Delaware County Fair: Captain Barbossa hoists his flag over the Little Brown Jug

Captain Barbossa, plagued by bad draws and/or tough trips in big races this year, performed well in his $111,800 Little Brown Jug elimination for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Thursday afternoon at the Delaware County Fair, rallying to finish second, and then pounced on a tired leader from first-over in the $335,400 final to prevail in a career-best 1:49 1/5. It was the first win in the event for both driver Joe Bongiorno, who celebrated his 27th birthday yesterday, and for trainer Tony Alagna.

The stage was set for the final with a pair of eliminations. Favorite Catch The Fire (Mike Wilder) won the opener from first-over in 1:49 3/5 over pace-setter Seeyou At Thebeach (Dexter Dunn), Later Dudes (David Miller), and Genius Man (Marcus Miller). In the other one, Sandbetweenmytoes (Scott Zeron) also stopped the timer in 1:49 3/5 after an eye-catching three-wide brush in the backstretch that turned into a two-wide push past Capt Midnight (Dunn) on the last turn and into the lane. Captain Barbossa and Bongiorno rallied home in 27 3/5 to go from fifth to second, followed by Capt Midnight and Cattlewash (D. Miller).

Catch The Fire drew post one for the final and Sandbetweenmytoes was next to him in post two. Seeyou At Thebeach got the three, Captain Barbossa the four, and going further out it was Later Dudes, Capt Midnight, Genius Man, and Cattlewash. Capt Midnight would be scratched, leaving a group of seven to go after the Little Brown Jug trophy.

Both Catch The Fire and Sandbetweenmytoes pushed away hard from the gate in the final, and when Seeyou At Thebeach didn't have the best beginning, it allowed Captain Barbossa and a leaving Cattlewash to slide down in front of him into third and fourth, respectively. With as fast as they were going, Sandbetweenmytoes put him some steps on the first turn, but he got his mind back on business and worked his way by Catch The Fire after a 26 second opening quarter.

The pace remained fast after that, with the half being reached in 53 3/5, and Captain Barbossa was out and moving first-over prior to that marker, with Cattlewash latching on to the cover. Captain Barbossa advanced steadily two-wide after pulling and joined Sandbetweenmytoes as they raced in the backstretch for the final time, then was able to sustain the brush to take over the lead just beyond the 1:21 2/5 three-quarters.

After he secured the front, Captain Barbossa gained separation on the rest of the group around the far turn, and through the lane there was no catching him, as Bongiorno kept Captain Barbossa to his task en route to a 1 1/2 length victory. Cattlewash finished in second after being left first-over when Captain Barbossa became the new leader, and an Catch The Fire, who wound up boxed in behind Sandbetweenmytoes, had to settle for third. Sandbetweenmytoes held fourth, and Seeyou At Thebeach came in fifth.

"My horse had the most pace finishing in the second elimination there, and I just thought it was going to be a good spot," Bongiorno said about his confidence level heading into the final. "Obviously I was hoping Scotty's horse drew the rail, and I was hoping I drew the three, but when it came out we were 2 and 4. Being able to sneak around Dexter when the gate sprung, I saw his horse was fumbly-gaited, I think that was basically the winning move.

"I was able to keep the tempo going. I closed the hole coming out of the first turn, made Scotty keep going, which pushed the tempo, and I knew being first-over was going to be the spot to be at that point with a fast half of 53 and a piece."

Bongiorno was second in yesterday's Jugette final with New Year and then won the Little Brown Jug today, so it was quite the two days for the birthday boy.

"There are really no words to describe it. The last couple days have been a dream come true," he remarked. "Being second yesterday in the Jugette, just getting lucky and being in the right place at the right time, and today I can't thank Tony and his owners enough trusting me with this horse."

Alagna trains Captain Barbossa, a gelding by Captaintreacherous, for owners Robert Leblanc, David Anderson, and Alagnafrankinthegym Stable. Bred by Lima, Ohio, bred Steiner Stock Farm, this was Captain Barbossa's first victory of 2020 and his fourth overall. He has earned $414,288 lifetime, and he paid $15.00 to win as a 6-1 shot in the final.

"He'll go to Lexington. He's supposed to race the first week, but after going two heats today, I'm not sure if we'll do that or not. We didn't make him eligible the second week, but he's got the Matron, the Progress, and the Breeders Crown from here on out," said Alagna. "He's been a really hard-luck horse this year. He's drawn a lot of bad posts - nine-hole in the Meadowlands Pace, and he finally gets his due."

Alagna has taken a bunch of shots at winning the Little Brown Jug, even having a chance at the Triple Crown with Stay Hungry a couple of years back, and his perseverance was rewarded today.

"We bring horses. I bring at least two or three horses every year. We love the hospitality, the way we're treated, and the fans," he said. "We hate that the fans aren't here this year, but the backbone of the racing is here, and we want to be here to represent it."