Harrah's Hoosier Park: Captain Optimistic earns millionaire status in Monument Circle

Captain Optimistic, who will join the stallion ranks in New Jersey next year, went over the $1 million mark in lifetime earnings by taking Friday night's $172,500 Monument Circle for 3-year-old male pacers on Friday night at Harrah's Hoosier Park.

With Scott Zeron at the controls, Captain Optimistic showed speed from post six and worked his way around Papi's Rocket (Yannick Gingras) to get to the front after a 26 2/5 quarter. Captain Optimistic would then get to the half in 55 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:22 3/5 as Swingtown (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) came with a first-over attack out of fourth that carried him into a joint second on the last turn.

In the lane Swingtown tired, which left Captain Optimistic and Papi's Rocket to decide the outcome, and Captain Optimistic's 27 1/5 final kicker got him to the wire a length and a half ahead of Papi's Rocket in a 1:49 4/5 mile. Railroad Station (David Miller), Rick Wink (Chris Page) and Swingtown rounded out the top five, which gave trainer Ron Burke the second- through fifth-place finishers.

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Nancy Takter trains Captain Optimistic, a Captaintreacherous colt bred by Fair Winds Farm, for owners 3 Brothers Stables, Marvin Katz, Caviart Farms and Deo Volente Farms. He has 12 wins, six seconds and five thirds from 28 appearances, has earned $1,024,527 and paid $3.60 to win as the 4-5 favorite.