A pair of speedy chalks proved decisive in the $50,000 opening round of the Graduate Series on Saturday (May 1) at The Meadowlands.
Odds-on choice Captain Barbossa came first, revving to the front in the final eighth to score in a 1:48.4 mile.
Tattoo Artist took the top from post 8 while Splash Brother settled into second. Poseidon Seelster sat third to a :26.4 opening quarter before lunging off the pegs and to the lead moving into the backstretch. Meanwhile, driver Dexter Dunn had Captain Barbossa placed fifth, and began to angle him off the pylons to a :54.1 half.
Around the final turn, Captain Barbossa drew closer to Poseidon Seelster, though the pacesetter remained strong on the lead to three-quarters in 1:21.4. Poseidon Seelster continued to power through the stretch, but Dunn wound Captain Barbossa and surged by to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths. Splash Brother finished third with Tattoo Artist fourth.
Owned by Robert LeBlanc, David Anderson and Alagnafrankinthegym Stable, Captain Barbossa won his sixth race from 35 starts, earning $502,268. Tony Alagna trains the $3.40 winner.
Driver Andrew McCarthy motored Ruthless Hanover to the point past the quarter and turned away all challengers to take the second division, also stopping the clock in 1:48.4.
Away third to a :27.2 opening quarter, Ruthless Hanover landed on the lead into the backstretch, pocketing Warrawee Vital and shuffling Elver Hanover into third. The field remained single-file to a :55.3 half until Allywag Hanover edged off the cones, flushing cover from Beaumond Hanover moving to the final turn.
Beaumond Hanover led the two-wide tier to slight gains as Ruthless Hanover passed three-quarters in 1:22.4 but began to give chase off the final turn. Ruthless Hanover accelerated for the finish while Warrawee Vital attempted to rally out of the pocket but instead settled for second. Chief Mate slid through an inside seam for third and Beaumond Hanover held fourth.
Ruthless Hanover won his seventh race from 13 starts, earning $91,875 for owner John Cancelliere. His brother, Tom Cancelliere, conditions the $4.60 winner.
PROLIFIC PREFERREDS: Lindy The Great, who banked over $390,000 a year ago despite winning only once, upped his 2021 record to two wins in as many tries in taking the Preferred Handicap for trotters in 1:52.1.
The Andy Miller-driven, Julie Miller-trained seven-year-old got roughed up a bit from post 8 before making the lead at the half in :56.3, then kicked home in a final half of :55.3 to hold off the late-surging Mississippi Storm by a nose to up his career earnings to $1,069,199.
He paid $3.60 as the 4-5 public choice.
One week ago, Stars Align A became the fastest performer in harness racing this year with a clocking of 1:48, and the Jenn Bongiorno trainee proved that was no fluke by beating a field of Preferred pacers that included Ana Afreet N (who finished fifth in the six-horse field) and Sintra (fourth as the 3-5 favorite).
Jenn’s brother Joe put the eight-year-old Stars Align A on the point at the half in :55.2 before pacing a back half in a dazzling :53.3. He hit the finish in 1:49, two lengths in front of Colossal Stride A. Wheels On Fire was third.
Stars Align A returned $7.60 to his backers as the second choice in the wagering.
NON-BETTORS: Between races one and two, a pair of New Jersey Breeders Maturity Finals for four-year-olds on the trot were contested.
The Lucas Wallin-trained, Tim Tetrick-driven Absattitudexpress sat a pocket trip behind lone foe Spoiled Princess before trotting past that one in the stretch on the way to three-quarter-length victory in 1:53.3 in the $30,000 event for mares. The daughter of Trixton-Abbiesgotattitude now has nine wins from just 18 starts, good for earnings of $291,141.
Back Of The Neck, a son of Ready Cash-Big Barb who is trained and driven by Ake Svanstedt, scored in the $40,000 dash for horses and geldings in 1:53.4 after leading at every call in the five-horse field. He’s now eight-for-22 for his career and has earnings of $517,357.
A LITTLE MORE: Dunn guided three winners on the card, to up his Big M leading dash-win total to 71. Jeff Cullipher had a training triple. He currently tops the conditioner standings with 41 victories.
Racing resumes Friday (May 7) at 6:20 p.m. (EDT).
(with files from The Meadowlands)