Woodbine Mohawk Park: Dream Maker Series for rookie pacing colts begins

Captain Ahab and Best In Show were victorious in round one of the Dream Maker Series on Monday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park. A group of 12 2-year-old male pacers were split into a pair of $14,000 opening leg divisions of the Dream Maker. The annual series has been used as a launching pad to stardom over the years.

Captain Ahab appeared to never break a sweat in cruising to a 1:52 4/5 victory in the evening’s first division. The son of Captaintreacherous and driver Andrew McCarthy took their time at the beginning and got away fourth, while Tyga Hanover paced out to the lead and posted a 29 second opening quarter. With little tempo up front, Captain Ahab was given his cue to move in the second quarter. The Tony Alagna trainee effortlessly claimed the lead well before the half and paced by that station in 58 4/5.

Captain Ahab went to work in the back-half, pacing a 27 2/5 third quarter and a 26 3/5 final quarter to secure the victory at odds of 1/9. Shipshape, also from the Alagna barn, finished up strong along the pylons with a 26 2/5 final quarter to cross the wire in second, 2 3/4 lengths back of the winner. Tyga Hanover finished third, while Sauble Play was fourth.

Captain Ahab is now three-for-three in his young career. The son of Captaintreacherous came to Woodbine Mohawk Park off back-to-back wins in the Kindergarten Series at the Meadowlands, including a national season’s best 1:51 1/5 mile on July 20.

Captain Ahab is owned by Brittany Farms LLC, Brad Grant, Vincent Barbera and Captain Ahab Racing. He was a $100,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase and is the second-foal from a full-sister to Artpseak. A $2 win ticket on Captain Ahab returned $2.40.

Best In Show, the third foal from world champion Put On A Show, was able to shoot up the rail to capture the second division in 1:54 1/5. Driven by Sylvain Filion, Best In Show fired off the wings of the gate and was able to tuck in behind the first leader Captain Nash, who would control the tempo throughout fractions of 27 1/5, 57 4/5 and 1:27 3/5 to lead into the lane.

Best In Show was able to capitalize on the rail opening up and fired home in 26 1/5 to get by Captain Nash by half a length. Planet Hanover finished third, while U S Captain, the 3/5 favorite, finished fourth after sitting sixth for most of the mile.

Best In Show is owned by Richard Young and Joanne Young, who were also co-breeders of the son of Bettor's Delight. The Tony O’Sullivan trainee was making his second career start Monday after finishing fourth in a Gold event on July 23. A $2 win ticket on Best In Show returned $6.30.

--press release (Woodbine Mohawk Park)--