Woodbine Mohawk Park: Alagna trifecta in Dream Maker Series final

Trainer Tony Alagna and sons of Captaintreacherous dominated the C$50,000 Dream Maker Series final for 2-year-old colt and gelding pacers on Monday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park as Alagna trainees Capt Midnight, Captain Nemo, and Captain Kirk finished first, second, and third. The final time of 1:49 4/5 was a stakes record.

Captain Nemo (Tim Tetrick) had the best speed away from the gate, and he would reach the opening quarter in 27 4/5 before being overtaken by race favorite Allywag Hanover (Sylvain Filion). Capt Midnight (Andrew McCarthy) was following Allywag Hanover and attempted to overtake him after he made front, but Filion said 'no way,' and forced McCarthy back into the pocket prior to the 54 3/5 half.

Allywag Hanover was still in charge at the 1:22 1/5 three-quarters, but Captain Nemo had made a move to the outside from third going to that station, and he would go by in the lane. Capt Midnight wasn't done, though, as he tipped two-wide behind his stablemate and then three-wide in the last eighth, and he would out-foot Captain Nemo to the wire, winning by a head. Captain Kirk, driven by Bob McClure, advanced from fifth to third in the last quarter.

"I had to race him a little harder this time," said McCarthy of the $350,000 Standardbred Horse Sale purchase. "I followed Sylvain hoping I could put my guy on the front tonight. He's such a big, long horse, and he just carries speed so easy I was hoping I could just send him down the road, but it didn't work out that way. I had to jump into the two-hole there for a bit, and I was lucky to get out and get him going there in mid-stretch. He likes to pass horses, and he got it done.

"He's definitely got the tools to do it. He carries speed so easy, and he's mentally strong, which is very important for the Metro because it's always tough competition. I kind of beat him up pretty good there tonight trip-wise, and he handled it fine, so he's definitely got a shot."

Alagna trains Capt Midnight, who won for the second time in four starts and moved his earnings to C$33,800, for owners Marvin Katz, Ken Jacobs, Brad Grant, and Captain Kirk Racing. Capt Midnight, who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc., is out of the American Ideal mare It Was Fascination (1:51 2/5, $317,222), making him a full brother to Captain Trevor (1:49, $200,326). He was the 2-1 second choice and paid $6.60 to win.