Red Mile: World record by Sippionsearoc, Karl back in action

Not much could overshadow the return of Hambletonian champion Karl, but Sippinonsearoc managed to accomplish it by winning Tuesday afternoon's $80,000 Kentucky Championship Series tilt for rookie pacing colts and geldings at The Red Mile in 1:48 2/5 to become harness racing's all-time fastest 2-year-old.

Facing just four foes, Sippinonsearoc (Yannick Gingras) left from post five and cleared Fallout (Tim Tetrick) for the lead before the 27 1/5 opening quarter. Although he faced no outside pressure, Sippinonsearoc put up daunting middle-half fractions of 54 4/5 and 1:21 2/5, but the pace didn't appear to take anything out of him, as Sippinonsearoc came home in 27 seconds while in-hand to Gingras to defeat Fallout by three lengths. Blue Onyx (Andy Miller) finished third.

The time knocked a fifth of a second off the previous standard for 2-year-olds in the sport of harness racing that was shared by Caviart Camden, Warrawee Ubeaut and Elver Hanover.

Ron Burke trains Sippinonsearoc, a Downbytheseaside colt bred by Trent Stohler Stable Inc. and Alesha Binkley, for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Weaver Bruscemi LLC., R A S Racing LLC. and Knox Services Inc. Sippinonsearoc is now four-for-four in his career, has earned $110,000 and paid $2.10 to win as the 1-9 choice.

Karl gave Gingras a sweep of the Championship Series races as he took his comeback in 1:51 1/5. After getting away fourth to the 27 2/5 quarter, Gingras brought Karl to the outside in the backstretch and had seized command prior to the 55 4/5 half-mile station. From there, Karl backed down three-quarters to just 1:24 4/5 and then sprinted a 26 2/5 final panel to defeat a first-over Secret Agent Man (Miller) by a length and three-quarters. Dame Good Time (Scott Zeron) collected third.

A Tactical Landing colt, 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 16-1-1 from 18 starts, has earned $1,839,816 and also returned $2.10 to win.

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Gingras added to his win total by taking the single $30,000 Commonwealth Series showdown for 3-year-old male trotters with Skydiver (by Greenshoe, bred by co-owner Marvin Katz with Al Libfeld, paid $24.60 to win) in 1:52 2/5 for trainer Marcus Melander and co-owners Brixton Medical Inc. and Hatfield Stables, and the Commonwealth Series test for rookie pacing colts and geldings saw American Son (by American Ideal, bred by Brittany Farms, paid $6.28 to win) deliver in 1:49 3/5 for driver Dexter Dunn, trainer Chris Ryder and owner Henderson Farms.

Prevailing in a trio of $15,000 Golden Rod Series dashes for the sophomore male trotters were Pick Pocket (by Walner, bred by Moni Maker Stable, paid $9.50 to win) in 1:53 1/5 for driver Anthony MacDonald, trainer Eric Patalan and owners Thestable Pick Pocket Grp and Hutchison Harness LLC., Duke Of Walner (by Walner and bred by K R Breeding LLC., paid $2.54 to win) in 1:52 4/5 for driver Tim Tetrick, trainer Lucas Wallin and owners Berg Bros. Racing LLC., Joe Sbrocco, Daniel Plouffe and Lucaswallinjafracingmyfab and Vic Zelenskyy (by Greenshoe, bred by Mission Brief Stable, paid $2.38 to win) in 1:54 2/5 for driver Dexter Dunn, trainer Marcus Melander and owners S R F Stable and Holly Lane Stud East Ltd.

Two-year-old pacing colts and geldings also went behind the gate in a trio of Golden Rod Series division. Victories went to Caviart Cash (by Captain Crunch, bred by owner Caviart Farms, paid $7.34 to win) in 1:51 4/5 for driver Anibal Borjas and trainer Tony Alagna, Caviart Act Two (by Captain Crunch, bred by owner Caviart Farms, paid $8.00 to win) in 1:52 1/5 for driver Andy McCarthy and trainer Nancy Takter and Got Bourbon (by American Ideal, bred by trainer Peter Blood and owner Rick Berks, paid $3.90 to win) in 1:52 3/5 for driver Todd McCarthy.