Karl draws post 11 in Kentucky Futurity

Hambletonian winner Karl drew post 11 in the second tier for Sunday’s 132nd Kentucky Futurity for 3-year-old trotters at the Red Mile and was made the 6-5 morning-line favorite for trainer Nancy Takter and driver Yannick Gingras.

Karl has won nine of 11 races this season and earned $977,839. For his career, the son of Tactical Landing-Avalicious has won 18 of 21 starts and banked $2.01 million.

Takter captured last year’s Kentucky Futurity with Tactical Approach. The most recent trainer to win the Futurity in consecutive years was Takter’s father, Jimmy, who accomplished the feat with Pinkman in 2015 and Nuncio in 2014. Gingras drove Pinkman.

“(The draw) looks good to me,” Takter said. “It’s better than 10, 9, or 8, I think, so I’m happy with 11.

“I trained him this morning and I was really happy with him. He trained super. He’s going to be ready to go on Sunday.

“This is a really nice group of horses here. There are 10 really solid competitors, so you need a little racing luck, and things have to go your way. But like I said, my horse is coming into the race in great shape, so I’m really happy with him.”

Hambletonian runner-up Highland Kismet is the 3-1 second choice in the 11-horse Futurity field. He will start from post three for trainer Mark Etsell.

The Kentucky Futurity is the third jewel in the Trotting Triple Crown. The first, the Yonkers Trot, was won by Sir Pinocchio. Karl won the second, the Hambletonian.

Sunday’s Red Mile card also features the 59th Kentucky Filly Futurity for 3-year-old female trotters. Date Night Hanover, trained by Marcus Melander, enters the race with four wins and a second in her past five starts and was made the 3-1 morning-line favorite. She will leave from post 10 in the field of 11.

Hambletonian Oaks winner Warrawee Michelle is the 4-1 second choice, leaving from post seven for trainer Ake Svanstedt.

Following is the field for the $500,000 Kentucky Futurity with trainers and morning-line odds.

1 – Wild Ticket – Marcus Melander – 15-1
2 – Dame Good Time – Travis Alexander – 8-1
3 – Highland Kismet – Mark Etsell – 3-1
4 – Amazing Catch – Ake Svanstedt – 12-1
5 – Secret Agent Man – Julie Miller – 15-1
6 – Tony Adams S – Ake Svanstedt – 15-1
7 – Mr Bluebird – Ake Svanstedt – 20-1
8 – Sig Sauer – Noel Daley – 6-1
9 – Bella’s Musclehill – Nifty Norman – 20-1
10 – Security Protected – Marcus Melander – 20-1
11 – Karl – Nancy Takter – 6-5

Following is the field for the $301,550 Kentucky Filly Futurity with trainers and morning-line odds.

1 – Paulina Hanover – Noel Daley – 20-1
2 – R Melina – John Butenschoen – 6-1
3 – Buy A Round – Noel Daley – 9-2
4 – Sadbirdstillsing – Tony Alagna – 15-1
5 – Sambuca Hanover – Nifty Norman – 20-1
6 – Miss I La – Noel Daley – 15-1
7 – Warrawee Michelle – Ake Svanstedt – 4-1
8 – Allegiant – Vernon Beachy – 5-1
9 – Soiree Hanover – Lucas Wallin – 6-1
10 – Date Night Hanover – Marcus Melander – 3-1
11 – French Champagne – Ake Svanstedt – 15-1