Captain Tate conquered new ground with his successful Truro Raceway debut on Friday, Sept. 25 making him the season's current winningest sophomore in North American harness racing for trainer/driver Walter Walker.
Owned by James MacInnis, Halifax, N.S., the Captain Crunch-Ginger Tree Nina colt took on older rivals once again, this time in Truro's $2,500 Winners Over Handicap Pace, and won for the 15th time this year.
Captain Tate took the lead from post four into the first turn and was immediately challenged by Like A Glove (Noah Whebby) through contested opening panels of :27 and :55.2. Captain Tate won that front-end battle as Like A Glove began to tire heading into the backstretch the final time, with Bronx Drifter (Carey Romeo) forced wide around the fading cover while the pocket-sitting mare Freaky Fanny (Darren Crowe) broke stride. Meanwhile, Captain Tate stole a 30-second breather before facing his next challenger, the 6-5 favourite Bettor On Than Off (Robert Laffin).
A winner in his last five starts in Truro's top overnight class, Bettor On Than Off charged three-wide from the backfield and collared the newcomer in the final turn but Captain Tate dug in down the stretch to win in 1:55 flat. He prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Bettor On Than Off and inside closer Fifth Estate (Ernie Laffin), who finished with a broken head pole.
Competing at Inverness Raceway for the majority of his career, Captain Tate has won 15 of his 20 starts this year after a winless five-race rookie campaign. In addition to Friday night's victory at Truro, his other victories away from home include back-to-back wins last month at Charlottetown Driving Park where he took his lifetime mark of 1:54.2.
Captain Tate paid $9.70 to win as the 7-2 third choice in the field of seven.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Truro Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)