Captain Nemo sets sail in feature romp

Captain Nemo grabbed the lead early in the Monticello Raceway harness racing feature pace on Friday and made himself uncatchable from there as he stormed away to a big win.

Starting with rail position, driver Cory Stratton allowed Beach Blogger (Michael Merton) and Rockin The Arena (Greg Merton) to leave quicker and take the initial lead, but he pulled Captain Nemo to the outside immediately as the latter cleared and vaulted past. Captain Nemo led by the quarter mile marker in :28.2.

Stratton managed mild middle panels of :58.3 and 1:27.3 for the stallion who began to create a gap as the field of six entered the home turn. The four-year-old opened up on his rivals in the final quarter and soared to the finish for a five-length 1:56.1 victory.

Father Fred (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) made up three and a half lengths in the stretch to dead heat with Rockin The Arena for place. The winner’s dominance aligned with his $2.10 win price.

CAPTAIN NEMO REPLAY

Frank Yanoti trains Captain Nemo, a son of Captaintreacherous, for Twin Bridge Racing LLC of Monticello. The horse is now a three-time winner from 10 lifetime starts, and he has now earned more than $90,000. He placed in both the $50,000 Dream Maker Final and the Nassagaweya Stakes as a two-year-old but raced three times at three and was sold to his current owners on Jan. 18, 2021.

Stratton and Jim Devaux were the most successful reinsmen of the afternoon with two wins each. Michael Merton still tops the drivers’ standings with 102 wins this season.

Also on the card, Twin B Impressive, a 12-year-old gelding with more than $625,000 in earnings and 277 starts captured his first victory of the season as he went wire-to-wire in race two with Stratton in the bike. The horse, a gelding by Bettors Delight, is trained by Joseph Cordisco for owners Holly Cordisco of Binghamton and Wade Kooiman of Lisle.

Rock On Lou is beginning a hot streak. In the third race, the four-year-old Sweet Lou gelding made his third trip to the winner’s circle in as many appearances. He’s owned by Diane Giuliano of Solebury and conditioned by Keith Haase.

That card completed Monticello Raceway’s live racing week. The oval will see action again on Monday, Jun. 7 when it hosts eight dashes.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink