Heavy favorite takes new mark in $150,000 NJ Classic

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Captain Optimistic (Captaintreacherous) and driver Yannick Gingras, along with Arbitrage Hanover (Bettor’s Wish) and harness racing driver Todd McCarthy, won their $150,000 New Jersey Classic Finals for 2- and 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, respectively, at The Meadowlands on Friday night (Sept. 6).

Captain Optimistic, the prohibitive favorite at 1-9, floated off the gate and followed Tom Horn through the first turn and into a :26.3 first quarter. Tom Horn moved to the lead and past Manolete into the backstretch, leaving Captain Optimistic on the outside.

First over and gliding, Gingras volleyed Captain Optimistic past Tom Horn and guided the field to the half in :55.1.

“I didn’t want to get to the lead,” Gingras said after the race, “but he felt great and I didn’t want to be stuck near the back.”

Todd McCarthy urged Manolete to challenge for the top again, passing Tom Horn and attempting to duel with Captain Optimistic as he clocked the 1:24.1 three-quarters. Captain Optimistic “responded well,” said Gingras after the race, as the pair easily dismissed the challenge with a :26 final panel to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:50.1, a personal best.

Manolete held second over a fast-closing Papis Pistol, who made up a lot of ground after being rough-gaited around the first turn and forced to retreat. Mccusker finished fourth.

CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC REPLAY

Nancy Takter trains Captain Optimistic, a 2-year-old out of the Art Official mare Cinamony. It was the fourth win in three first-season starts and it raised the colt’s earnings to $103,665.

“The equipment changes worked well,” Gingras said. “He was good in his mouth. He steered good and straight.”

Fair Winds Farm bred the colt owned by 3 Brothers Stables, Marvin Katz and Caviart Farms. The winner paid $2.20.

In the New Jersey Classic Final for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers, favorites Arbitrage Hanover and Wish You Well dominated around the two turns and against the six other sophomores, but gelding Arbitrage Hanover got the best of his major foe to win by a length in 1:50.2.

Longshot Swimwiththecurrent managed the top spot going into the first turn, but was quickly confronted by Arbitrage Hanover and Wish You Well heading to a :27.4 first panel. Wish You Well landed on the lead in the backstretch with all happy to sit behind him, all except Todd McCarthy. Undaunted by his foe, McCarthy took to the outside and reclaimed control past a :55.4 half.

Arbitrage Hanover remained on the muscle to three-quarters in 1:24.3 and continued with all four cylinders revving. McCarthy ghosted Wish You Well in the lane as Arbitrage Hanover won easily by a length in 1:50.2. Wish You Well settled for second and Swimwiththecurrent, the bettors’ third choice, completed the top three. Bettor Make A Wish, at 128-1, finished fourth.

ARBITRAGE HANOVER REPLAY

Trainer Brett Pelling said that Arbitrage Hanover “had some glitches at 2” but “we’re super happy how he’s come back [at 3]. We think he’s nice enough to race at 4,” Pelling said, noting that he won’t be entered in this year’s Breeders Crown.

Arbitrage Hanover is out of the Somebeachsomewhere mare Ana Hanover. Pelling Racing LLC, Rojan Stables and Bridle Path Stables LTD own Arbitrage Hanover, who paid $5.60 to win and raised his bankroll to $289,250.

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

by Frank Cotolo, for The Meadowlands