The Red Mile has been enjoying a very successful stakes-filled Summer Championship Meeting, thus far, under the sunlight and continues on Sunday, Sept. 3 with a “Labor Day Eve” program “under the night lights” and a 5:50 p.m. post time for a 14-race extravaganza.
Not since Sept. 22, 2019 has the Red Mile presented an evening-nighttime program and Sunday’s program features nine stakes events with a pair of those being $80,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes for two-year olds, one for trotting colts and geldings and the other for pacing fillies.
The event for trotting colts and geldings features a field of seven with the Nancy Takter trainee Karl (sired by Tactical Landing) expected to be the favourite, even though his racing career stretches all but five weeks coming into this event.
Owned by Nancy Takter along with Christina Takter, Back Horse Racing, Crawford Farms Racing and Bender Sweden, the young colt, after a “warm-up” mile in 1:54.4 in late July, followed that with a maiden win in the Kindergarten at The Meadowlands before shipping down to The Red Mile and wiring his foes in the Kentucky Sire Stakes in 1:52. With a :27.4 last quarter for Yannick Gingras, it was the fastest of any two-year-old trotter this season.
About the Sunday night festivities and, in particular, his race, Gingras said, “The first time I sat behind this horse [Karl], I thought he was something special and his two races since solidified that feeling so his ability is unquestioned but the factor that is always unknown is health and I am just hoping that he can stay healthy and live up to how great I think he can be. Staying healthy is always the key thing!
“I am excited about the Sunday night card and I am hoping the fans support this great card at the [pari-mutuel] windows. I think it’s really great and I am looking forward to it very much."
Indeed, Gabe Prewitt has loaded the program for the “Send It In Army” with a great buffet of wagering choices with two Pick-4 events—the sixth and 11th races—both with an industry low 12 per cent takeout and the first one carrying a $10,000 guaranteed pool.
There are also reduced takeouts on other events such as the 20-cent Pick-6 kicking off the program (15 per cent takeout), 50-cent Pick-5 beginning race three (12 per cent takeout) and 20-cent Super Hi-5 races five and 14 (15 per cent takeout),
There will also be a trio of Pick-3 events, beginning in races two, eight and 12, as well as bookend Daily Doubles.
Racing will continue with regularly scheduled daytime programs Monday (Sept. 4) and Tuesday (Sept. 5).
Red Mile racing programs are always available on the Red Mile website.
(Red Mile)