Captain Serious wins allowance off layoff

Captain Serious returned from a 75-day layoff with a sharp 4 1/4-length victory in a New York-bred allowance Thursday at Aqueduct.

After dueling with Bass River Road through a hot half-mile in 44.98 seconds, Captain Serious opened up a six-length lead in upper stretch and cruised home.

Captain Serious ran seven furlongs in 1:22.71 and earned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure, equaling his career best.

Captain Serious was making his first start since Jan. 18 and his first for Linda Rice, who was given the horse by owner Barry Schwartz while trainer Mike Hushion battles leukemia.

“I was very happy with Captain Serious yesterday,” Rice said Friday. “When I picked him up, I didn’t know how much training was in him, how fit he was. I was excited about the way he ran.”

Captain Serious now is 5 for 11, with all five of his victories coming against New York-breds. Options for Captain Serious include the $100,000 Affirmed Success Stakes at six furlongs May 3 at Belmont and/or the $200,000 Commentator Stakes at a mile May 25 at Belmont.

“He looks to me to be more of a seven-eighths- or a mile-type horse,” said Rice, who also trains the Grade 1 winning New York-bred sprinter Palace.

Saratoga Snacks, who finished third to Captain Serious, is likely to run in the Commentator, owner-trainer Gary Sciacca said.