By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Captain
Barbossa recorded the fastest mile of the season in harness racing when he
stopped the clock in 1:47.1 – a lifetime best – in one of two $50,000 divisions
of the third leg of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old pacers at The
Meadowlands Saturday night. There were also two $50,000 splits of leg two for
4-year-old trotters on the card.
The Tony Alagna trainee did it the
hard way, coming first over for the final half-mile to gun down the speedy
Poseidon Seelster.
“He’s a cool horse to drive,” said
winning pilot Dexter Dunn. “The fractions set up for a fast mile.”
Indeed, they did.
Tattoo Artist exploded from post
seven and streaked to the quarter in :25.3 before George Brennan moved Poseidon
Seelster to the point at the half in :52.4. Captain Barbossa vacated the
three-hole at that point and came after the leader down the backside and around
the far turn as three-quarters went in a scorching 1:20.1.
After grinding away at the leader’s
edge, Dunn then nudged Captain Barbossa, a son of Captaintreacherous-Swinging
Beauty, to the lead as they straightened up for the stretch drive on the way to
reporting home a three-quarter-length winner over 8-5 favorite Warrawee Vital,
who followed the winner’s cover but never threatened. Sandbetweenmytoes was
third. Poseidon Seelster weakened and finished seventh.
“He came first-over from the half,”
said Dunn. “It was awesome.”
As the 3-1 second choice, Captain
Barbossa paid $8.20 to win. He now has seven victories from 38 career starts
and earnings of $533,438.
The second Graduate division for
pacers was won in similar fashion to the first as Allywag Hanover (a gelded son
of Captaintreacherous-Anderosa Hanover) came first up from the half and gunned
down 4-5 favorite Ruthless Hanover, who was looking to stay perfect in three
Graduate outings. Splash Brother and Cattlewash finished in a dead heat for
third.
“Today, he toughed it out pretty
good,” said driver Tim Tetrick, who guided the Brett Pelling student. “I raced
him like a sports car. I was hoping to get cover but nobody was pulling. My
horse outfought [Ruthless Hanover] tonight.”
The margin of victory was a
half-length as the mile went in 1:48.1. Allywag Hanover returned $16.20 to win
as the fourth choice in the betting, and now has 10 wins from 27 career starts
and a bankroll of $297,668.
Hypnotic AM took the first split for
trotters in 1:50.3 – a lifetime best – for driver Brian Sears and trainer
Marcus Melander.
The daughter of Chapter
Seven-Daydream Am S popped out of the pocket off the far turn and out-gamed 4-5
favorite Beads to the wire by a half-length. Amigo Volo was third.
“She’s not a real big filly but she’s
flawlessly gaited,” said Sears. “With a trip like she got, she always shows
up.”
Hypnotic AM returned $5.80 as the
second choice in the wagering and now has 13 wins from just 25 lifetime outings
and earnings of $1,195,584.
It’s Academic (a son of Uncle
Peter-Annapolis) made it two-for-two in the Graduate by taking the second
trotting division in 1:51 for Tetrick and Ron Burke, holding off even-money
choice Ready For Moni by three-quarters-of-a-length going wire-to-wire. Sermon
was third.
As the 6-5 second choice, It’s
Academic paid $4.40 in winning for the 18th time from 34 career
outings, good for earnings of $618,688.
THAT’S 20, HONEY: All-source wagering totaled
$4,047,250, upping The Big M’s streak of programs with a handle of over $3
million to 20. Of the 45 race cards conducted in 2021, wagering has reached the
$3-million plateau on 36 occasions.
The $4-million barrier has now been
busted six times this year, and Saturday’s action completed a $7-million
weekend, the ninth time that has occurred in 2021.
The Late 50-cent Pick-4 saw total
play of $144,278, to set a new season high.
A LITTLE MORE: Dunn and Tetrick led the driver’s colony with three winners apiece. … Alagna trained three to victory lane. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m
