Karl headlines Kentucky Sire Stakes Championships worth $3.4 million at The Red Mile

On Sunday (Sept. 15) Hambletonian and Dan Patch Award winner, Karl, seeks his second Kentucky championship at The Red Mile in a 10-race extravaganza worth $3.4 million. There are, however, many other competitors in the seven other divisions, including budding superstars and some regally bred individuals in two $100,000 Kentucky Commonwealth Series finals.

Fans will have to wait until the sixth race for Karl’s bid for his second Kentucky crown and his sixth consecutive victory, but the five contests staged prior to his pari-mutuel appearance offer plenty of opportunities to witness some of the best athletes this sport has to offer.

Karl, one of the top candidates for Horse of the Year, will make his bid for a second championship in the Bluegrass from post position seven in the field of seven for trainer Nancy Takter. The son of Tactical Landing-Avalicious is 7-5 on the morning line and takes on familiar foes Secret Agent Man (Andy Miller, 5-2), who drew the rail, as well as Dame Good Time (Scott Zeron, 7-2) Dame Good Time leaves from post position five.

Karl has been simply sublime since his second career defeat and only loss in 2024 from 10 trips to the gate in the $135,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial at The Meadowlands on July 13.

The colt is owned by Christina and Nancy Takter, Black Horse Racing, Crawford Farms Racing and Bender Sweden Inc.

It’s A Love Thing (MacDonald) will bid for her first Kentucky title in the event for sophomore filly pacers. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Love For Sale is on track for her fifth victory in a row after scratching from the $112,480 Simcoe Stakes at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Sept. 7.

Trained by David Menary, It’s A Love Thing captured the $310,250 Fan Hanover at Woodbine Mohawk Park and the $100,000 Jerry Silverman at The Meadowlands prior to her lone appearance in a series leg in Lexington on Aug. 6.

She is 9-7-2 on the season and has placed $462,174 in the bank for owners Erik Good, Thomas Biederman, Josh Green and Rich Lombardo Racing.

It’s A Love Thing is 8-5 on the morning line and commences her mile from post position four in the field of seven.

The first post for the culmination of the 2024 Kentucky Sire Stakes Championship Series is at 5:05 p.m.