Lexington, KY — Harness racing’s current No. 1-ranked horse Confederate seized the lead midway through the race and plowed home to a 1:47.3 victory in the first of three divisions of the $219,000 Captaintreacherous Bluegrass Stakes, for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings, on Saturday afternoon (Sept. 30) at the Red Mile.

Confederate cleared control after Ken Hanover clocked a :27.2 first quarter and took the field to the half in :54.1. Gradually, driver Tim Tetrick gave Confederate his head and the Sweet Lou colt hit three-quarters in 1:22.1 and lifted flight in the stretch. Ken Hanover tried to answer Confederate’s final quarter sprint but settled for second, beaten 2-1/2 lengths, with Huntinthelastdolar grabbing third another five lengths back. Blue Hunt took fourth.

Confederate carried the Diamond Creek colors to the winning post with a sparkling 1:47.3 win in the first division of the Bluegrass for sophomore male pacers. Amanda Stephens photo.

“I’m getting chills driving him. He’s awesome,” Tetrick said. “I didn’t really have a plan. I was kind of playing off [Christchurch] because he can be hot [and] I wanted to stay close to Ken [Hanover] no matter what. I just kind of played it by feel and we got it done. He’s done everything right, and everybody says, ‘He can’t go on the lead,’ but he can go on the lead. I just like him chasing better.”

The victory continues a dominant campaign from Confederate, who has now won 14 races from 17 starts and earned $1,558,129 for owner-breeder Diamond Creek Racing. The Brett Pelling trainee paid $2.16 to win.

Another Diamond Creek-bred in Cannibal later delivered on an odds-on promise with a 1:48.4 victory in the second division of the Captaintreacherous.

Cannibal clamped onto the point past a :28 first quarter to pocket For Once Inmy Life to the backstretch. He continued under minimal pressure to a :55.2 half and uncorked more speed through the far turn to clock three-quarters in 1:22.4 before spinning for home on a three-length lead. Combustion pulled off the pegs in the lane to give futile chase to Cannibal and settled for second, beaten two lengths, with 61-1 shot South Point rallying for third and For Once Inmy Life settling for fourth.

“I think any other year, [Cannibal] would be our top horse,” Adam Bowden, president of Diamond Creek Farm, said. “He’s a pretty good colt himself, winning the Adios and the Jug elimination, as well.”

Racking his 13th win from 21 starts, Cannibal has banked $514,978 for owner Diamond Creek Racing. Nancy Takter trains the colt by Sweet Lou and Yannick Gingras sat in the bike. He paid $2.76 to win.

Diamond Creek Racing completed a sweep of the Captaintreacherous Bluegrass Stakes when its homebred Command clung to a 1:47.4 victory after following heated numbers.

Ants Marching charged through the early sectionals, pacing a modest :27 first quarter and then blazing a half in :53.2 and three-quarters in 1:20 before clocking out for the afternoon. Command sat nestled behind the pacesetter and struck the lead in the stretch as the backfield sprung to life. Bugaboo Lou dove up the inside off a pylon trip and just missed victory as Command fended him off by a neck while El Rey finished third off a first-over push and Act Fast, on his cover, took fourth.

“We just can’t get these smiles off our face,” Shaun Laungani, vice president of Diamond Creek Farm said. “I know what it’s like to be on the other side, we all do, but when the sun shines on you … it’s just the best.”

Brett Pelling trains Command, a Captaintreacherous gelding who won his eighth race from 22 starts and has now earned $342,339. Todd McCarthy steered the $5.60 winner.

Each division of the Captaintreacherous was sponsored by the Captaintreacherous Syndicate and Hanover Shoe Farms.