Captain Crunch, last season’s two-year-old pacing colt of the year in the U.S., is now set to make his 2019 debut.
Captain Crunch will compete in one of three Pennsylvania Sire Stakes races for three-year-old male pacers that will head postward this coming Sunday night (May 19) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono. The dashes have been carded as Race 9, 10 and 11.
Captain Crunch is a Captaintreacherous colt trained by Nancy Johansson for the 3 Brothers Stables, Christina Takter, the Rojan Stables, and Caviart Farms. In 2018, Captain Crunch won six of ten starts, including the Breeders Crown and Governor’s Cup en route to divisional honours. Captain Crunch has recorded a pair of qualifying wins this season – one of which was clocked in 1:50.1 – while prepping for his 2019 campaign.
Captain Crunch and pilot Scott Zeron have drawn Post 3 for the second of Sunday’s three splits, each of which will house a field of nine. It appears as though Captain Crunch will face a real challenge in his Sunday assignment, as many highly-touted three-year-olds have also drawn into his division.
One of the foes that Captain Crunch is set to face is Proof (PP8, David Miller), who finished second behind Captain Crunch in last year’s Breeders Crown and was the 2018 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes champion. Poof finished a solid second in the PASS season opener at the Meadows, which was also Poof’s first pari-mutuel start of 2019.
Southwind Ozzi (PP1, Tim Tetrick), who defeated Poof in 1:50.4 in the aforementioned PASS season opener, is also set to face Captain Crunch on Sunday. Lyons Night Hawk (PP5, Tim Tetrick), who was just edged in 1:50.1 in a PA All-Stars event in his seasonal bow, will also contest the split. Prince Of Tides (PP2, Eric Carlson), who was a 1:49.4 winner of the Wiggle It Jiggleit final at the Meadowlands Racetrack, will also be in the fray.
The first division will feature Major Deception (PP1, Tim Tetrick), Wild Wild Western (PP2, Mike Wilder) and Aflame Hanover (PP8, Tony Schadel) among others, while the third division will feature recent sharp PASS winners Workin On A Mystery (PP2, Tim Tetrick) and Love Me Some Lou (PP8, David Miller).
Additionally, four Pennsylvania Stallion Series divisions will head postward Sunday at Pocono, which will feature Captain Koine, Skip To My Lou, Under Paid and Captain Panko.
First post for Sunday’s 14-race card is set for 7 p.m.
(With files from PHHA / Pocono)