by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association

Columbus, OH — A rousing victory by Captaintreacherous in the $500,000 Max Hempt Memorial final this past Saturday was the exclamation point on a perfect month and clinched honors as U.S. Trotting Association Horse of the Month for June.

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Captaintreacherous won the North America Cup final on his way to June Horse of the Month honors.

Owned by Captaintreacherous Racing, trained by Tony Alagna and driven by Tim Tetrick, the sophomore son of Somebeachsomewhere-Worldly Treasure began June with a 1:48.4 victory in the North America Cup eliminations at Mohawk Racetrack, followed by a 1:48.3 win in the $980,000 Cup final.

He then shipped to Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, where he scored a 1:48.4 win the Hempt eliminations, a prelude to his 1:49.2 victory over a sloppy track on June 29.

The Hempt victory was impressive because of the “off” going, having drawn the far outside post position, and having to overcome an outside trip every step of the way.

“I knew we’d never seen this horse’s bottom,” Alagna said following the Hempt final. “Tonight off the last turn, here he comes again. This horse does not want to quit. He has the will to win. That’s what it takes. That’s part of being a champion. That’s part of what great horses do; they find a way to win. They win.”

There will be no win this week; only 13 were entered in the Meadowlands Pace, so Captaintreacherous was given a bye into the rich and important Pace final, to be raced at the Meadowlands on July 13.