- NYRA/Lauren King
Captain Serious, a bay gelding by Successful Appeal named for the 26-year-old captain of the Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews, delivered an eye-catching performance in the $125,000 seven-furlong Mike Lee Stakes run on Big Apple Showcase Day. Taking the first leg of the Big Apple Triple for New York-bred 3-year-olds essentially uncontested, he upped his record to a perfect three-for-three and added his name to the list of this year’s standout New York-bred sophomores.
Trained by Mike Hushion, conditioner of last year’s Mike Lee winner Amberjack, the Barry K. Schwartz homebred quickly dealt with his outside draw by breaking alertly, outstripping the seven rivals to his inside and setting up shop on the lead.
The 7-5 favorite carved out early fractions of 23.22 and 45.73 while maintaining a comfortable one-length advantage. He extended his lead to four lengths in the stretch, and crossed the wire, never having faced a serious challenge, a three-length winner in a final time of 1:20.99, the quickest time for seven furlongs so far during the 2014 Belmont spring/summer meet.
Empire Dreams, who enjoyed a groundsaving trip from his inside post position, rallied nicely from midpack to collect the place, while three-quarters of a length back Deceived, who raced in midpack off the rail, won a three-way photo for third with John’s Island and Eye Luv Lulu. Swell was next followed by Loki’s Vengeance, who veered in at the start and rushed up to press the pace. Freddie G completed the order of finish. Scratched were Double Gold and Uncle Sigh, whose connections plan to explore more lucrative open company options in the weeks ahead. [VIDEO]
Winning jockey Jose Ortiz said, “I was hoping that [Loki’s Vengeance] was going to go [to the lead], but he didn’t break well, and I knew the track was playing fast so I decided to go. I took the lead and after that I was just a passenger.”
Trainer Mike Hushion, who also trained the dam of Captain Serious for Schwartz, said, “I think he can go on a little bit, distance-wise. He seemed nice and relaxed on the lead. His mother [Madame Diva] was one of my favorite horses ever.”
Captain Serious, whom Hushion has described as a “nice, strong, sound horse,” has done everything right since beginning his career by breaking his maiden on April 5 in a six-furlong state-bred maiden special weight in a final time of 1:10.99. He stepped up his game second out, winning a six-furlong first-level state-bred allowance over good going in 1:10.27 for a Beyer Speed Figure of 91, winning both races by 1 1/4 lengths. From his three career victories he has earned $142,200.
Foaled at Schwartz’s Stonewall Farm in Granite Springs, Captain Serious is one of two winners out of Madame Diva, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Mr. Greeley and a stakes winning mare. A half-sister to Deceptive, the dam of $1.1 million earner Mizdirection, Madame Diva was purchased by Buzz Chace, agent, as a yearling at the 2003 Fasig-Tipton New York select sale for $260,000, before going on to become a stakes-placed runner for Hushion and Schwartz.
Madame Diva is also the dam of Dr. Copper by Yes It’s True, who coincidentally also came up a winner on Saturday, scoring his fifth career victory in a claiming race at Thistledown. Currently the mare has two younger registered New York-bred offspring, a 2-year-old filly by Yes It’s True named Women Win and yearling colt by Mizzen Mast.
