Lexington, KY — Game to the finish yet again, Tall Dark Stranger withstood a late challenge from the pocket-popping Captain Barbossa to pad his resume with a 1:48.3 victory in the final of three divisions of the $203,800 Captaintreacherous Bluegrass 3-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Pace — sponsored by the Captaintreacherous Syndicate and Hanover Shoe Farms — on Sunday (Oct. 4) at The Red Mile.

Unhurried from the pylon post to a :26.3 first quarter, driver Yannick Gingras angled Tall Dark Stranger off the pylons to brush for the lead moving onto the backstretch. Early leader Captain Barbossa yielded for the pocket approaching a :55 half and remained in tow behind the Bettor’s Delight colt to three-quarters in 1:22.2.

Tall Dark Stranger parried a late bid from Captain Barbossa to win his Bluegrass division on Sunday at The Red Mile.

Spinning into the stretch, Captain Barbossa pulled for the attack and pressed Tall Dark Stranger for the lead into the final eighth. Tall Dark Stranger fought back from the inside and edged away from Captain Barbossa to score his 17th victory in 19 starts to date. The Greek Freak finished third with Seriously Hanover fourth.

“He makes it a little hard on my heart, really,” said Gingras after the race of the colt’s continual gutsiness. “I knew he was going to put up — and, every time I’ve called on him, he’s always been there. He just makes anxious moments once in awhile, but he always [shows] up. Top of the stretch I called on him, and halfway through the stretch I knew [Captain Barbossa] wasn’t going to go by me. I knew mine was fighting; he was still in front — usually they’re by me at that point and he comes back and beat them. But this time, I held them at bay.”

Tall Dark Stranger now has nine wins from 10 starts this year and has amassed $1,775,445 in earnings for owners Crawford Farms Racing, Marvin Katz, Caviart Farms and Howard Taylor. Nancy Takter trains the James Avritt Sr.-bred colt who paid $2.10 to win.

Ron Burke trainee Cattlewash stalked a quick pace set by Captain Kirk before lifting flight from the pocket and sprinting to a 1:46.4 victory in the opening division of the Captaintreacherous.

Cattlewash turned in a jaw-dropping 1:46.4 mile in his Bluegrass division.

Captain Kirk cleared Cattlewash by a :27 first quarter before continuing to roll up the backstretch towards a :53.3 half and around the far turn to three-quarters in 1:20.3. Cattlewash was revved out of the pocket by David Miller spinning for the finish and swept past Captain Kirk with extended strides as Miller kept the reins high in the final-quarter sprint. The Somebeachsomewhere colt stopped the clock to match his sire’s world record while winning by open lengths over Captain Kirk. Save Me A Dance closed for third, with Sandbetweenmytoes fourth.

Cattlewash shaved nearly four seconds off his previous lifetime best in his third victory from 10 starts this season, and his seventh from 23 overall. He has earned $551,502 for owner-breeder William Donovan, and he paid $5.60 to win.

A seam up the inside gave Robert Don Fellows trainee Warrawee Vital enough open road in the stretch to snag the lead late and win the second division of the Captaintreacherous.

Warrawee Vital burst through up the pegs to win his division of the Bluegrass on Sunday at The Red Mile. Amanda Stephens photos.

After taking command through a :27 first quarter, Warrawee Vital let Fortify clear the lead onto the backstretch while Capt Midnight looped from third to the lead approaching a :54.1 half. Tru Lou then leapt from sixth to the lead before the far turn, shuffling Warrawee Vital to fifth while also speeding to three-quarters in 1:20.3.

In the stretch, Capt Midnight kicked from the pocket and marched to the lead while Fortify fanned to the center of the course. Meanwhile, Warawee Vital swooped into contention to the inside, vaulting by Capt Midnight in the final strides to stop the clock in 1:47.1. Capt Midnight settled for second with Fortify finishing third and Tru Lou fourth.

Warrawee Vital, who has earned $141,607 for owners Blair Corbeil, Yolanda Fellows and M&S Racing Stable Inc., won his seventh race from 11 starts this season and his eighth from 13 overall. The Warrawee Farm-bred son of Captaintreacherous paid $6.60 to win.

Grand Circuit competition resumes at The Red Mile on Friday (Oct. 9) with the International Stallion Stakes for 2-year-old trotting colts and 2-year-old pacing fillies. First race post time is slated for 1 p.m. (EDT).