by Darrell Wood, publicity director, Colonial Downs

New Kent, VA — Darlene Conway’s Capote Hall trotted to an easy win in the $14,000 Young American Trot Late Closing Series Final on Saturday (October 1) at Colonial Downs.

Capote Hall disappointed last week as the 1-10 favorite in the second leg of the Young American, losing all chance after breaking at the start.

Bettors were only a little less confident in Capote Hall on Saturday, sending him off as the 4-5 favorite in a field of 10. Capote Hall got away cleanly but a bit slowly on Saturday. Driver Jim Marohn, Jr. allowed the speedy son of Garland Lobell to rush up to the lead and he was able to secure the lead and drop over to the rail at the five-eighths pole.

Capote Hall established a one and a quarter length lead as the field entered the turn. He continued trotting strongly around the turn to maintain that lead. Marohn began to urge Capote Hall as they crossed the quarter pole and he responded with a burst of speed to open up a clear lead at the top of the stretch.

Marohn put the whip away in midstretch as Capote Hall pulled away from the field for the easy victory. Second choice Olivia’s Filly closed a bit late to cut the margin to three lengths. Dingys Hit was another length back in third.

Capote Hall trotted the mile in 1:57.1. The four-year-old horse now has three wins from eight starts in 2005. Three of Capote Hall’s four lifetime wins have come on Colonial’s one-turn mile. Michael Conway trains Capote Hall.

The Young American win highlighted a three win day for Marohn.