Two big moves get Captain Fancy home

Harness racing driver Johnathan Ahle was able to ask Captain Fancy (Captaintreacherous) to make two big moves in the $12,000 Preferred-Handicap Pace at Freehold Raceway Saturday, January 14, 2023, and the five-year-old gelding responded with a big victory.

The 9^th race feature saw a real dogfight after the start of the race as Southwind Onyx (Vinnie Ginsburg) had the inside track, but Haggard and driver Brett Beckwith, wanted the front. Ginsburg would not give it up as they battled to the first quarter in :27.1.

The dogfight continued down the stretch the first time as Haggard had the lead on the outside at the half mile in :56.1, but as they hit the third turn, Ginsburg and Southwind Onyx was able to keep Haggard parked out.

Coming to the backstretch, race favorite Fizzing N (Jim Marohn, Jr.) came three-wide and quickly cleared the leaders who began to already fade and took command of the race by the three-quarters in 1:25.4. Also sweeping three-wide and clearing into second place was Captain Fancy and Ahle.

Those two then drew away from the field on the final turn and coming down the stretch, Captain Fancy was able to use a second move and collar Fizzing N, winning by one and one-quarter lengths in 1:55. Three In Heaven A (Austin Siegelman) was third.

CAPTAIN FANCY REPLAY

It was the second start and first win of the season for Captain Fancy. He is trained by Bruce Baker for owners Vincent Ali, Jr., Alma Iafelice and Ted Gewertz. He paid $8.80 to win.

Earlier on the program in the 6^th race trot, a $9,000 division of the American Harness Drivers Club, Winneress (Credit Winner) and amateur driver Tony Verruso needed every inch of racetrack to win by a neck.

Fusion Power (Paul Minore) went right to the early lead with My Big Kadillac (Mike Polansky) sitting the two-hole trip and Grafenberg (Joe Faraldo) parked out first-over in third with no place to go. The first quarter was :28.3.

They raced that way to the half mile marker in :59.3 as Tony Verruso came second-over with the 2-1 race favorite Winneress. On the third turn, Verruso took Winneress three-wide and by the three-quarters in 1:30.3, was in second place.

As they started down the stretch, Fusion Power dug in for Minore, but it wasn’t enough as Winneress just got by at the wire to win by a slim neck in 2:02. Dark Pool (Tony Beltrami) was third.

WINNERESS REPLAY

Also, the first win in two starts this year, Winneress is trained by Symon Spicer and is owned by Tony Verruso. He paid $6.40 to win.

For complete race results, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink