Captaintreacherous colts dominate Governor’s Cup elims

Two $20,000 eliminations of the Governor’s Cup determined the nine rookie colt and gelding pacers that will contest next week’s lucrative final in Grand Circuit harness racing action at The Meadowlands Saturday night (November 18th).

In the first elimination, favored Captain Luke (Captaintreacherous) found needed racing room and angled out in mid-stretch in time to sail past Newsroom (Dave Miller) and go on to a maiden-breaking win.

Todd McCarthy was intent on making front early with Captain Luke and they zipped the opening quarter in :27.2 but two rivals were lurking on the outside looking to take over command. Total Stranger (Yannick Gingras) would take the lead and Newsroom (Dave Miller) aborted his bid for the front when the three-hole became available.

Total Stranger led past the half in an unstressed :56.0 but he would soon face a challenge from Newsroom who would pull first-over heading the three-quarter pole. That stage was reached in 1:24.2 with Newsroom pressing for the lead and Sudden Impact (Dexter Dunn) following cover which left Captain Luke suddenly locked in.

Newsroom eased past Total Stranger at the eighth pole with Captain Luke desperately searching for a way through. McCarthy angled Captain Luke three wide through a narrow opening and once he found daylight, he easily paced past Newsroom for a two-length win.

CAPTAIN LUKE REPLAY

Newsroom, Total Stranger and T H Tyson (Patrick Ryder), the second, third and fourth-place finishers, joined Captain Luke in next week’s $454,000 Final. Fifth-place finisher Noblesville (Tim Tetrick) also qualified for the final.
Despite entering the race as a maiden, Captain Luke was sent off as a slight favorite over Newsroom. He paid $5.10 to win.

The Tony Alagna trainee, who was beaten only two lengths in the $717,000 Metro Pace in the summer, boosted his earnings to more than $116,000 for owners Robert Leblanc of New York and Pryde Stables Inc. and Brad Grant, both of Ontario and Steve Head of Maryland.

The second elimination was won by another Captaintreacherous colt. Maxim Hanover was a brave first-over winner for Andy McCarthy in 1:52.0 as he stamped his ticket to the final.

Huntingforchrome (Joe Bongiorno) was sent on a speed mission from the widest post, and he touched down on the lead as he reached the opening quarter in 27.0, early leader Nuclear (Andy Miller) ceding command at that point with Fasnacht Hanover sitting third and Maxim Hanover content to race in fourth.

The leader stole a :29.3 third quarter breather as there was no movement in that second stanza. McCarthy would send Maxim Hanover first up and he made a gradual advance to the three quarters which was reached in 1:24.0, but he appeared to be spinning his wheels at that point, racing in tandem with pocket sitter Fasnacht Hanover, 1 1/2 lengths behind the leader.

But Maxim Hanover closed relentlessly down the lane to get past the leader and hold off the backfield, registering a neck win over late closing Wish You Well (Dave Miller) and hard luck Booming Economy (Yannick Gingras) who was roughed up early in the mile and did well to power up late for third, another neck back. Huntingforchrome held on for fourth and a spot in the final.

MAXIM HANOVER REPLAY

Maxim Hanover won for the fourth time in 11 starts and the Robert Cleary trainee raised his earnings to over $138,000 for owner Royal Wire Products Inc. of Ohio. He paid $10.20 to win.

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

by Garnet Barnsdale, for Harnesslink