Six straight wins coming in and seven-in-a-row going home was the story for Captain Ahab who cruised to a handy win in his Metro Pace elimination for driver Andrew McCarthy and trainer Tony Alagna.
Captain Ahab got away fourth while Captain Crunch fired to the front from Post 7 and had the field chasing him past the quarter pole in :26.3. McCarthy called on Captain Ahab to go into sprint-mode in the backstretch, however, and in a matter of strides the colt ploughed his way to the top.
He hit the half in :55 and the three-quarter pole in 1:22.4 before kicking home in :28 to win by a length over De Los Cielos Deo in 1:50.4. Rounding out the top five finishers were Goldberg, Lyons Night Hawk and Better Up.
“I kicked the ear-plugs out tonight and made him pace in the stretch because I’ve got so much respect for Burke’s colt (De Los Cielos Deo),” said McCarthy following the victory. “I was getting flushed early, so I went ahead and put him on the front and he was fine about it.”
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, the son of Captaintreacherous-Acquavella pushed his lifetime earnings to $137,616 for Brittany Farms, Brad Grant, Vincent Barbera and Captain Ahab Racing.
Post positions for next Saturday's $890,000 Metro Pace final were drawn following the eliminations. Captain Ahab and Stag Party earned their connections the right to select their post.
Here is the field for the September 22 rich final.
1. Better Up
2. Semi Tough
3. Stag Party
4. Captain Ahab
5. Shake That House
6. Buddy Hill
7. Goldberg
8. Lyons Night Hawk
9. Lyons Johnnyjnr
10. De Los Cielos Deo
AE: Captain Crunch