Pocono: Captain Corey stars in Beal Memorial, vaults past $1 million mark

Captain Corey won the $300,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial for 3-year-old trotters on Saturday afternoon at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono in his first start since capturing the Hambletonian on Aug. 7. Captain Corey won by 1 3/4 lengths over stablemate Johan Palema in 1:51, with Take All Comers finishing third.

In the Beal Memorial, Captain Corey sat behind an early duel for the front between Take All Comers and Johan Palema, with the latter leading to the first quarter in 26 4/5. From there, Captain Corey took over, reaching the half in 55 3/5 and three-quarters in 1:23 4/5 on his way to victory.

"It's easy to drive when you drive a horse like him," trainer-driver Ake Svanstedt said about Captain Corey. "He's a really smart horse. I think that's the reason good horses are good; they are smart. And they like to race."

Captain Corey has won four of six races this year and nine of 13 in his career. He pushed his lifetime earnings to $1.06 million with his Beal triumph.

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The colt is owned by S R F Stable, Knutsson Trotting Inc., Midnight Sun Partners Inc., and Ake Svanstedt Inc. The son of Googoo Gaagaa-Luv U All was bred by Carter Duer.

Captain Corey paid $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favorite.

$200,000 EARL BEAL JR. MEMORIAL CONSOLATION

The Ake Svanstedt stable took the top two spots in the $200,000 Earl Beal Jr. Memorial consolation, with Fly Light finishing three-quarters of a length ahead of Capstone in 1:52. Magical Muscle Man finished third. Dexter Dunn drove Fly Light (Father Patrick-Hustle Heart) for owners Ake Svanstedt Inc. and Stable Why Not. The gelding was bred by Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. He picked up his first win in five races this year and second in 13 starts lifetime. He has earned $248,271.