Red Mile: Tactical Approach, Twin B Joe Fresh don't disappoint in Kentucky Championship Series

Hambletonian victor Tactical Approach rebounded off a second-place finish in his last appearance to win in Sunday's $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series race for sophomore male trotters at The Red Mile in 1:51 2/5. Meanwhile, Twin B Joe Fresh engaged in a vicious battle with nemesis Strong Poison to capture her Championship Series test for 3-year-old pacing fillies in 1:49 1/5, collect her fifth consecutive triumph and become the sport's newest millionaire.

The nine-race card also included three Kentucky Commonwealth Series events and three Kentucky Goldenrod Series contests.

Heavily-favored Tactical Approach and regular driver Scott Zeron began to trot from post position six in a very strong field of six, and they sat in fifth as longshot Brodeur (Tony Hall) set the first fraction of 27 2/5. That was when second choice, Kilmister (Brian Sears), took control.

After trotting in 56 1/5 for the half-mile and 1:24 2/5 three-quarters around the red clay oval, Kilmister's rivals were beginning to advance while Tactical Approach was at the back of the pack and third-over behind Khaosan Road (Tim Tetrick) and Ari Ferrari J (Dexter Dunn)

Tactical Landing, a son of Tactical Landing-Sarcy, used a 26 1/5 final quarter panel while rallying widest in the stretch to claim victory by three-quarters of a length. Ari Ferrari J (Dexter Dunn) was second. Point Of Perfect (Yannick Gingras) charged from fifth to third.

Trained by Nancy Takter, Tactical Approach improved his resume to 8-1-4 from 17 starts and boosted his bank account to $717,989. The colt was bred by Steve Stewart and Oakwood Farms, and he was purchased for $85,000 at the 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale by Robert Leblanc, John Fielding and Joe Sbrocco and Jaf Racing. Tactical Approach's granddam is 2003 O’Brien Award winner Southwind Allaire (Valley Victory, $733,514). He paid $2.66 to win.

Defending Kentucky and New Jersey champion Twin B Joe Fresh (Dunn) engaged in another tremendous battle in the lane to defeat familiar foe Strong Poison (Gingras) by three-quarters of a length. The daughter of Roll With Joe-Casual Breeze has not lost since a second-place finish to Dan Patch and O'Brien Award winner Sylvia Hanover in the $169,00 Mistletoe Shalee on July 15.

Charleston (Tim Tetrick) assumed command as the mile commenced from post position three while Dunn and his filly settled in fourth from post position two. Strong Poison (Gingras) landed third also allowed Charleston to lead the field of six through splits of 27 4/5, 56 2/5 and 1:24 before the battle was on as Twin B Joe Fresh advanced first-over and Strong Poison swung to the outside behind her. Charleston remained in front by a head in the drive for the wire, but Twin B Joe Fresh and Strong Poison were in hot pursuit.

Despite throwing down a 25 2/5 final quarter fraction, Charleston could not hold off the sizzling 24 3/5 and 24 4/5 advances of the two favored fillies as Twin B Joe Fresh reigned supreme. Strong Poison, after a courageous mile of her own, was relegated to second, three-quarters of a length back. Charleston wound up third.

Bred by Brittany Farms, the filly is co-owned by her driver, her trainer, Chris Ryder and Peter Trebotica and Barry Spak. Twin B Joe Fresh now sports a resume of 15-3-1 from 20 trips behind the gate and has earned $1.04 million. She is the first foal out of an unraced dam and was a $65,000 purchase at the 2021 Standardbred Horse Sale. Twin B Joe Fresh paid $2.28 to win.

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Horizontal Collects Third Straight in Commonwealth Series

Horizontal (Zeron, $4.88) won her third consecutive race in the sole $30,000 Commonwealth Series clash for 3-year-old filly pacers in a lifetime-best 1:48.4. The daughter of Always B Miki-Geometry is trained by Linda Toscano and was bred Diamond Creek Farm. She is owned by Determination and sold for $47,000 at the 2021 Standardbred Horse Sale. Horizontal is a half-sibling to 2-year-old filly pacing phenom Geocentric (Sweet Lou, $294,501).

Djimon (Gingras, $16.58) scored a 7-1 upset over favored Prince Of Honor (Todd McCarthy) with a new lifetime mark of 1:52 1/5 in the first of two Commonwealth groupings for sophomore male trotters. Trained by Mark Steacy, the son of Tactical Landing-Sheena's Shadow is owned by Hudson Standardbred Stable, Dale Larson and Stephen Downey. He was bred by James Wilhite Jr. and is a half-brother to Winning Shadow (by Credit Winner - $883,896) and Ritson (by Cantab Hall - $229,078).

Dire Straits (David Miller, $7.74) collected his first win in 2023 in a lifetime best 1:51 4/5 in the other showdown for 3-year-old male trotters. The son of Muscle Hill-Southwind Cocoa is a half-sibling to Crime Fighter (by Chapter Seven - $185,211) and Magnificent Seven (by Chapter Seven - $147,094). Trained by Mattias Melander, Dire Straits was bred by Richard Gutnick, who co-owns with Thomas Pontone and Gary Cocco. He was fourth in the Breeders Crown last year behind Gaines Hanover.

Chamba, Naranjo, Keep My Secret Best in Golden Rod Series

Chamba (Dunn, $2.78, 1:53) took the first of two $15,000 Kentucky Golden Rod Series flights for 3-year-old male trotters. Tim Tetrick guided Naranjo ($45.62, 1:53 3/5) to victory in the other Golden Rod event.

Keep My Secret (Tony Hall, $3.74, 1:49 2/5) prevailed in the only Golden Rod Series tilt for sophomore filly pacers.

The $400,000 Kentucky Championship Series finals will take place on Sunday (Sept. 17), with the $100,000 finals for the Kentucky Commonwealth Series on Monday (Sept. 18) and the $50,000 Golden Rod Series finals on Tuesday (Sept. 19).

--edited press release (The Red Mile)--