Under a sudden downpour at The Meadowlands, odds-on favorite Karl proved to be harness racing’s best 3-year-old trotter as he captured the $1.05 million Hambletonian in a historic back-to-back win for trainer Nancy Takter and first win for driver Yannick Gingras on Saturday.
Karl won the 99th Hambletonian by one length over Highland Kismet in 1:51.3. Amazing Catch finished third.
Takter is the third trainer to win the Hambletonian twice in a row since it moved to The Meadowlands in 1981. The others are her dad Jimmy Takter (2014-15) and Per Eriksson (1991-92).
“They bunched up a little bit down the stretch, and I don’t think I’ve ever screamed so much in my entire life as I did the last eighth of that mile,” she said, “It was really exciting and I’m really proud of the horse and the entire team. I’m happy Yannick got his first Hambletonian.”
The victory was the first in 12 Hambo tries for Hall of Fame driver Yannick Gingras. He was elated with finally winning America’s biggest harness race.
“It’s been a long time coming that’s for sure,” he said. “I said it before, I thought it was my best chance I’ve ever had, and the horse came through.”
As the race played out, Karl was sixth on the first turn, while Sig Sauer gained the lead at the quarter in :26.4. Karl’s archrival, T C I, then took charge as David Miller sent the colt to the front on the backstretch. Highland Kismet took the lead at the top of the lane and Karl followed second over and eventually passed Highland Kismet in late stretch.
Gingras was pleased with how the race played out.
“Through the race I was actually really happy with the way it was setting up, I thought it set up perfectly for us,” the emotional Gingras said. “At the top of the stretch, I thought the race was getting away from me again when Highland Kismet kicked clear for a little bit. I just had to wait on mine for a couple strides, and it was tight quarters, and I didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize it. I just figured an eighth of a mile was enough to show what a champion he is.”
Karl paid $3.40 to win.
In the $525,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old female trotters, Warrawee Michelle and her trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt won by a half-length over Buy A Round in 1:51.2. Allegiant finished third. Sent off at 13-1, Warrawee Michelle paid $29.20 to win.
Habiba Atta is a recent graduate of Rutgers University who majored in Journalism and Media Studies and is writing as part of the Clyde Hirt Journalism Workshop.
Originally Published: August 3, 2024 at 8:00 p.m.
Source link : https://www.trentonian.com/2024/08/03/horse-racing-karl-delivers-for-gingras-takter-in-rainy-hambletonian/
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Publish date : 2024-08-04 01:44:08
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