Captain Albano and Nijinsky will renew acquaintances at The Meadowlands on Saturday (June 21) when they meet in a field of 12 pacers for the third round of the Graduate Series for four-year-olds.
Captain Albano and Nijinsky closed out their three-year-old campaigns together this past November in the Progress Pace at Bally’s Dover, where Captain Albano posted a 2-1/4 length victory over runner-up Nijinsky. Captain Albano went on to be named the top sophomore male pacer in Dan Patch Awards voting while Nijinsky received the same honour at the O’Brien Awards in Canada.
Both horses head to Saturday’s $75,000 USD race with a win in the Graduate Series. Captain Albano captured last week’s round at The Big M in his seasonal debut while Nijinsky won a first-round division of the event on May 31 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Nijinsky remained home last week to compete in the Grade 3 Mohawk Gold Cup, where he finished second.
Captain Albano won the second leg of the Graduate, which featured a field of 11, by three-quarters of a length over Calicojack Hanover in 1:49.2. Captain Luke, who was a Graduate division winner at Mohawk, finished third.
“I’ve been really happy with the way he’s come back,” said Todd McCarthy, who has driven Captain Albano for trainer Noel Daley in all but two of the horse’s 28 career races. “Noel kind of brought him back slowly, took his time with him, and he’s sharpening right up for me. He was just awesome the other night. He’s still, obviously, not all the way there yet, but he’s getting pretty close.”
Captain Albano, who also was a Dan Patch Award winner at age two, hit the board in 16 of 18 races last year, winning 12 and earning $1.54 million. In addition to the Progress Pace, his wins included the Little Brown Jug, Adios, Max C. Hempt Memorial, and Matron Stakes. He captured 10 of his final 12 races and brings a four-race win streak to Saturday’s start.
For his career, Captain Albano has won 20 of 28 starts, missed the top three only twice, and banked more than $2 million. The son of Captaintreacherous-Angelou is owned by Patricia Stable, LA Express & Sjoblom Inc., Sjoblom Racing, and Michael Dolan.
“When I heard he was coming back, I was pretty thrilled about it,” McCarthy said. “To get to sit behind him again for another year or so is exciting. It’s a pretty cool thing. I’m looking forward to it.”
McCarthy said he hasn’t noticed many changes in Captain Albano from ages three to four.
“He seems to be the same horse,” McCarthy said. “He’s really well-mannered, and a really nice horse to drive. He can be pretty lazy, then once he switches on and he knows he’s got to go to work, he picks the bit up and he wants to go. He’s pretty much the same as the way he finished up last year. I couldn’t be any happier with him.”
On Saturday, McCarthy and Captain Albano will leave from post 10 in the field of 12, which will require two horses (Chain Gang and McCrunch) to start from trailing positions. Captain Albano is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, behind only 3-1 Nijinsky from post five with Louis-Philippe Roy driving for trainer Anthony Beaton.
“I just wish we drew a little better,” McCarthy said. “The 10-hole, that’s a bit of a mission for him, but hopefully we can figure out a trip and end up in the mix somewhere.”
Saturday’s Meadowlands card also features the third round of the Graduate Series for four-year-old trotters. A field of 10 will compete for the $75,000 USD purse, with Sir Pinocchio the 3-1 morning-line favorite from post one with Jason Bartlett driving for trainer Ed Hart. Sir Pinocchio won a second-round division last week at The Big M.
Private Access, who is two-for-two in the series, is the 7-2 second choice. He will leave from post four with Roy in the sulky for trainer Luc Blais.
Racing begins at 6:20 p.m. (EDT) at The Meadowlands. For a free TrackMaster past performance program, click here.
(USTA)