Delaware County Fair: Im Your Captain successfully navigates traffic in Old Oaken Bucket

Im Your Captain came with a late rush on the far outside to get up and win the $111,075 Old Oaken Bucket for sophomore trotting colts and geldings on Thursday afternoon at the Delaware County Fair.

Driven by Andy Miller, Im Your Captain had a pocket trip behind Treasured Tee (Trevor Henry) through fractions of 28, 57 4/5, and 1:26 1/5, but looked to be in trouble when he got locked in by a first-up Hill Street (Yannick Gingras) and a second-over Maxus (Jimmy Takter) as they raced in the backstretch for the final time. Miller was able to deftly back Im Your Captain out of the box on the final bend, though, and set up a wide rally for the stretch drive as Hill Street forged his way by Treasured Tee.

It looked like Hill Street was home-free after he made front, but Im Your Captain gained with every stride after being fed clear racetrack, and he was able to get there in the last stride, winning by a nose in 1:55 2/5. Hill Street had to settle for second, and Maxus was third.

"He was loaded the whole way," remarked Miller. "I thought Trevor's horse would have a little more go than he did, but he came up pretty empty. I had Yannick and Jimmy outside of me, so I was kind of in a tough spot there around the last turn. When I got him out in the middle of the racetrack in the lane he just took off."

Julie Miller trains Im Your Captain, a Muscle Hill colt, for breeder/co-owner Black Horse Racing and co-owner Andy Miller Stable Inc. This was Im Your Captain's seventh career win, and he has now earned $170,927. The 7-5 favorite, Im Your Captain paid $4.80 to win.