Woodbine Mohawk Park: Captain Ahab remains unblemished thanks to Champlain victory

Captain Ahab running his record to six wins from six starts highlighted Champlain Stakes action for rookie pacers of both sexes on Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Competing in the second of three C$70,107 tilts for colts and geldings, Captain Ahab (Andrew McCarthy) pulled first-up to chase another undefeated rookie in Captain Crunch (Scott Zeron) going to the 57 1/5 half. Captain Ahab would get up into second and was at Captain Crunch's flank at the 1:25 2/5 three-quarters, then took the lead in the lane and pulled clear to win by a length and three-quarters in a 1:52 3/5 effort. Better Up (David Miller) came on to get second ahead of a fading Captain Crunch.

"That's what great about this horse, he'll sit out there and just grind up on there. He does his thing," said McCarthy. "I chirped to him a little bit at the head of the stretch, and away he went. This guy gives you goosebumps when you ask him for a little bit. He's very exciting."

Tony Alagna trains Captain Ahab, a Captaintreacherous colt, for co-owner/breeder Brittany Farms and co-owners Brad Grant, Vincent Barbera, and Captain Ahab Racing. He has banked C$117,616 to go with his undefeated record. A $100,000 buy at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Captain Ahab is out of the Western Ideal mare Acquavella (1:53 3/5, $38,247), a full sister to Artspeak (1:47 4/5, C$1,770,980). The 2-5 favorite, Captain Ahab paid $2.90 to win.

"I see a lot of Captaintreacherous in him: his characteristics, the way he's so easy on himself, the way he let you drive him, everything, his work ethic," remarked Alagna. "He reminds me a lot of Captaintreacherous, and hopefully he can keep reminding me of Captain."

Back in the first flight for the boys, Bronx Seelster (Trevor Henry) would win in 1:51 2/5. Bronx Seelster came first-up past the 27-second opening quarter, was outside in second at the 56 3/5 half and the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters, powered into the lead in the lane, and drew off to down pace-setter Blank Canvas (D. Miller) by five lengths. Lyons Night Hawk (Tim Tetrick) collected third.

"Once he hits the head of the stretch he's all business, and he's a real racehorse," offered Henry. "He can leave, you can do whatever you want with him, it doesn't matter."

A Big Jim colt, Bronx Seelster is trained by Wayne McGean for owner Capers 3 Stable. This was Bronx Seelster's sixth victory from nine tries, and he pushed his earnings to C$292,810. Bronx Seelster, bred by Seelster Farms Inc., was a C$22,000 purchase at the London Selected Yearling Sale. He is out of the Bettor's Delight mare Tarport Baccarat (1:59 3/5, C$5,610), which makes him a half-brother to Bourbon Seelster (Camluck, 1:51 1/5, C$197,705). The dam Tarport Baccarat is also a full sister to Mr Apples (1:49, C$668,808). Bronx Seelster was the 1-5 favorite and returned $2.70 to win.

"It's unreal. It's hard to put into words. You look for this once in your lifetime, I guess, and we have it now," said McGean.

Do Ya Think (Henry) showed the way through panels of 26 4/5, 55 4/5, and 1:24 3/5 in the final section for colts and geldings, but in the lane it would be Cruise Captain (Sylvain Filion), who sat an inside trip in the three-hole, coming up the cones to win by three-parts of a length in 1:52 2/5. Odds-on choice Stag Party (D. Miller) was the runner-up after a first-over try and appearing to run in at several points late on the final turn and into the lane, and Do Ya Think salvaged third.

"I didn't really know much about him," stated Filion. "I just read the program and saw he races good, so I was pretty optimistic if we got a nice trip, and we did."

Cruise Captain is another colt by Captaintreacherous, and he is trained by Vic Puddy for the ownership group of Bill Manes, Jim Ruhl, Lloyd Stone, and 10462217 Canada Inc. Cruise Captain broke his maiden in his seventh chance, and he has now pocketed C$68,414. Bred by Steve Jones, Cruise Captain was a $25,000 purchase at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale and is out of the Allamerican Native mare Pedigree Snob (1:51 4/5, $439,369). This makes Cruise Captain a half-brother to Wine Snob (Art Major, 1:52 2/5, $201,066). Cruise Captain was dispatched at 6-1 and paid $15.00 to win.

Over on the ladies side, they competed in two C$95,738 tests, with wins going to Quebec Blue Chip and Deb.New Image MediaQuebec Blue Chip posted her fifth straight win

Quebec Blue Chip (Jody Jamieson) led to the 27 4/5 opening quarter in the opening split, but was passed by 34-1 shot Revival Cards (D. Miller) passing the 56 3/5 half. Revival Cards continued to hold the top spot at the 1:24 2/5 three-quarters, but favored Key West (Brett Miller) was pressing her from first-up. Key West grabbed control narrowly in upper stretch, but Undefiable (Henry) was surging on the far outside and Quebec Blue Chip had found room again as well, and at the wire it would be Quebec Blue Chip prevailing by half a length in 1:52 2/5. Crisp Mane (Phil Hudon) collected third.

"If it wasn't for (trainer) Dave Menary I don't know where I'd be tonight," said Jamieson. " He had her on her toes, and I've always said she's better off a helmet, but she's done it so easy on the lead. Tonight was the best she's ever been. Getting a chance to be on a helmet made a huge difference to her, and we were lucky to get through."

A daughter of Sportswriter, Quebec Blue Chip is trained by Menary for the ownership group of Menary Racing Inc., Michael Guerriero, Kenneth Ewen, and Bruce Norris. She has a record of 6-1-1 from eight starts, and she pushed her earnings to C$256,914. Bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., Quebec Blue Chip sold for $40,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale and is out of the Bettor's Delight mare Haze's Zure Bet (1:54 4/5, $85,440). This makes Quebec Blue Chip a half-sister to Nvestment Blue Chip (Shadow Play, 1:49, C$566,188). Menary also trained Nvestment Blue Chip when he was a 2- and 3-year-old. Quebec Blue Chip was the 9-5 second choice and paid $5.60 to win.

"This was the pacer that I pegged all winter. She's just such a handy filly," remarked Menary. "At Grand River she was doing it so easy, but here I didn't know how she'd be able to translate speed to the big track. She's just so willing, and she's real quick real fast."

The biggest upset of the stakes action occurred in the other Champlain clash for the fillies as Deb (Henry) hugged the cones in the pocket and then the three-hole, came to the outside in the lane, and got up to win in 1:53 2/5 at odds of 17-1. Race favorite Tall Drink Hanover (McCarthy) made front going to the half but had to settle for second after a far turn battle with first-up challenger Prescient Beauty (Doug McNair), and Ideation Hanover (Jamieson) took third.

"I'm a little surprised, but she's been roughed up first-up a few times," offered Henry. "I had to keep her in. I had a good hold on her through the last turn, and it just worked out. We got out, and she got up to win. You couldn't ask for anything more."

Dr. Ian Moore trains Deb, a filly by Sportswriter, for owners Wilma and James MacKenzie. Deb, a C$24,000 London Selected Yearling Sale purchase bred by Seelster Farms Inc., has a trio of triumphs and she has put away C$108,328. She is out of the unraced Jereme's Jet mare Atlantic Seelster, a half-sister to the likes of the late Aniston Seelster (Mach Three, 1:52 1/5, C$273,538). Deb returned $36.60 to win.

"She's been a good filly," said Moore. "She won her first start in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series, as you can see in the program. She's had some tough trips, and we've had a little trouble with her being on the right line a bit. She did get on it a little bit finishing there tonight, but not enough to cause her an issue. We're probably going to try her in the She's A Great Lady."