Hightstown, NJ – Ridge Warren has driven Captain Vodka only twice, but that’s been enough to come away impressed.
Captain Vodka, a 3-year-old male trotter co-owned and trained by Robert Baggitt Jr., won both his starts with Warren in the sulky by more than three lengths this month at Pocono Downs at Mohegan Pennsylvania. The first time they were united, in a second-round division of the Bobby Weiss Series on April 13, Captain Vodka posted 3-3/4-length triumph in 1:54.4 – a time that entering Saturday was tied for ninth best among sophomore male trotters this season.
On April 20, Captain Vodka and Warren cruised to a 1:56.1 victory in their third-round division of the Weiss Series. The margin of victory was 3-1/2 lengths.
“I’ve been super impressed with him both times,” said Warren, who had Captain Vodka in front in the early stages of both races. “The first time, I didn’t know what to expect. I just pointed him out of there, and I wouldn’t have minded getting covered up, but he left on a good foot and was left alone. When a horse came at him down the backside, he heard them before I did. He was really alert and aware and perked up on his own and was ready to race. That was an impressive mile that day on a hand drive.
“Last week, it was the same thing; I just eased him to the front. It was a slower mile but just as impressive. He just coasted.”
Captain Vodka, who has won four of five races overall this year in his first season with Baggitt Jr., will now look to capture the $50,000 Weiss Series championship for 3-year-old male trotters on Monday (April 27) at Pocono. The son of Captain Corey-Agro Dolce will leave from post seven in a field of eight and is 4-1 on the morning line.
Confident Volo, with Tyler Buter driving for Todd Buter, is the 5-2 favorite after winning all three of his Weiss preliminaries. He will leave from post six. Dilly Hanover, who had two victories and a third-place finish in the prelims, is the 3-1 second choice from post one, with Braxten Boyd driving for Emily Bost.
“He’s going to have to bring his ‘A’ game,” Warren said about Captain Vodka. “It’s the final, the best ones are in there. I don’t think there is a horse that he can’t beat, but that’s why we race them. Bob is going to have him ready, and I expect to be up close. I think he’ll follow a horse as far as they go, so if I’m in the two-hole behind the right horse, it might be that type of trip. But if I get put on the front, I’m confident that he can handle it.”
Captain Vodka is the first foal out of Agro Dolce. His second dam, Bella Dolce, is the mother of 2022 Dan Patch Trotter of the Year Bella Bellini. Nifty Norman – who trained all three of the aforementioned mares – trained Captain Vodka last year when the gelding hit the board in seven of 10 races, winning one and earning $40,047. Two of his top-three finishes came on the Grand Circuit, in divisions of the Kindergarten Classic Series and the Arden Downs.
In November, Captain Vodka was purchased for $37,500 in an onGait.com auction and is now owned by J L Sadowsky, Christine Baggitt and his trainer.
“He showed a lot of potential as a 2-year-old,” Baggitt Jr. said. “We didn’t know what we had (coming into this year); we bought him and turned him out. Training him down, he seemed good – and he’s really good right now. He’s an easygoing horse, doesn’t get too excited, and that makes my job much easier. He’s a really nice guy.”
Captain Vodka, whose only loss this year was a fifth-place finish in a first-round division of the Weiss Series, is eligible to a number of events down the road, including the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes, Pennsylvania All-Stars, Keystone Classic, Currier & Ives, Simpson Memorial, and Earl Beal Jr. Memorial.
“We’ve got him staked to some stuff, and hopefully it works out,” Baggitt Jr. said. “Right now, he’s perfect. We’ll see if he can keep it up. It’s a long year.”
Said Warren, “He’s done everything I’ve asked him to do. He’s very easy in my hands; you don’t have to wake him up and you don’t have to calm him down. He’s been pretty impressive so far. It’s definitely exciting to have a horse like that.”
The Bobby Weiss Series championships got underway Saturday (April 25) with Twin B Thriller winning the title for 3-year-old male pacers. Monday’s final for sophomore male trotters will be followed Tuesday with the championships for 3-year-old female pacers and trotters.
Racing begins at 1 p.m. (EDT) at Pocono Downs. For free past performances, visit the Pennsylvania Harness Horsemen’s Association website here.