Meadowlands: Captaintreacherous wins 2014 debut

The more things change, the more they stay the same. The calendar may say 2014, but fans saw a vintage 2013 effort from Captaintreacherous in the $100,000 Meadowlands Maturity on Friday night.

Making his 2014 debut, Captaintreacherous left away from the gate but settled in fifth early as a host of others flashed early speed to his inside. After the quarter in 26 seconds, Apprentice Hanover assumed the front from fellow leavers Word Power and Rockin Amadeus.

As the field cruised past the three-eighths marker, driver Tim Tetrick said GO with Captaintreacherous. The son of Somebeachsomewhere charged to the front with ease by the 54-second half-mile pole and set sail for three quarters with Sunfire Blue Chip edging closer.

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Three quarters was timed in 1:22 2/5 and Captaintreacherous had plenty of company at the head of the stretch. But Sunfire Blue Chip began to get rough and while the others loomed, they were no match for the 2013 Pacer of the Year in deep stretch. Stablemate Odds On Equuleus came the closest to “Captain” but once he saw the challenger he kicked into gear and coasted across the wire in 1:49 2/5 for the win.

Dovuto Hanover wound up third.

“He let’s them get awfully close and makes me nervous, but when he sees them he knows how to get to the wire,” said Tetrick, who added about the deep stretch challenge from Odds On Equuleus, “I knew we could go around three more times and I wouldn’t get beat.”

With the victory, Captaintreacherous ($3.80 to win) surpassed the $3 million mark in career earnings.

Captaintreacherous Racing owns the 4-year-old Tony Alagna trainee.