Intriguing matchups in Champlain
September 6, 2018,by Mark McKelvie, Woodbine communications
Milton, ON — Rookie pacers will take the spotlight for five divisions of the Champlain Stakes on Friday evening (Sept. 7) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
A total of 24 colts and geldings have been split into three C$70,107 divisions, while 18 fillies have been separated into a pair of C$95,738 divisions.
Undefeated Captaintreacherous colts Captain Crunch (post one, Scott Zeron) and Captain Ahab (post five, Andy McCarthy) will clash in the evening’s eighth race.
Captain Ahab, shown winning his Nassagaweya division on Aug. 25, looks to remain undefeated in Friday’s Champlain Stakes.
Captain Ahab has been dominating at Mohawk Park with three consecutive victories, including the final of the Dream Maker and most recently a division of the Nassagaweya. The Tony Alagna trainee is five-for-five overall and has three sub-1:52 victories.
“We’re surprised that he came as good as he did as quick as he did because he’s such a tall colt,” said Alagna following Captain Ahab’s Nassagaweya score. “He’s just doing everything he is doing now on raw ability and it’s funny to say, but I’m even more excited about what he can do next year at (age) three.”
Captain Crunch is three-for-three and entering off a Nassagaweya victory. The Nancy Johansson trainee posted back-to-back wins at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono before making his stakes debut at Mohawk Park.
“I find every very good horse you drive, everything is effortless and it’s just so easy for them to do, and he covers the ground so well I thought he had the potential to be this kind of caliber,” said driver Scott Zeron of Captain Crunch. “He’s very well-mannered, very good to drive, and I think he can do good anyway.”
Both colts are from the first crop of Captaintreacherous. Captain Ahab was a $100,000 yearling purchase at the Lexington Selected Sale, while Captain Crunch was an $85,000 purchase at Harrisburg.
A pair of Ontario-sired standouts will headline the other two Champlain splits for the boys.
Big Jim colt Bronx Seelster (post five, Trevor Henry) has won five of eight starts and comes into Friday off an impressive :26 final quarter to win on August 28 in 1:51.4. The Wayne McGean trainee captured the Battle of Waterloo in early August and has two OSS Gold trophies.
Bronx Seelster, a $22,000 London Selected Yearling Sale purchase, headlines the evening’s first division (race two) and will be taking on Grand Circuit foes for the first time.
Casie Coleman trainee Stag Party (post one, David Miller) has been racking up the victories and making statements along the way. The son of Bettor’s Delight most recently won a division of the Nassagaweya by 10 lengths, which came on the heels of a Canadian record performance (1:52.3) at Grand River in an OSS Gold on August 15.
Stag Party, a $125,000 Harrisburg purchase, is four-for-five, with his only loss being a disqualification from first to second for interference. He is expected to be the heavy favorite in the evening’s third division (race nine).
The Champlain Stakes for 2-year-old pacing fillies features a matchup between Eternal Camnation division winners Key West (post one, Brett Miller) and Quebec Blue Chip (post seven, Jody Jamieson).
Alagna trainee Key West held off rivals in her Eternal Camnation score to improve her record to three wins and two runner-up finishes in five starts. The daughter of Captaintreacherous was a $130,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase and is making her fourth consecutive start at Mohawk Park.
New Image Media photos
Battle of the Belles winner Quebec Blue Chip, shown winning her Aug. 25 Eternal Camnation split, carries a four-race win streak into her Champlain division.
Quebec Blue Chip, a $40,000 Harrisburg yearling buy, will be searching for a fifth straight victory in Friday’s contest. The Dave Menary-trained daughter of Sportswriter has victories in the Battle of the Belles and an OSS Gold to go with her Eternal Camnation score.
The Alagna barn could be poised for a big Friday, as they will send out the top two choices on the morning line for the second Champlain filly division.
Tall Drink Hanover (post six, McCarthy) is three-for-five entering the Champlain, with all three victories coming at Mohawk Park. The Alagna-trained daughter of Captaintreacherous was a $35,000 Harrisburg purchase.
Odds On St Lucie is a daughter of Sweet Lou, out of a full sister to Captaintreacherous. The Alagna trainee started her career with back-to-back victories before finishing second to Quebec Blue Chip in the Eternal Camnation. She was a $110,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase.
The Champlain divisions for pacing fillies have been carded as races three and four.
Post time for Friday’s stakes-filled program is 7:10 p.m.