Harrah's Philadelphia: Captain Albano wrestles away track record in PA Sire Stakes

Captain Albano lowered the track record for a 2-year-old male pacer at Harrah's Philadelphia to 1:50 in winning his $56,241 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes split on Sunday afternoon. The other divisions went to Booming Economy and Gem Quality.

Driven by Todd McCarthy, Captain Albano landed in the pocket behind Rose Run Zeke (Jeremy Indof) and kept close tabs on him through fast fractions of 26 1/5, 53 3/5 and 1:21. Rose Run Zeke lost the rest of the field in the quick tempo but couldn't get away from Captain Albano, who was brought to the outside late on the final bend and got up through the stretch drive to tally by three-quarters of a length. Zeppole Hanover (Corey Callahan) rallied from sixth to third in the final panel.

Noel Daley trains Captain Albano, a Captaintreacherous colt bred by Fred Hertrich III, for owners Patricia Stable, L A Express & Sjoblom Inc. and Michael Dolan. A $150,000 Standardbred Horse Sale purchase, Captain Albano has three wins and a second in four outings, has pocketed $70,180 and paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.

Indof went on a similar speed mission with Aintbluenomore back in the first flight, chopping out stations of 26, 55 and 1:22 2/5. Booming Economy (Tim Tetrick), who had gone first-up past the half, was able to wear down and clear Aintbluenomore past three-quarters, though, and then he drew off to prevail by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:50 4/5. Swifty Lazar was the runner-up and Aintbluenomore held on to get third.

Bred by owners Chuck Pompey, Howard Taylor and Edwin Gold, the Nancy Takter-trained Booming Economy has a record of 2-1-1 from four trips behind the gate, sent his earnings to $59,260 and returned $2.80 to win as the 2-5 favorite.

Solid Character (David Miller) was well-rated through a 28 2/5 quarter, 58 second half and 1:26 2/5 three-quarters in the second grouping, and he would battle with first-over Gem Quality (Callahan) through the final quarter. Solid Character was game and looked like he would hold on through the lane, but Gem Quality kept looming and inching in on the rim and got his nose in front at the finish line, scoring by a nose in 1:53 2/5. Lou's World (McCarthy) got up for third.

A colt from the first crop of Captain Crunch, Gem Quality hails from the Chris Ryder barn and was bred by co-owner Let It Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing. Brad Grant and Enviro Stables also co-own Gem Quality, who is three-for-three thus far to go with a bankroll of $59,360. He was sent off as the 1-5 choice and paid $2.60 to win.

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Tetrick also collected a pair of triumphs in $20,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series action, clicking with Syed Ali K (by Captain Crunch and bred by owner Anatolia Racing Stable) in 1:53 for trainer Jake Hartline and with Armada Hanover (by Stay Hungry and bred by Hanover Shoe Farms) in 1:54 for trainer Brett Pelling and owners David McDuffee, Rojan Stables and Pelling Racing.

Single Action, a Captain Crunch gelding, gave the McCarthy/Daley pairing a Stallion Series success in 1:52 1/5 and was also another victor for the breeder/co-owner combination of Let It Ride Stables and Bottom Line Racing. Howard Taylor also co-owns Single Action with Carl Howard.

Taylor also co-owns Hard To Catch, who bagged his Stallion Series section in 1:53 4/5 for driver Simon Allard and trainer Britney Dillon. William Hartt is the other owner of the Spring Haven Farm and Angie Stiller-bred Sweet Lou gelding.