Meadowlands: Captain Crunch, Bettor's Wish deliver as favorites in Pace eliminations

Captain Crunch hardly worked up a sweat in capturing the first of two $50,000 eliminations for the Crawford Farms Meadowlands Pace at the Meadowlands on Saturday night. With regular pilot Scott Zeron in the bike, Captain Crunch scored quite handily in a 1:48 3/5 clocking, turning back second choice Workin Ona Mystery confidently.

Captain Ahab blasted to the front early for Andrew McCarthy and cut the quarter in 27 1/5 before being overtaken by Workin Ona Mystery with Tim Tetrick past that call. Zeron wasted little time after that, moving Captain Crunch to the front by the first three-eighths point and cruised to the half in 55 2/5. Zeron kept up a healthy clip, pacing three-quarters in 1:22 4/5 without a challenge. In the homestretch trainer Nancy Johansson's Captain Crunch shifted gears and left the pocket-sitting Workin On A Mystery in the dust.

By late stretch Zeron eased up, and Workin On A Mystery closed ground, but couldn't pass. U S Captain held off his stablemate Captain Ahab in the third-place photo, with Reigning Deo the final qualifier.

"I just wanted to be relaxed and have him relaxed," said Zeron following the race. "Once I saw the quarter in 27 1/5 I felt good."

"His plugs were still in. He was perfect," said Johansson following the victory.

Owned by 3 Brothers Stable, Christina Takter, Rojan Stable, and Caviart Farms, Captain Crunch won for the fourth time in five starts as a sophomore. The top four finishers were from the sensational first crop of Captaintreacherous. Captain Crunch returned $3.60 to win.

North America Cup runner-up Bettor's Wish secured his spot in the Meadowlands Pace final with an authoritative 1:49 1/5 score in the second elimination. Driver Dexter Dunn played it coolly early, leaving but allowing Best In Show and Hurrikane Emperor to exchange the lead through a 27 second first quarter before hustling to the front. Dunn carved out soft middle-half fractions as Love Me Some Lou couldn't reach the leader through a half in 55 3/5 and three-quarters in 1:23 2/5.

Dunn didn't wait for company at headstretch, and once he called on Bettor's Wish, the Bettor's Delight-sired colt opened up quickly on Hurrikane Emperor and won with a snappy 25 4/5 final quarter. Best In Show rallied inside late for the place spot, with Hurrikane Emperor third. Captain Trevor rallied gamely for fourth, with Escapetothebeach scooting up the pylons for the final qualifying spot.

Sent off as the 1-2 favorite, Bettor's Wish returned $3.00. Chris Ryder trains Bettor's Wish, now a winner in five of six starts as a sophomore, all with Dunn in the bike.

"I think we're in a good spot," said Ryder about next Saturday's final. "I think we're dangerous."

"He gives 100 percent every time," said Dunn of Bettor's Wish.

Ryder, Bella Racing, Fair Island Farm, and Ken Solomon share ownership in Bettor's Wish.

Here is how the group will line up behind the gate for next Saturday night's $682,000 final:

1-Captain Crunch
2-Escapetothebeach
3-Captain Ahab
4-Bettor's Wish
5-Hurrikane Emperor
6-Reigning Deo
7-Best In Show
8-U S Captain
9-Workin Ona Mystery
10-Captain Trevor