Captain Albano coasts, Newsroom rebounds at Red Mile

LEXINGTON, Ky.— In their matchup last week Captain Albano (Captaintreacherous) snapped Newsroom’s (Always B Miki) unbeaten harness racing record.

With the pair escaping one another in Saturday’s (Oct. 7) $285,000 International Stallion Stakes at The Red Mile, Captain Albano and Newsroom posted the fastest victories of the four divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Captain Albano catapulted from off the speed to notch another victory going away in 1:50.1 to win in the opening International Stallion Stakes division for the frosh pacing colts and geldings.

Driver Todd McCarthy asserted Captain Albano into the pace through a :27 first quarter but yielded command to Total Stranger into the backstretch. Total Stranger then let a lively Cupid Shuffle dart from fourth to the lead through a :55.2 half as he keenly carried the field to the final turn.

Cupid Shuffle held a diminishing lead by three-quarters in 1:23.1 and turned for home under siege with Captain Albano charging strongest of all. McCarthy moved Captain Albano to the center of the track and zipped by to record a widening three-length victory over 37-1 shot Courtship closing for second. Cupid Shuffle held third from Steely Knife in fourth.

“We picked him out at Harrisburg and thought he was maybe on the small side, but he grew into himself and he’s been getting better every week,” co-owner Lou Manfredi, of L A Express Stable, said. “Hopefully he stays healthy until [Breeders Crown]. We plan on going.”

CAPTAIN ALBANO REPLAY

Winning his sixth race from seven starts, Captain Albano has now banked $275,680 for owners Patricia Stable, LA Express & Sjoblom Inc. and Michael Dolan. Noel Daley trains Captain Albano who paid $2.14 to win.

Handed his first loss in his career last week by Captain Albano, Newsroom returned to the winner’s circle with a game victory in the second frosh pacing colt and gelding dash.

Starting from the pylon post, Newsroom pushed for the lead to a :27.4 first quarter with Boston Rocks settling into the pocket and Lou Vuitton sitting third. Newsroom strolled to the half in :55.4 and to three-quarters in 1:23.3 and braved the crashing waters through the stretch to win in 1:50.1. Boston Rocks made an attack through a seam at the inside but was fended off by a neck. Lou Vuitton angled to the outside but was waded off by three-quarter lengths in third. Captain Luke kicked off a helmet late but was left in fourth.

NEWSROOM REPLAY

Newsroom has now won seven times from eight starts and earned $223,025 for owner Val D’Or Farms. Joe Holloway trains the colt who paid $3.26 to win.

Ron Burke scored a victory in the third division with Booming Economy (Captaintreacherous), a fresh acquisition who motored down the road to a 1:50.3 mile.

Booming Economy swept from post 6 to the top to a :27.3 first quarter with Nuclear sitting the pocket. Better Is Nice, the 2-5 favorite, sat fifth and waited to make his move through a :55.4 half, though picked up his speed to the turn as Booming Economy tried to sprint away.

Yannick Gingras slipped clear of his rivals to three-quarters in 1:23.3 and kept Booming Economy to task as he wandered through the lane. Nuclear mounted a bid to the inside that fell a head short at the beam while Better Is Nice settled for third. Icaco Hanover took fourth.

BOOMING ECONOMY REPLAY

Booming Economy competes for owner-breeders Howard Taylor, Chuck Pompey and Edwin Gold. He won his third race from seven starts, pushed his bankroll to $120,000 and paid $7.70 to win.

Cote Keim’s Captaintreacherous gelding Magnifico Hanover went another muy magnifique effort with a 1:51.1 pillar to post job in the final division for pacing colts and geldings.

Brian Sears sent Magnifico Hanover for the front to pocket 1-5 favorite Remember The Alamo through a :26.4 first quarter. No challenges came for Magnifico Hanover through the middle half, so he strolled through a clip of :56.3 and 1:25. Remember The Alamo tipped out of second as Ivy Park rushed along the rim through the final turn but Magnifico Hanover split away from his competition in the lane. Avenger Force gained ground to the inside to snag second from a flattened-out Remember The Alamo, beaten 2-3/4 lengths, with Number Cruncher taking fourth.

“He’s done everything we’ve asked so far,” Brian Sears said. “He’s a very smart horse and knows what he’s doing. [We] got a pretty slow second quarter – pretty good headwind right now, so he kind of made it his own way.”

MAGNIFICO REPLAY

Magnifico Hanover has now won four times from five tries and earned $102,625. Cote Keim trains the gelding who paid $8.12 to win.

Three of the four divisions for the $285,000 International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings went as “The Tall Dark Stranger” and were sponsored by the Tall Dark Stranger Syndicate and Hanover Shoe Farms. The other division went as “The All Bets Off” and was sponsored by Woodbine Mohawk Park.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile