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…