The Meadows: Quick turnaround no issue for Im Your Captain in Keystone Classic

Im Your Captain converted a lengthy quarter-pole move to victory in 1:53 4/5, the fastest clocking in Monday’s $78,698 Keystone Classic at The Meadows. The stake for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters was contested over three divisions, with Mississippi Storm and Make It A Double taking the other divisions. Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller made it a double, indeed, with Im Your Captain and Make It A Double.

Im Your Captain entered the Keystone Classic off a victory in the Old Oaken Bucket at Delaware, and Miller drove him as if he were the best, launching that quarter-pole move from fourth.

“I thought he was as good as anything in there,” Miller said, “and I just didn’t want to rush him out of the gate and make a mistake. So I just moved him up the front side, and he did the rest. He finished with his earplugs in and kind of coasted. I just kept him to his task.”

The son of Muscle Hill-Frisky Strike drew off late to down Jackie’s Jim by 3 3/4 lengths, with Meadowbranch Ricky third. Andy Miller Stable and Black Horse Racing campaign Im Your Captain, who boosted his career bankroll to $128,373.

Mississippi Storm also entered the Keystone Classic off a strong performance — a victory in a Liberty Bell split — and he had little trouble muscling to the early lead and scoring in 1:54 2/5, a life mark. The pocket-sitting Mr Contestant was second, two lengths back, while Rich And Miserable rallied for show.

“I’d never driven him before, so I didn’t know what to expect,” said winning driver Jim Pantaleano. “He was very handy. I kicked out the plugs at the head of the stretch, and he still had plenty left. I was happily surprised.”

Ton Fanning conditions the Cantab Hall-Mississippi Beauty gelding, who now has banked $153,908 for Joseph Smith.

Make It A Double stretched out 3-5 favorite Scirocco Rob before yielding to the pocket. That might have been the decisive move, as the Donato Hanover-Dodger Blues gelding overtook Scirocco Rob near the wire and defeated him by a length in 1:54 3/5. Stonebridge Gamble completed the ticket.

“I was stuck between horses, and I wanted a two-hole trip, so I kept going,” Miller said. “I had to use my horse and make the favorite work a little to get where I wanted to be. The horse trotted good late.”

Make It A Double lifted his lifetime earnings to $94,011 for Andy Miller Stable, Jason Allen and Douglas Allen. Miller indicated Im Your Captain and Make It A Double would be pointed to the Simpson for their final starts this year.

--press release (The Meadows)--