Chester, PA — Captain Optimistic left little doubt that he was ready for top-level competition as he won his 4-year-old debut Sunday (May 17) at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 1:48.1, equaling the track record for pacing horses of his age.
There was plenty of speed off the gate in this $20,000 Open handicap. Scott Zeron, guiding favored Maximus Miki from the handicapped outside post 7, tucked in mid-pack outside of the early jetters. Jason Bartlett (at his fifth track in four states in five days), starting just inside Maximus Miki with the “Captain,” was three-deep early and eyed a three-tuck, but he “called the audible” and got his pacer to go on and take command around Control Rocks shortly after a :26.3 initial panel.
Captain Optimistic, the clear second wagering choice, reached the half in :54.2, and then Bartlett hit the “GO” button with his pacer, realizing that Maximus Miki would have to come uncovered and that it would be good to open as much distance as possible. The Captain responded with a :26.2 third quarter that had him three lengths clear at the 1:20.4 three-quarters. Nancy Takter had the son of Captaintreacherous honed to a fine edge, and though Maximus Miki went on to beat Control Rocks for second, he still came up 1-3/4 lengths short of the winner, who is owned by the Captain Optimistic Syndicate.
Though this was the seasonal debut for both Captain Optimistic and Maximus Miki, there was a surprising amount of “local” history involving the two millionaires. The 1:48.1 Harrah’s record for four-year-old pacing horses was first established almost 16 years ago in a Ben Franklin Pace elim by a horse who would go on to win the final – Vintage Master, who was trained by Jimmy Takter, Nancy’s father. And two of the last three editions of the Auger Memorial FFA Pace on Super Sunday were won by “Miki”’s connections, Team Cancelliere, both with Ruthless Hanover, who in the 2023 edition established the all-time record for five-eighth mile tracks, 1:46.3.
The fast-class co-feature, carrying a $13,000 purse, was won by the Sweet Lou gelding Solid Character, who did not look back while posting a 1:50.2 (:54.4 back half) victory, his third in his last five starts. Joe Bongiorno handled the sulky assignment behind the Ron Burke trainee for Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC.
The top event for developing horses was a $13,500 pace, in which a pair of 9-10 shots sat 1-2 around the racetrack the entire race. In the stretch, it was pocketsitter Heaven Needs Me who got the 1:51.3 victory, pacing his own last split in :27.2 to catch the slightly-favored pacesetter Pack A Punch by 1-1/2 lengths. Simon Allard drove the gelded son of Capt Midnight as he ran his seasonal tally to three-for-five for trainer-owner Chelsey Faurot.
Allard had three victories on the day, as did the driver-trainer team of Mike Cole and Joseph Columbo. Bongiorno and Andy Miller had sulky doubles.
Racing at Harrah’s Philadelphia returns on “Trottin’ Thursday” (May 21) with a 12:25 p.m. card, with the usual gatherings of developing and fast-class performers slotted for competition. There will also be a carryover going into the fifth race Pick 5 wager.
Much of the racing world will have its eyes on Philly the afternoon before, though – for that is when the Super Sunday card will be available. The star-studded program will feature three $100,000 Invitationals for free-for-allers – the $100,000 Maxie Lee Memorial Trot, the $100,000 Betsy Ross Pace for distaffs, and the $100,000 Joseph Auger Memorial Pace (with the 1-2 horses in the Sunday feature possibilities for this event). Those races will be complemented by third prelim action for sophomore pacing males in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and Pennsylvania Stallion Series ranks.
Free Philly program pages are or will be available at www.phha.org.