On Sunday (Aug. 21) Red Mile will host two $80,000 third round legs of the Kentucky Championship series, three $30,000 third round legs of the Kentucky Commonwealth series and six $15,000 third round legs of the Kentucky Golden Rod series for freshman and sophomore trotters and pacers of both sexes on a 14-race card. Tactical Approach may be light on experience, but the son of Tactical Landing-Sarcy can demonstrate he possesses a world of ability in the Championship division for two-year-old male trotters.
Tactical Approach has yet to be tested after capturing the first two starts of his career with relative ease. Trained by Nancy Takter, the colt will be steered by regular pilot Yannick Gingras when he leaves from post position three in the field of nine. He is 9-2 on the morning line in the ninth race despite facing Kilmister (post position one, Brian Sears, 5-2) the undefeated Peter Haughton Memorial winner, and the talented Dire Straits (post position nine, Mattias Melander, 7-2).
The colt broke his maiden in his first trip to the gate in the first round of the Commonwealth series for his age, gait and gender on July 31. Tactical Approach assumed command at the half-mile marker, clicked off three-quarters in 1:28.1 and trotted home in 1:56 as the heavy favourite. His last quarter-mile was timed in :27.4.
Tactical Approach returned to action on Aug. 8 in the second round of the same series with the same result. He made his move at the half-mile marker and hit the wire in 1:54.1. In each of his two races, Tactical Approach’s final times have been more than a full second swifter than his closest pursuer.
It appears the colt is following in his family’s hoofprints. Tactical Approach is a half-sibling to Kentucky champion Double Deceiver (Cantab Hall, $463,479), who has won his last three races after finishing second in the $280,904 MGM Yonkers Trot on July 1.
Tactical Approach is the third foal out of his dam. Sarcy earned $261,333 during her career and her dam, Southwind Allaire won the 2003 Hambletonian Oaks, as well as an O’Brien Award.
Purchased by John Fielding, Steve Heimbecker, Robert Leblanc and Joe Sbrocco and Jaf Racing, Tactical Approach fetched $85,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale under the name Rackuencourt. He was bred by Steve Stewart and Oakwood Farms and has amassed $30,000 in purse money.
Boudoir Hanover will attempt to revisit the winner’s circle for the first time since the daughter of Captaintreacherous won the $115,000 Nadia Lobell at Harrah’s Hoosier Park on July 1. The filly is 2-1 on the morning line and will leave from post position five in a field of five three-year-old filly pacers.
Boudoir Hanover will be in rein to Todd McCarthy in the seventh race for trainer Tony Alagna. Her record stands at 18-4-5-2 and she has earned $383,001.
The filly is owned by Riverview Racing, her co-breeder, Alagna Racing, Caviart Farms and D. Plouffe and S. Head.
Boudoir Hanover is the first foal out of millionaire Bedroomconfessions and was a $200,000 purchase at the 2020 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. Visionary Breeders was the other party responsible for producing Boudoir Hanover.
The three Commonwealth series races consist of two divisions for two-year-old male trotters and one division for sophomore pacing fillies.
The six Golden Rod series contests are comprised of four divisions for two-year-old male trotters and two divisions for three-year-old filly pacers.
Sunday’s card also features a $10,000 guaranteed Pick-4 (races six through nine) in conjunction with the U.S. Trotting Association’s Strategic Wagering Program.
First post at Red Mile is 1 p.m. EST. Sire stakes action continues Monday (Aug. 22) and Tuesday (Aug. 23).
(Red Mile)