After weeks of eye-catching rallies but few visits to the winner’s circle, driver Jody Jamieson put Captains Quarters at front mast and sailed to a gutsy victory in the $970,000 Metro Pace for two-year-olds on Saturday night (Sept. 23) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Clever Cody (Sylvain Filion) cleared control to a :27.1 first quarter with Captain Luke (Yannick Gingras) securing the pocket. Jamieson rolled Captains Quarters and landed in fourth to the backstretch, but the colt swiftly angled out and charged for the top well before a :55.1 half.
Legendary Hanover (James MacDonald), the 4-5 favourite, raced fifth before pulling first-over to make his challenge for the lead through the final turn. Jamieson uncorked a high-octane third quarter with Captains Quarters to clock that station in 1:22.1 and strung Legendary Hanover for the stretch drive. Legendary Hanover kept trying to push forward while Clever Cody pleaded for room from the pocket, but Jamieson kept Captains Quarters strong to score in 1:49.3 by a half-length. Legendary Hanover finished second with Clever Cody third and Captain Luke fourth.
“[Trainer Herb Holland] wanted me to teach the horse to race long before he ever got a chance to stretch his legs,” said Jamieson, who won the Metro Pace for a second straight year after a pocket-popping score in 2022 with Stockade Seelster. “And last week [in his elimination] -- everyone saw him last week -- he was in an impossible spot, wasn’t a great drive and got to shake loose in :25.2… horses just don’t do that every day. He goes when you ask him; he’s an amazing horse.”
Captains Quarters won the Metro Pace in his fifth start, the victory his second lifetime. Herbert Holland conditions the winner of $525,904 for owner Rich Stiles.
“It’s pretty awesome [to be here],” said Holland, who won his first Metro Pace. “I’ll probably sleep better tonight than if he didn’t hit the board.”
Sent off as the third choice at 5-2, Captains Quarters paid $7.30 to win.
Bred by James Avritt, the $235,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase last fall is a son of 2012 Metro Pace winner Captaintreacherous out of 2018 Shes A Great Lady Stakes runner-up Prescient Beauty.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(With files from Woodbine)