After racing four straight Saturdays and winning each one, the connections of Captaintreacherous have accepted a bye for their top-rated pacing colt straight into the final of the 2013 Meadowlands Pace.
With only 13 horses entering, three colts were allowed to take byes into the $800,000E Meadowlands Pace Final based on seasonal earnings: those horses are Captaintreacherous, Twilight Bonfire and Wake Up Peter.
“When we decided to go to the Hempt, we thought it was possible the Meadowlands Pace could have only the one elimination and we would get a bye,” trainer Tony Alagna told Harness Racing Communications. “Everything has just been falling into place.”
Owned by Captaintreacherous Racing, the Tony Alagna-trained Captaintreacherous would have raced his fifth straight week if elims were needed on Saturday night. The strapping son of Somebeachsomewhere will look to do what his father could not - capture the Meadowlands' premier pacing event.
On Saturday night, Captaintreacherous endured a gutsy overland trip to capture the 2013 Max Hempt Memorial Pace at Mohegan Sun Pocono and push his career bankroll to more than $1.7 million in the process.
"The best part is, if he can overcome that post against the best three-year-old pacers in the world, it would be a dream for me," said co-owner Joe Sbrocco before the race. "We're not telling driver Tim Tetrick what to do. He's the best in the business, and so is trainer Tony Alagna. Captaintreacherous is in great condition. As long as he stays sound, I believe he can beat any horse."
“I have all the faith in the world in him -- I know what kind of horse he is -- and he even impressed me,” Alagna said about Captaintreacherous’ performance in the Hempt. “And I’m not easily impressed. But that was a monster trip.
“He came out of the race super; excellent,” Alagna added. “He’s very good.”
The field of 10 sophomores heading postward on Saturday night that will look to end the win streak of "The Captain" by virtue of an elimination win and advantageous post position selection are as follows:
PP - Horse - Listed Driver - Trainer
1 - Someplace Special - Corey Callahan - Mark Silva
2 - Johny Rock - Andy Miller - John Butenschoen
3 - Sir Carys Z Tam - Pat Lachance - Pat Lachance
4 - Sir Richard Z Tam - Pat Lachance - Pat Lachance
5 - Sunshine Beach - George Brennan - Mark Steacy
6 - Resistance Futile - Mike Lachance - Blair Burgess
7 - Lonewolf Currier - Brian Sears - Kevin Mc Dermott
8 - Rockin Amadeus - Yannick Gingras - Jimmy Takter
9 - Beach Memories - Yannick Gingras - Brian Brown
10 - Odds On Equuleus - John Campbell - Robin Schadt
Eliminations for the 2013 Mistletoe Shalle were also carded for Saturday night but with only seven fillies entered that group will all advance to next Saturday's final. The field for the final is (listed alphabetically) includes Acquavella, Charisma Hanover, I Luv The Nitelife, Jerseylicious, Nikki Beach, Novascotia Hanover and Shebestingin.
Saturday's card features NJSS two-year-old pacing colts and fillies, as well as two $50,000 eliminations for the William R. Haughton Memorial Pace. To view entries for Saturday, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Meadowlands Racetrack