My Captain wins Finley sprint

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - My Captain ($8.20) allowed Trickey Trevor to win the pace duel, then pulled away down the lane to capture the $45,090 Ernest Finley Handicap at the Sonoma County Fair on Thursday.

My Captain was a length behind Trickey Trevor through a 21.95 opening quarter. He pulled within a head after a 44.09 half mile. He opened up in the lane, defeating late-closing Texas Chili by two lengths in 1:08.45 for six furlongs.

"That's just what the boss wanted," winning rider Francisco Duran said. "He said sit as long as you can then just let him go on."

My Captain, who has been troubled by quarter cracks, drew the outside post and had everything go right in the race.

"He turns 100 Beyers when things go right," said Steve Sherman, who saddled the 4-year-old colt for his father, Art. "It was a team effort from the blacksmith and groom to the jockey.

"I'd like to see a little more consistency from the colt, but I've seen him make some brilliant runs. A lot of the consistency problems have to do with his bad feet, but, hopefully, that's over."

My Captain, a Conquistador Cielo homebred for Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss, earned $23,150 to lift his lifetime earnings to $140,180 with four victories in 18 starts.