15 July 2024, from Oak Grove Racing
Trainer Ron Burke had a stunning win when KARMA (TALL DARK STRANGER) with driver Todd McCarthy surged by 1-9 favorite Skywalker Sea to win the $100,000 Kentucky Sire Stakes 2-Year-Old Filly Final in 1:52.1. Skywalker Sea failed to settle once clearing the lead past a 26.4 first quarter and remained headstrong through a 55 half and 1:22.2 three-quarters. On fumes into the lane, Skywalker Sea endured a blitz from KARMA as she kicked out of third and went by the weary pacesetter to win by 2-1/4 lengths. ACCEED (TALL DARK STRANGER) finished third and Hip Shot faltered off a pocket trip for fourth.
KARMA, out of the American Ideal mare Alexis Faith, won her first race in just her second start and has now earned $53,200 for owners Thomas and Scott Dillon. She paid $52.26 to win. Karma (Tall Dark Stranger-Alexis Faith), whose family includes 2021 Horse of the Year Test Of Faith, won her qualifier in June in 2:02.2 with a :27.2 last quarter. She was fourth at the half, which was timed in 1:05.2. The filly was purchased for $225,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is owned by Tom Dillon and Scott Dillon. She was bred by Crawford Farms.
Another Empire stallion sired winner came in the 3-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace with Eric Patalan trainee ARSON (CAPTAINTREACHEROUS) to a 1:50.1 score. ARSON pushed for position from the pylon post and perched into the pocket behind Total Stranger while he cut a quick clip of :26.2, :54.2 and 1:22. Zeron pulled ARSON out of the pocket midway up the backstretch, powered to the lead through the final turn and carried his speed all through the lane to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Swaggy Cal, who closed from second over for second. Better Is Nice, the 6-5 favorite, also closed to take third and Copperfield came from near last for fourth.
ARSON, out of the Western Hanover mare Western Montana, has now won 13 races from 20 starts and banked $250,850 for owners The Stable Arson Group and Hutchison Harness LLC. He paid $4.80 to win.
PHOTO: Karma (TALL DARK STRANGER), Ken Weingartner Photo
