion (Tim Tetrick) in 1:53. Tua Many Captains wound up third.

Better Is Nice is a Tony Alagna trainee and is owned by Alagna Racing LLC., Pryde Stables Inc. and Birnam Wood Farms. Out of the Vintage Master mare Thatsoveryverynice, Better Is Nice, who was bred by Alagna Racing LLC. and Marvin Katz, has a record of 3-0-1 from four starts and he has now earned $178,600. He was the 1-5 favorite and returned $2.54 to win.

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Driver Todd McCarthy captured two of the three $30,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series splits on the card, taking the lone test for 2-year-old male pacers with Kissincaptain (by Captaintreacherous and bred by Sunset Stables LLC.) in 1:53 2/5 for Alagna and owners Riverview Racing LLC., Marvin and Lynn Katz and Kissincaptain Racing and one of the two flights for 3-year-old male trotters with Prince Of Honor (by Walner and bred by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld, in 1:54 for trainer Carter Pinske and owners Pinske Stables and David Hoese.

Djimon won the other Commonwealth Series battle for the sophomore male trotters in 1:54 1/5 for driver Yannick Gingras, trainer Mark Steacy and owners Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc., Dale Larson and Stephen Downey.

Rounding out the stakes action on Tuesday were five $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series dashes. The victorious 2-year-old male pacers were My Favorite Dali (by Stay Hungry and bred by owner Brad Grant) in 1:53 4/5 for driver Mitchell Cushing and trainer Tony Alagna) and Arson (by Captaintreacherous and bred by Diamond Creek Farm) in 1:53 for driver Todd McCarthy, trainer Eric Patalan and owners Thestable Arson Group and Hutchison Harness LLC.

Tallying in the sophomore male trots were Chamba (by Cantab Hall and bred by Atlantic Trot Inc. and Steve Stewart) in 1:53 3/5 for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt, Kenobi (by Father Patrick and bred by Hanover Shoe Farms) in 1:55 for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Marcus Melander and owner Courant Inc. and Pedal On Metal (by Father Patrick and bred by Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz) in 1:55 3/5 for driver Tim Tetrick, co-owner/trainer Anette Lorentzon and co-owners ACL Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson.