Perfect drive to win $525,000 Little Brown Jug

Captain Albano (Captaintreacherous) received a text book drive from Todd McCarthy and defeated a deep field of three-year-old pacers to capture the 79th edition of the Little Brown Jug, presented by the Ohio Harness Horseman’s Association, at the Delaware County Fairgrounds on Thursday evening (September 19).

When the field of eight was sent on their way in the $525,000 final, a four-wide battled ensued for the early lead.

When the early dust settled it was Captain’s Quarters (Jody Jamieson) who protected his rail spot, forcing Captain Albano into the two-hole and Total Stranger (Dan Noble) in third, leaving Mirage Hanover (Dexter Dunn) hung on the outside.

Captain’s Quarters continued to lead past the opening quarter in :27.2 and the half in :55.2.

As the field straightened down the backstretch for the final time, McCarthy moved Captain Albano out of the pocket to challenge the leader past the three-quarters in 1:22.4.

The eventual winner put a head in front midway around the final turn and sprinted home in :27.2 to score a three length win in 1:50.1.

CAPTAIN ALBANO FINAL REPLAY

Captain Albano gave the Australian natives McCarthy and veteran trainer Noel Daley their first Jug titles.

He is owned by the partnership of Patricia Stable, L A Express Stable, Sjoblom Racing and Matt Dolan.

“It’s just amazing, said co-owner Dolan. “Captain (Albano) has been a great horse all year, a lot of bad luck. He finally got to show what he could do. The horse is a great horse and I have great partners, they are like family.”

Captain Albano now has 15 wins in 22 career starts and is 8-for-13 this year.

The owners paid $150,000 for Captain Albano as a yearling and with his $287,500 Jug payday, his career earnings exceed $1.2 million.

He was bred by Frederick Hertrich III.

In the first elimination, McCarthy hustled Captain Albano out of post #5 and grabbed the early lead and was able to cruise to a 1:49.2 victory in gate-to-wire fashion.

The pocket sitting Captain Luke was 3 ½ lengths back in second. A hard charging Mirage Hanover was third and Huntingforchrome (Matt Kakaley) finished in the last advancing spot.

CAPTAIN ALBANO ELIM REPLAY

The Canadian invader Captain’s Quarters used his rail position and went gate-to-wire in the second $50,000 elimination in 1:51.3.

The 38-1 longshot Total Stranger made a valent effort in the stretch but came up a head short. The bettor’s choice, Legendary Hanover (James MacDonald) was forced three-wide at the three-quarter pole and edged Sweet Beach Life (Matt Kakaley) for third.

CAPTAIN’S QUARTERS ELIM REPLAY

Captain’s Quarters is trained by Herb Holland for owner Rich Stiles.

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

by Jay Wolf, for the Little Brown Jug