Some horsemen have already stated that the new configuration at Meadowlands Racetrack feels quite different, but does it feel different to the horses?
Trainer Tony Alagna doesn't want to take that chance. So expect to see Captaintreacherous drop into the qualifying box for this Thursday's set of Meadowlands qualifiers.
“I want to make sure he understands that the finish is at the half,” Alagna told HRC's Ken Weingartner. “Some horses will [have a problem with that], some not.” He added, “I don’t want to wait until the TVG final to find out.”
Alagna and the connections behind Captaintreacherous aren't fully committing to racing the sport's top ranked pacer against the older horses in next Saturday's TVG FFA Final but aren't ruling it out either.
“He came out of the American-National in great shape,” Alagna said. “He’s going to qualify at the Meadowlands on Thursday and we’re on target for (the TVG Free For All championship) as long as everything goes well.”
The Somebeachsomewhere colt, who is 13-for-15 this year, surpassed the $2 million mark in seasonal earnings with his win in the American National and his lifetime bankroll now sits just shy of the $3 million plateau for Captaintreacherous Racing of Versailles, Ky.
According to Captaintreacherous Racing spokesman Myron Bell, ‘The Captain’ is gearing up for a new challenge.
“We are extremely pleased with the year he has had,” said Bell. “There was no shame getting beat a nose in a tough trip in a world record mile. (In) the other loss, The Captain was a bit sick. It happens. Our concern wasn’t going undefeated, it was racing well and keeping his form and he has done that. Right now, he is 100 per cent. If he comes out of this qualifier good, he has earned the right to race in the TVG Free For All Championship. It is an honour that Captaintreacherous is the three-year-old to take on this challenge and we feel very privileged to be competing in what will be a historic event for the sport of harness racing.”
The historic event that Bell is speaking of is that for the first time in a generation, the best three-year-old pacing colt will challenge the best Free For All pacers in the world.
“I don’t think this has happened in over 30 years,” Bell stated. “We are really behind this and I want to thank Tony Alagna and Tim Tetrick for doing such a great job with him all year and getting him to this race 100 per cent fit and sound.”
In addition to Captaintreacherous, I Luv The Nitelife will also qualify Thursday night at the Meadowlands.
I Luv The Nitelife will make what is expected to be her final 2013 start the following Saturday (November 30) in the Nadia Lobell.
Her owner, Richard Young, has nothing but praise for his superstar filly. “’Nitelife’ has raced her heart out all year,” said Young. “She raced in the Jugette, and we expected to have an elimination for the Breeders Crown, but instead had to qualify her. Then, with one start in seven weeks, she raced her heart out and got beat a neck at Balmoral. Maybe a qualifier would have helped, so we are getting her one prior to the Nadia Lobell.”
(With files from the Meadowlands and Harness Racing Communications)