Captain Bombastic surprises in Polynesian Stakes as Asmussen, Lynch have solid day
Captain Bombastic gave Steve Asmussen and Feargal Lynch their second stakes victory on Saturday’s Laurel Park card when he upset the $100,000 Polynesian Stakes at a one-turn mile over a fast main track.
One race prior, the trainer-jockey combination won the Grade 3, $200,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash when Jalen Journey was placed first via disqualification.
Dismissed as the longest shot on the tote board in the six-horse Polynesian, Captain Bombastic settled in third along the inside as Roadster, winless since the 2019 Santa Anita Derby, set an opening quarter fraction of 23.68 seconds.
Roadster’s rider, Mike Smith, opted to remain well off the rail on the backstretch and Lynch shot the gap to pressure the leader through a half-mile in 47.05 and six furlongs in 1:11.46. Captain Bombastic had Roadster off the bridle in midstretch and had enough left in the tank to dismiss Cordmaker’s late bid.
Captain Bombastic finished the distance in 1:36.11 while a length better than Cordmaker. It was another two lengths back to wide-rallying Phat Man in third. Roadster faded to fourth and was followed by McElmore Avenue and Alwaysmining. Captain Bombastic paid $22.60 to Win.
Cordmaker was disqualified from second and placed last after it was ruled that he impeded Alwaysmining at the three-sixteenths pole.
A 4-year-old colt by Forty Tales owned by Team Hanley, Captain Bombastic won three stakes against fellow New York-breds when trained by Jeremiah Englehart earlier in his career. The Polynesian was his second start for Asmussen and his first victory against open company. Before switching to the Asmussen barn, he raced twice earlier this year for Chad Brown.
“We gave him a little bit of a break and lightened up on him and he came back around,” assistant trainer Toby Sheets said in a post-race interview broadcast by Laurel Park.
An $80,000 juvenile purchase, Captain Bombastic is a half-brother to multiple Grade 2 winner Highway Star.
*Weathervane
Heavily favored Hello Beautiful notched her seventh stakes victory when she dominated four overmatched rivals in the $100,000 Weathervane for fillies and mares at six furlongs.
Trained by Brittany Russell, Hello Beautiful seemed a bit obstinate behind the starting gate and forced jockey Jevian Toledo to briefly dismount.
Once the gates opened, however, Hello Beautiful was all business. She strutted to a clear lead under Toledo, who was substituting for the injured Sheldon Russell, controlled the pace racing along the rail through fractions of 22.37 and 45.32, and strolled home to complete the distance in 1:09.56.
It was 10 1/4 lengths back to Coconut Cake in second. They were followed by Never Enough Time, Praise and Honor, and Fifteen Royals. Hello Beautiful paid $2.40 to win.
"She ran huge," Brittany Russell said in a post-race interview broadcast by Laurel Park. "She loves Laurel. It's a new racetrack and she obviously had no issues."
A 4-year-old daughter of Golden Lad, Hello Beautiful has won nine of 17 starts with earnings over $500,000. Bred in Maryland by Hillwood Stables, she is a half-sister to stakes winner Hello Hot Rod.
Russell mentioned the $100,000 Maryland Million Distaff on Oct. 23 as a potential next start for Hello Beautiful. The Distaff is a seven-furlong sprint for Maryland-bred or -sired fillies and mares.
*Twixt
It took every step of the long stretch to the second wire finish but favored Dreamalildreamofu got her head down in the nick of time to deny Artful Splatter in a thrilling $100,000 Twixt for fillies and mares at one mile.
A 4-year-old daughter of Commissioner owned by Full of Run Racing and Madaket Stable, Dreamalildreamofu broke well under Toledo and settled in second behind loose pacesetter Artful Splatter. That mare carved out splits of 23.45, 46,25 and 1:10.76 and turned for home in front by three lengths.
Despite flashing her tail in the stretch, Dreamalildreamofu slowly cut into the margin and passed Artful Splatter in the shadow of the wire. Artful Splatter was 3/4 lengths better than third-place finisher Josie. Miss Leslie, So Darn Hot, Lookin Dynamic, Off Topic, and Villanelle completed the field. Dreamalildreamofu raced the eight furlongs in 1:36.28 and paid $6.20 to Win.
"I kept my filly intentionally behind her [Artful Splatter]," Toledo said in a post-race interview broadcast by Laurel Park. "I know she's a nice filly. When I asked her, she responded, and she got it done."
This was Dreamalildreamofu's second trip to Maryland. Based in Kentucky for trainer Brad Cox, she was runner-up in the Grade 3 Allaire du Pont at Pimlico on May 14 before finishing third over polytrack in the Grade 3 Chicago at Arlington on June 26. In her final start before the Twixt, Dreamalildreamofu finished a troubled 11th of 12 in the Groupie Doll Stakes at Ellis Park.
A $15,000 yearling purchase that resold for $65,000 the following spring, Dreamalildreamofu is out of stakes-placed turf miler Dreamed to Dream. She previously captured the Latonia Stakes over Turfway Park's polytrack surface on March 27.