Hambo winner Tactical Approach tries for Kentucky Futurity score

October 6, 2023

Lexington, KY — Having secured the second jewel of Trotting’s Triple Crown, Tactical Approach will look to add another onto his resume when he starts as the 3-1 morning line favorite in the $450,000 131st Kentucky Futurity, which wraps the 15-race card and the Grand Circuit meet on Sunday (Oct. 8) at The Red Mile.

Tactical Approach trotted a down-the-road effort last week to clock a 1:50.1 mile in winning his division of Bluegrass against the likes of Air Power and French Wine, who sandwich him on the starting gate. Scott Zeron drives the Nancy Takter pupil from post seven in the 11-horse contest.

Oh Well, second to Tactical Approach in the Hambletonian, has the chance to strike revenge from post five. Tim Tetrick steers the Marcus Melander trained son of Muscle Hill off his 1:51.2 performance in Bluegrass action last week. His stablemate Kilmister, who missed the Hambletonian final from an off-the-board finish in his elimination, also enters off a Bluegrass win in 1:50.3 against Point Of Perfect, who’s drawn to his inside. Brian Sears drives Kilmister, the third of four entrants for Marcus Melander, from post 10.

Revenge also comes in the grasp of Ron Burke’s Muscle Hill colt Celebrity Bambino, who was the Hambletonian favorite and faltered after cutting the fractions. Celebrity Bambino ships to Lexington off a game 1:51.4 victory in the $488,400 Canadian Trotting Classic final and keeps Yannick Gingras in the bike from post two.

The Kentucky Futurity’s companion event, the 58th Kentucky Filly Futurity, goes as race 10 on the closing-day card and also draws an overflow field of 11.

Last year, Special Way dazzled over the clay for trainer Ake Svanstedt in progress to a Breeders Crown win. However, hiccups of sickness and precaution along with a defeat in the Kentucky Sires Stakes final to Mommamia Volo — racing from post three in the Filly Futurity — have opened the spotlight for her stablemate Bond, who starts a few slots wider from post nine. Bond grabbed second in the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks and has not lost in her last three starts, claiming the $250,000 Delmonica Hanover at Pocono and the $281,940 Elegantimage at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Ake Svanstedt will pilot Bond while Special Way acquires the duties of Tim Tetrick from post seven.

That created a vacancy on the Hambletonian Oaks winner Heaven Hanover, who starts from post six. Marcus Melander teamster Brian Sears grabs the drive on the filly trying to get back to the winner’s circle after her last-to-first triumph to win on the first Saturday in August. The daughter of Father Patrick enters off a fourth-place finish in her Bluegrass division to Walner Payton, who lands post two after a headstrong closing victory in that 1:51.4 mile that saw her trot a final quarter in :25.3.

The $472,000 Tattersalls Pace draws two divisions towards the tail of the card with a marquee matchup in division two, race 13. Linda Toscano trainee It’s My Show draws to the far inside, himself a world-record holder for sophomore geldings with a mark of 1:46.4 taken over this oval. And then drawn to the far outside in the nine-horse field sits Confederate, himself a world-record holder for sophomores with a mark of 1:46.1 taken over this oval. The Tattersalls Pace marks the first matchup between the two millionaires since It’s My Show clung to victory in the Pepsi North America Cup back in June.

Division one collects Diamond Creek’s Sweet Lou colt Cannibal from post seven against a former peer in Seven Colors, who was purchased privately earlier this year by trainer Andrew Harris and team. Seven Colors starts from post one off a runner-up finish in the $850,000 Little Brown Jug final and keeps Dexter Dunn in the sulky while Cannibal has Yannick Gingras in the bike for trainer Nancy Takter. The nine-horse field also includes Ken Hanover, entering off a second-place finish to Confederate in Bluegrass action last week. David Miller opts to drive him from post four over 2022 Breeders Crown winner Ammo, who picks up Tim Tetrick on his return to the races off a fifth-place finish in the Pennsylvania Sires Stakes consolation back in September.

The $230,000 Glen Garnsey Memorial sees the star sophomore pacing fillies split in separate divisions after a sterling face off in the Bluegrass last week. Sylvia Hanover lands in the first division, race eight, and starts from post five in rein to Bob McClure against six rivals including fellow Bluegrass division winner McSeaside from post two. Twin B Joe Fresh starts from post six in the second division with Dexter Dunn in the bike for trainer Chris Ryder off her runner-up effort from off the speed to Sylvia Hanover.

Sunday’s card opens with the four older divisions sparring in their respective dashes of the Allerage Farms. The Mare Trot goes as race one and lures M-M’s Dream in a five-horse affair off a second-place finish in the $240,000 Dayton Oaks. She draws just inside of Warrawee Xenia, who keeps Tim Tetrick in the bike.

The Mare Pace follows with a five-horse affair highlighted by Virgil Morgan Jr.’s star pacing mare Grace Hill from post two. Doug McNair comes to town for the 5-year-old daughter of Always B Miki off her back-to-back wins, taking the $162,800 Milton Stakes and the $242,500 Dayton Distaff.

Ake Svanstedt’s elegant import Alrajah One IT lands the pylon post in the $135,000 Allerage Farms Trot off an upset loss to Hillexotic in the $240,000 Dayton Trotting Derby. Dexter Dunn stays in the bike of the Maple Leaf Trot winner making just his third start of 2023 following a late-season injury that shelved him last year. Ron Burke’s double millionaire It’s Academic lands post seven in the field of 10.

The Allerage Farms Open Pace gathers seven including defending champion Allywag Hanover, who struck the upset of the year last year when nailing Bulldog Hanover in a 1:46 effort off a pocket ride. Todd McCarthy drives the 6-year-old gelding by Captaintreacherous from post seven for trainer Brett Pelling and faces yet another speed freak in 4-year-old Downbytheseaside gelding Bythemissal, who looks to return to the winner’s circle off defeats in the Hoosier Park Pacing Derby and the Dayton Pacing Derby. Yannick Gingras drives the gelding for trainer Ron Burke from post four.

The 15-race extravaganza to wrap the Grand Circuit meet at The Red Mile gets underway at 1 p.m. (EDT). Sunday’s card features high-money guarantees with mandatory payouts: four $10,000-guaranteed pools for the Pick-6 (starting in race one), Early Pick-5 (race three), Late Pick-5 (race eight) and Late Pick-4 (race 12). The Red Mile will also feature $20,000 guarantees for the Early Pick-4 (race six) as well as in the trifecta pools for the Kentucky Filly Futurity (race 10) and the Kentucky Futurity (race 15). Red Mile also offers an industry-low 12 percent takeout on its Pick-5 and Pick-4.

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First foal out of Jiggy Jog S arrives at Hunterton

May 22, 2026

This Tactical Landing filly, the first foal out of the tremendous, $3 million-winning mare Jiggy Jog S, arrived on April 18 at Hunterton Farm in Kentucky. Jiggy Jog S, the Dan Patch Older Trotting Mare of the Year in both 2023 and 2024, won the $1 million Yonkers International in 2024 and Breeders Crown finals in 2022 and 2023, among other stakes wins. Jiggy Jog S posted a lifetime record of 24-10-2 in 41 starts and had a mark of 1:49.2. She will be bred next to Captain Corey.

Three Times Bettor wins $100,000 KYSS Final

May 16, 2026

Hunterton Consigned & Bred Three Times Bettor (Dexter Dunn) persisted through a methodical first-over push in a quick tempo to score a track-record-equalling 1:48.3 win in hand in the KYSS final for pacing mares at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel. Dunn tipped his charge out of third after following a clip of :25.4 and :53.1 and inched towards pacesetter Odds On Chesapeake (Todd McCarthy) rolling to three-quarters in 1:20. As Odds On Chesapeake began to tire, Three Times Bettor grabbed the lead and scooted away confidently for a length win over pocket-sitter Aintnothingucando (Scott Zeron), who zipped up a seam at the pylons for second. Unreasonable (Jason Bartlett) followed the winner's cover to take third. Brett Pelling trains Three Times Bettor , a mare by Bettors Delight-Three Times A Lady, for owner Thaddeus Wier. The win was her seventh straight in a streak dating back to last season. She took her 12th win from 20 career starts and raised her bankroll to $365,068. The win price was $2.50. Her 1:48.3 clocking matched the track record for aged pacing mares set in 2022 by Blue Diamond Eyes.

Three Times Bettor cruises in Oak Grove Open

May 10, 2026

Oak Grove, KY — The pair of $30,000 Open events at Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel on Sunday (May 10) had starkly different payoff outcomes, but saw dominant performances from both Burnout and Three Times Bettor , who scored in the Open Pace and Fillies and Mares Open Pace respectively. A few races later, 1-9 favorite Three Times Bettor (Dexter Dunn) tightened the screws for her $100,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes final on Preakness Saturday (May 16) with a 1:50.1 jog in the co-featured $30,000 Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace. Dunn, flying into town for only two drives on the day, circled the Brett Pelling trainee to the top after a :26.4 first quarter and gradually quickened while peeling away from the competition. She clocked a :55 half and 1:23.1 three-quarters and widened all the way to a 5-1/4-length win under wraps over Yankee B Something (Geremy Bobbit), who gave pursuit from a pocket ride in second. Bonitas Best Bet (Brandon Bates) saved ground to take third and Lyin’ Eyes (Joey Putnam) folded from a first-over push into the last turn for fourth. Thaddeus Weir owns Three Times Bettor, a 4-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Three Times A Lady. The mare won her 11th race from 19 starts and has now banked $213,814 in her career. She paid $2.22 to win.

Drink Up Drink Up Bounces Back In Open Trot Win At Hoosier

May 10, 2026

Anderson, IN — Finding another gear late, Hunterton Born, Raised and Sold, Drink Up Drink Up driven by Brandon Bates for trainer Walter Haynes Jr. returned to winning ways downing the $22,000 Open Trot at Hoosier on Saturday (May 9). Starting the race competitively, the field moved four wide as the trotters fought for the lead. Eventually from his assigned post four, Drink Up Drink Up found the rail in third as Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong) beat out Cs Flying Co-pilot (Marcus Miller) to lead the field at the first quarter in :26.2. Trotting down the back stretch, the field grew stagnant in a single file line through the halfway mark in :55.3. Content with their position at this point in the race, the six-horse field remained unchanged to the three-quarter pole, led by Ponda Jet in 1:25.1. The first bit of action since the start of the race came from Finite (Trace Tetrick) in fifth, who broke the silence first-over before flushing Drink Up Drink Up. Heading into the stretch, Drink Up Drink Up glided past Cs Flying Co-pilot, leaving only Ponda Jet in his way of a winner’s circle visit. Continuing that momentum, Drink Up Drink Up chugged along the outside to beat out the post time favorite Ponda Jet by a length to the wire in 1:53.1. Ponda Jet settled for second, while Famous Father got up for third. The Trixton gelding, Drink Up Drink Up, is owned by Adam Friedland and Brian Carsey. Drink Up Drink Up added his fourth win of the season to increase his lifetime earnings to $421,058. Drink Up Drink Up paid $11.60 to win.

‘Diablo’ scores at Big M as Ahle sweeps co-features

May 9, 2026

East Rutherford, NJ – Frattina Diablo S and Create Escape emerged victorious in the Friday night (May 8) co-features at The Meadowlands in a pair of $20,000 high-end conditioned trotting events for 3-year-olds with Hambletonian and Hambletonian Oaks dreams. In the split for fillies, the Tony Alagna-trained Frattina Diablo S, sent to the gate as the 4-5 favorite, sat a three-hole down the backside before making her way towards leader Caviart Queen Emma, who set the pace at the quarter and half in :28.3 and :57.3, respectively. “Frattina” was surging on the outside in second as the “Queen” clicked three-quarters in 1:25.4, but through the stretch, Frattina Diablo S, a daughter of Captain Corey -Lindy Strong, trotted away from her foes, hitting the wire 3-1/4-lengths clear of second-place finisher Che Bella in a lifetime-best 1:53.2. Chant was third. “We were very high on her last year and (owner) Steve Stewart and I decided to stop after Lexington to give her extra time to grow up since she was such a big filly last year at 2 and she came in Jan. 1 a different animal,” said winning trainer Alagna. “We have high hopes for her.” Driven by Johnathan Ahle, Frattina Diablo S returned $3.80 after winning for the second time in seven lifetime tries. Ahle completed a driving sweep of the marquee events after guiding Create Escape to victory lane for trainer Ake Svanstedt in the division for colts and geldings. The colt by Gimpanzee -Final Countdown completed the mile in 1:55. Practical Man, the 7-5 favorite, was gunning for a second straight score, but after going parked for the first seven-sixteenths-of-a-mile before clearing the lead, he didn’t have it in the stretch, failing to hit the board, finishing fourth. Create Escape vacated the pocket with an eighth-of-a-mile to trot and eased his way to a confident score, holding off the late-charging Sevenato by a half-length. Read The Room was third. “He qualified well last week and felt good the whole way,” said Ahle. After going off as the 3-1 third choice, Create Escape paid $8.80 to win.

Tarapasta topples favorites in MGM Ursula McIntyre Series final

May 8, 2026

Yonkers, NY – Hunterton Sold Tarapasta looked hopelessly boxed in coming into the homestretch, but Matt Kakaley was able to find a seam at the head of the stretch, and the 6-year-old Downbytheseaside mare kicked into overdrive to capture Friday’s (May 8) $456,000 Grade 2 MGM Ursula McIntyre Series final at MGM Yonkers Raceway at a stunning 25-1. Tarapasta, trained by Travis Alexander for owner Greg Luther Racing LLC., completed the mile and a quarter distance in 2:23, winning by a length over Coastal Babe N, with 1-10 favorite Louies Girl N settling for third. Kakaley had Tarapasta energized early, leaving strongly ahead of Louies Girl N on the opening bend. Coastal Babe N, with Yannick Gingras, left hard and needed nearly the first quarter before supplanting Tarapasta in a :28.2 opening fraction. Jason Bartlett wanted no part of a three-hole, and he moved Louies Girl N on the second turn, assuming control at the half in :56.4. After Louies Girl N had the top, she cut three-quarters in 1:25.2 and was put to some pressure when Millwood Bliss N moved without cover on the backstretch for the final time. Still, Louies Girl N looked to have control of the race past the mile marker in 1:54 and entering the final turn with Coastal Babe N locked along the pylons and Tarapasta sitting third without room. When Seaside Diva, with Scott Zeron, struggled to keep with Millwood Bliss N coming into the stretch, Kakaley seized the opportunity and quickly angled Tarapasta wide. The rest was history as Tarapasta overpowered a struggling Louies Girl N and won going away. Tick A Loch A rallied wide for the fourth spot. Tarapasta returned $52.72 to win and keyed a $169.94 exacta and a $340.78 trifecta. “Travis has done a superb job with her,” said Kakaley. “She’s been super. I’ve been along for the ride.” In the $100,000 McIntyre consolation, favored Walkin On Sunshine and driver Scott Zeron were up in the final strides for the victory in 2:23.3 for the added distance. A 6-year-old by Always A Virgin, Walkin On Sunshine just nailed second choice Bath Bomb with Andrew McCarthy driving. Zeron had Walkin On Sunshine away quickly from post five and out-sprinted Bath Bomb into the opening turn. Following a soft :29.1 opening quarter, McCarthy moved Bath Bomb to the front. Once in control Bath Bomb stayed in front through a half in :58.1 and three-quarters in 1:27.3. With Turn The Page N and Ron Cushing beginning an outer flow at that point, followed by Rocket Deo, Bath Bomb picked up the pace noticeably with a 28 second fourth quarter, reaching the mile in 1:55.3 and making it a virtual two-mare race. Zeron tipped Walkin On Sunshine from the pocket late on the final turn and needed a solid drive to narrow the gap and eventually overtake a determined Bath Bomb. Rocket Deo and Todd McCarthy rallied late for the third spot, with Fearless Ginger fourth across the wire. Walkin On Sunshine is owned by Maynard Miller, Daniel Lehman and Michael Yoder and is trained by Brett Pelling. As the favorite, Walkin On Sunshine returned $3.86 to win and keyed a $7.36 exacta and a $41 trifecta. Walkin On Sunshine won for the 30th time in her racing career and pushed her lifetime earnings above $705,000.

Crack Shot wins again!

May 5, 2026

Oak Grove, KY – Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel carried the fervor from a historic running of the Kentucky Derby into a jam-packed day of harness racing stakes on Monday (May 4) that saw a pair of track records established in the eliminations for the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks and Oak Grove Trotting Derby as well as a day of betting that annihilated the previous handle record for the Southwest Kentucky track. Crack Shot (Doug McNair) delivered a snug 1:51.3 win at 1-9 odds in the first KYSS division for pacing males. McNair circled the heavy favorite to the lead after a :27.1 first quarter and strolled through middle splits of :55.3 and 1:23.3 before wrapping up the mile an easy winner by 1-1/2 lengths. Somelousomewhere (Tim Tetrick) closed first-over for second with Captain Arturovico (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) rallying off a ground-saving trip for third and pocket-sitter Delray Beach (Todd McCarthy) tiring to fourth. Winning in his seasonal debut, Crack Shot collected his 12th victory from 25 starts and has now earned $563,733 for co-owner Gregg McNair, who also trains the son of Bettor’s Delight-Beautyonthebeach, and partners Dale Hunter, Frank Brundle and George Kerr. He paid $2.18 to win.

Unreasonable scored the faster win of the two KYSS splits for 4-year-old pacing mares with a 1:49.1 effort

May 5, 2026

Oak Grove, KY – Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel carried the fervor from a historic running of the Kentucky Derby into a jam-packed day of harness racing stakes on Monday (May 4) that saw a pair of track records established in the eliminations for the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks and Oak Grove Trotting Derby as well as a day of betting that annihilated the previous handle record for the Southwest Kentucky track. Unreasonable (Dexter Dunn) vaulted off a helmet to score the faster win of the two KYSS splits for 4-year-old pacing mares with a 1:49.1 effort as the 3-5 favorite. Dunn bided his time while Duration (David Miller) sped to the point and cut quick fractions of :26, :54.2 and 1:21.1 before slowing for home. Odds On Chesapeake (Todd McCarthy) pulled off the pylons from third moving to the final turn and reached for the pacesetter while Dunn, perching onto her cover, launched three wide through the last turn and hit her best stride into the lane. Unreasonable pushed past her rivals and crossed the line 1-1/4 lengths better than Odds On Chesapeake while Champagne Room (Yannick Gingras) shook free from a locked-pocket trip for third. Duration held fourth. Andrew Harris trains Unreasonable, a daughter of Huntsville -Roaring To Go, for owner Punisher 11 Stable LLC. She won her 13th race from 28 starts, earning $771,634 in her career, and paid $3.44 to win.

Endurance added another Oak Grove track record to his resume with a fierce 1:51.3

May 5, 2026

Oak Grove, KY – Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel carried the fervor from a historic running of the Kentucky Derby into a jam-packed day of harness racing stakes on Monday (May 4) that saw a pair of track records established in the eliminations for the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks and Oak Grove Trotting Derby as well as a day of betting that annihilated the previous handle record for the Southwest Kentucky track. Chris Beaver pupil Endurance (driven by Andy McCarthy), who set the track record for 2-year-old trotting colts last year, added another Oak Grove track record to his resume with a fierce 1:51.3 effort in his seasonal debut, muscling first-up for the win in the third of three $50,000 eliminations for the Oak Grove Trotting Derby. McCarthy waited in third with the 1-2 favorite while Big Ranger (Ronnie Gillespie) hustled to lead in a :27.1 first quarter and continued through a :56 half, at which point Endurance angled off the pylons and built his momentum in the backstretch. Endurance hit his best stride after three-quarters in 1:23 and collared Big Ranger coming off the final turn before spurting away for a 1-1/2-length win over AI (Yannick Gingras), who popped off a pocket trip for second. Nix Nacken (Dexter Dunn) earned the last berth into the final in third and Big Ranger tired to fourth. Lowering the previous track record set last year by Yannick G Kemp of 1:52.3, Endurance added a seventh win to his card from nine starts and has now earned $582,450 for owners Super Endurance Stable, Bill Manes, Leo Fleming and Mark Moger. The colt by Captain Corey -Love Session paid $3.18 to win.

Yo Tillie Equals Oak Grove Track Record

May 5, 2026

Oak Grove, KY – Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel carried the fervor from a historic running of the Kentucky Derby into a jam-packed day of harness racing stakes on Monday (May 4) that saw a pair of track records established in the eliminations for the Oak Grove Trotting Oaks and Oak Grove Trotting Derby as well as a day of betting that annihilated the previous handle record for the Southwest Kentucky track. Yo Tillie (Todd McCarthy) emerged the top performer from the seven divisions of Kentucky Sire Stakes (KYSS) second preliminary on the Monday undercard with a track-record equaling 1:51.4 mile to win the lone $50,000 division for 4-year-old trotting mares. She worked past a revved Winnpanzee (Yannick Gingras) to the lead in a :26.3 first quarter and continued at a solid clip of :55.1 and 1:23 all while Winnpanzee followed intently from second. R Dutchess (Tim Tetrick) mounted a first-over bid but plateaued into the lane, locking Winnpanzee in the pocket until the final sixteenth. She attempted a late attack on Yo Tillie but came calling too late as McCarthy crossed the line a measured winner by three-quarters of a length. R Dutchess held third and Best Friends Girl (David Miller) finished fourth. Equaling the track record for aged trotting mares set three years ago by Yanaba, Yo Tillie won her 21st race from 26 starts, earning $1.33 million. Andrew Harris trains the daughter of Tactical Landing -Consolidator for owner Punisher 11 Stable LLC. She paid $2.62 to win.