Meadowlands: Chalky beginning to Graduate Series

Captain Barbossa won just once during his sophomore season in 2020, capturing the Little Brown Jug, but on Saturday he won his second straight start as a 4-year-old, setting a career-best 1:48 4/5 clocking in capturing the first of two $50,000 divisions in the first leg of the Graduate Series at the Meadowlands.

Dexter Dunn was in the bike, and he drove the son of Captaintreacherous rather coolly as the 3-5 betting favorite, sitting out the first half as Tattoo Artist (Todd McCarthy), Splash Brother (Mark MacDonald) and eventually Poseidon Seelster (George Brennan) would take turns on the lead through a 26 4/5 opening quarter. Brennan had Poseidon Seelster in command before the 54 1/5 opening half and that's when Dunn moved Captain Barbossa to the outside. However, Brennan put Poseidon Seelster into overdrive on the final turn and gained separation from his rivals, sprinting a 27 3/5 panel while Captain Barbossa appeared stalled on the rim without cover.

The complexion of the race changed radically in mid-stretch as Captain Barbossa shifted into high gear and devoured the leaders with a blistering rally. Poseidon Seelster was able to hold for second, with Splash Brother and Tattoo Artist following them home.

Trained by Tony Alagna, Captain Barbossa is owned by Robert Leblanc, David Anderson, and Alagnafrankinthegym Stable. As the heavy choice, Captain Barbossa returned $3.40 to win.

"He was doing his best on the turn, but we were struggling," said Dunn following the race. "His last 100 (meters) was his best. We were going pretty good."

Ruthless Hanover made his first star as a 4-year-old in the second $50,000 Graduate division and was impressive for driver Andrew McCarthy, cutting a large part of the 1:48 4/5 winning mile.

Warrawee Vital (Tim Tetrick) and Elver Hanover (Yannick Gingras) skirmished early for the lead, with Tetrick pushing Warrawee Vital to seize control and forcing Elver Hanover, Ruthless Hanover, and Beaumond Hanover (Doug McNair) to tuck in behind prior to the 27 2/5 opening quarter. McCarthy quickly moved Ruthless Hanover to the front past the quarter, and the altered son of Somebeachsomewhere hit the half in 55 3/5, a breather that made it near impossible for others to keep with him.

With Beaumond Hanover pulling past the half, Ruthless Hanover accelerated, sprinting a 27 1/5 third quarter on the final turn and losing Warrawee Vital into the homestretch. McCarthy kept Ruthless Hanover to his task and was rewarded with a final quarter of 26 seconds, keeping Warrawee Vital at bay rather easily. Chief Mate came up along the pylons for the show spot.

Owned by John Cancelliere and trained by his brother, Tom, Ruthless Hanover won for the seventh time in 13 career starts while equaling his career-best clocking as the $4.60 betting favorite.

"He's just waiting for horses to come to him," said McCarthy after the race. "He's quite exciting, this horse."

Indeed, Ruthless Hanover stamped himself as a force.

"He wasn't tired," McCarthy said. "It took me three-eighths of a mile to pull him up."