Meadowlands: Captaintreacherous is on track to race in the TVG Championship

Barring some unforeseen circumstances, when the Meadowlands hosts the $500,000 TVG Free-For-All championship on November 30, Captaintreacherous will be on hand to tackle the best older pacers in the sport.

Myron Bell, racing manager for the ownership group Captaintreacherous Racing, confirmed the plans on Tuesday (November 12) morning.

“The plan all along was if he had a great year we would go against aged horses on November 30,” said Bell. “He jogged really well this morning. As long as he continues to jog well and is healthy, we are going.”

Captaintreacherous, the leading 3-year-old pacer in North America, is coming off a gutsy half-length win in the $256,000 American-National at Balmoral on Saturday (Nov. 9). Going forward, “The Captain” is expected to either qualify or have a public workout on November 21 at the Meadowlands in preparation for one of the most anticipated matchups of the year.

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If all goes off without a hitch, Captaintreacherous will face off against Pet Rock and Foiled Again, the divisional leaders in the older pacing ranks. Unlike in Thoroughbred racing, where the best 3-year-olds meet up with older foes annually in the Breeder’s Cup Classic, top sophomores rarely face off against their elders in today’s harness world.

“I think it will be the most hyped race since Cam Fella and It’s Fritz,” said Bell, referring to the 1983 Summer Championship matchup at the Meadowlands where Cam Fella gave up the lead on the final turn and came back to win.

Captaintreacherous has earned $2,055,033 in 2013 while winning 13 of 15 races for trainer Tony Alagna. The TVG FFA is scheduled to be his final race of the year but not the end of the road. Bell reiterated that the colt, barring misfortune, will return next year.

“We are proud to race him as a 4-year-old,” said Bell.

With a brand new $90 million-plus grandstand set to open on November 23, the Meadowlands will play host to one of the more memorable nights of racing on November 30. Seven stakes races worth approximately $3 million in purses will be offered on the card.