Pocono: Captain Albano captures Always B Miki Invitational Pace

Captain Albano and driver Todd McCarthy went to the front and never looked back, winning Saturday's $100,000 Grade 3 Always B Miki Invitational by a half-length over Coaches Corner in 1:48 2/5 at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. Ken Hanover finished third.

Captain Albano set fractions of 26, 55 1/5 and 1:21 4/5 as he snapped a string of three consecutive fourth-place finishes, all by less than three lengths, in the Sam McKee Memorial, William R. Haughton Memorial and Graduate Series final. Prior to that, the 4-year-old stallion won a Graduate leg and was second by a nose in another.

A Dan Patch Award winner at ages 2 and 3 for trainer Noel Daley, Captain Albano has won 21 of 33 career races and earned $1.71 million.

"His last start (in the McKee) was probably his only disappointing one," winning driver Todd McCarthy said. "We were kind of baffled by it. Every other start, I've been really happy with him coming back so far. Full credit to Noel, he had him back spot-on today. That was a pretty big mile for him today, and he did it well."

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McCarthy was happy to let Captain Albano do all the work on the front Saturday.

"I was going to leave it up to him and see how he felt to me," said McCarthy, who won the Always B Miki for the fourth time. "When he feels good, he takes hold of the bit and wants to go. That's what he did for me today, and I was happy to go with him.

"He's one of those horses that continues to get better throughout the season. Hopefully, this is a good turning point for us, and we can go onwards and upwards from here."

Captain Albano is owned by Patricia Stable, LA Express & Sjoblom Inc., Sjoblom Racing, and Michael Dolan. The son of Captaintreacherous-Angelou was bred by Frederick Hertrich III.

Sent off as the 5-2 second choice, Captain Albano paid $7.40 to win.