Woodbine Mohawk Park: Captain Crunch comes through again, captures North America Cup

Captain Crunch rebounded with style and aplomb from his uncharacteristic break in stride in last week's elimination, showing early speed and late tenacity to win the C$1 million Pepsi North America Cup for 3-year-old pacing males on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park in a Canadian, stakes, and track record clocking of 1:47 2/5.

The ten competitors were lined up for a start the first time around, but then Tyga Hanover (Sylvain Filion) made a break and interfered with Best In Show (Bob McClure), prompting a recall. After getting settled down and reformed, they went off without a hitch the second time, and it would be Captain Crunch and driver Scott Zeron pushing away fast from post eight and getting to the quarter in 26 seconds. Elimination winner Bettor's Wish (Dexter Dunn) was challenging at that point, though, and Zeron released him to the front.

The other elimination winner, Workin Ona Mystery (Tim Tetrick) had driven past a four-hole tuck on the first turn, and he would move up to engage Bettor's Wish in the backstretch. Bettor's Wish and Dunn were not in a mood to give up the lead easily, though, grudgingly letting Workin Ona Mystery take over command past the half in a swift 52 4/5.

On the far turn Zeron vacated the cones from third with Captain Crunch, and he moved steadily at Workin Ona Mystery, getting to within half a length of him at the 1:20 three-quarters. Then in the lane, Captain Crunch was able to take over command, and although Bettor's Wish slid to his outside late, Captain Crunch had the jump on him and couldn't be reeled in, winning by three-parts of a length. Workin Ona Mystery wound up third, 99-1 shot Aflame Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) raced well to get fourth, and Stag Party (Brian Sears) got fifth from post ten.

"It feels unbelievable. This has been the end-all-be-all for me," said Zeron. "It's completed my entire bucket list. We've got lots of racing left to do, but I can't say enough about how amazing this animal is. I didn't want to be in that spot I was in in that race, but at the same time he overcame it. It's just his greatness. I felt good turning for home, but at the quarter pole I knew the inevitably of sitting third, and I wasn't happy about that. We were rolling along pretty good with that half-mile, so I was able to pull as late as possible into that last turn and give him that late run."

Despite winning two Hambletonians, a Trotting Triple Crown, and a host of other major and prestigious races, Zeron said winning this race topped them all, sharing a moment with his father Rick on FaceTime.

"Yeah, he was crying his eyes out. He cries at a lot of wins I have, but this one he knew was the most special win I've ever had, so it's a big deal," he remarked. "This is everything. It used to go for C$1.5 million, this was everything to me, and that trophy is magnificient - to me it's my favorite trophy in the game. I've had other chances to do it with Artspeak and Vegas Vacation, but it's just the one that I could never get. I felt I could always acquire it, and then this year I thought there's no way I can lose it with the way Crunch has been all year. And then what happened last week - I didn't have any doubts in my mind, but at the same time, it was that close to not making the final and this not being a reality."

He also said that Captain Crunch handled the recall as well as anyone could expect.

"You're always are a little concerned. I was actually timing him into it, getting him revved up and ready to go, and then the recall came up," he stated. "He's a professional, so once I called on him to come back to me and relax, he was able to just walk around the rest and conserve some energy.

Nancy Johansson trains Captain Crunch, a Captaintreacherous colt, for owners 3 Brothers Stables, Christina Takter, Rojan Stables, and Caviart Farms. This was his ninth career victory, and he has now earned C$1,188,960. Sent off at 4-1, he paid $10.30 to win.

"It was just one of those things that happens last week in the elimination," said Johansson. "I knew that the horse raced really well just to make it to the final. I really wasn't worried. I don't want to sound like cocky or anything, but I knew he was the best horse going into it, and it was just up to him to show it to everybody.

"In the last eighth I think I must have screamed his name like 40 times. My hands actually hurt. It was exciting to watch him race, and obviously he didn't get anything for free. He opened really hard out of there, and he's just an amazing animal."

Johansson talked about what could be coming next for Captain Crunch, with the eliminations for the Hempt at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono just a week away possibly.

"He looks pretty good to me, and he doesn't look very tired," she stated. "I would like to win the Meadowlands Pace. He's really good at Pocono, but we'll see. We don't have a lot of time to make a decision because it's Monday morning when the box closes, but right now, let's get him home tomorrow, and then let's see."

As for trainer Brian Brown, he was very proud of the effort Workin Ona Mystery produced after the tough trip.

"My horse raced wonderful. When you're parked to the half in 52 4/5, you're usually not supposed to get a check," said Brown. "He got beat a length and a half at the most, so I'm very happy with the horse. Timmy said he did not cough on the track, but we've watered him about three times, and he did cough a couple times. I will get him scoped, but if I had to tell you right now, I think he's in pretty good shape.

"We will skip the Hempt and I'll go to the Meadowlands Pace and more than likely The Adios."