Christina Takter, who is a co-owner of Captain Crunch, erupted with joy when the colt won the Pepsi North America Cup last month. “We were yelling so much I thought the roof was going to lift from the house,” said Takter, who is hoping the bay can put in another strong performance in this Saturday’s Meadowlands Pace eliminations.

Takter was in Sweden when Captain Crunch won the $1-million Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park; and although it was around 4 a.m., it did not prevent her from cheering on her three-year-old colt or from celebrating enthusiastically with her husband, retired Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Takter.

Christina co-owns Captain Crunch along with 3 Brothers Stables, Rojan Stables, and Caviart Farms. The Takters had to set the alarm to wake up and watch the NA Cup. Although they were surely a bit on the tired side, Christian said the experience “was a lot of fun” for both her and Jimmy.

The Takters were in Sweden for a month, seeing family and friends. At the time of the North America Cup, they were visiting Per Eriksson. Did the commotion disturb their host?

“We were staying maybe a quarter of a mile from their house,” Christina said, adding with a big smile and laugh, “so I don’t think I woke them up.”

Christina hopes there are more reasons to celebrate in the weeks ahead, beginning with the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace. Captain Crunch, a Dan Patch Award winner in 2018, was among 15 horses entered in the event, with the group divided into two $50,000 eliminations that will be contested Saturday (July 6) at the Meadowlands Racetrack. The top-five finishers will return for the final on July 13. Elimination winners will draw for posts one through six.

Captain Crunch, trained by Christina’s daughter, Nancy Johansson, and driven by Scott Zeron, is the 8-5 morning line favourite in the first of the two eliminations. North America Cup runner-up Bettors Wish is the 9-5 choice in the second.

For the year, Captain Crunch has won three of four races. His only loss came in his North America Cup elimination, when he went off stride in the first turn because of jumping a shadow. He recovered to finish fifth and advance to the final, where he started from Post 8 and posted a three-quarter-length win over Bettors Wish in 1:47.2.

“I was very, very nervous,” Christina said about the final. “But, at the same time, that was kind of a freaky thing he did in the elimination, so I wasn’t too worried about it. Of course, it’s in the back of your mind, but we still had faith in him.

“That’s when you really want to show the world that the horse is what you think he is.”

Captain Crunch, pictured victorious with Scott Zeron at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Captain Crunch, a son of Captaintreacherous out of Sweet Paprika, was purchased for $85,000 at the 2017 Standardbred Horse Sale. Johansson’s daughter, Ella, fell in love with the colt the day prior to the sale and implored her mother to buy him. The connection has added another layer of joy to Captain Crunch’s story.

“It’s special,” Christina said. “She picked him out, kind of; she really liked him. She has that extra bond with him.

“I thought the price was right, too. I was happy to get a piece of him because with the pedigree, I don’t think we overpaid for him. And it’s a very nice group (of owners) to be involved with.”

If Captain Crunch advances to the Meadowlands Pace final, it will conflict with another big event for the Takter family. Jimmy, already a Hall of Famer in the U.S. and Canada, is scheduled to be inducted into the Swedish Trotting Hall of Fame on July 13. And although Christina and Jimmy celebrated the North America Cup win in Sweden, the couple plans to remain home for the Meadowlands Pace.

“It’s going to be exciting,” Christina said. “Of course, we have to get to the final. You never know. I just hope nothing happens, that the horse doesn’t have bad luck or get sick. It all depends on Saturday.”

The results of the post position draw for the eliminations appear below.

Elim 1 (Race 7)
(Post – Horse – Listed Driver – Morning Line Odds)
1 - Captain Crunch – S. Zeron – 8-5
2 - U S Captain – D. Dunn – 5-1
3 - Reigning Deo – A. McCarthy – 10-1
4 - Workin Ona Mystery – Ti. Tetrick – 5-2
5 - Mangogh – Ti. Tetrick – 15-1
6 - Captain Ahab – A. McCarthy – 4-1
7 - Macs Power – D. Miller – 12-1

Elim 2 (Race 8)
(Post – Horse – Listed Driver – Morning Line Odds)
1 – Love Me Some Lou – D. Miller – 10-1
2 – Escapetothebeach – Y. Gingras – 10-1
3 – Best In Show – B. McClure – 12-1
4 – Captain Trevor – A. McCarthy – 7-2
5 – Hurrikane Emperor – D. Dube – 8-1
6 – Bettors Wish – D. Dunn – 9-5
7 – Caviart Rockland – Y. Gingras – 8-1
8 – De Los Cielos Deo – D. Miller – 4-1

Saturday’s card at the Meadowlands will also include the $250,000 finals of the Graduates Series for each four-year-old trotters and four-year-old pacers. Racing will begin at 6:35 p.m. (EDT). It is also Fan Appreciation Night and fireworks will follow the races.

(With files from the USTA)