Trot Insider continues to profile the horses predicted to be the top contenders for Canadian harness racing's richest prize, the 2020 Pepsi North America Cup.
This year's edition of the North America Cup was originally slated to be contested on Saturday, June 20 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. On Wednesday, Woodbine Entertainment CEO Jim Lawson announced the race would be postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to the viral outbreak, TROT Magazine compiled its annual ranking of the horses expected to be in contention for the 2020 Pepsi North America Cup.
Continuing the countdown, Capt Midnight comes at #5 in TROT Magazine's 2020 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book at odds of 15-1.
The son of Captaintreacherous - It Was Fascination provided owners Marvin Katz, Ken Jacobs, Brad Grant and Capt Midnight Racing with a thrilling season while winning six of 10 starts and earning $385,035. Taking a lifetime best of 1:49.4 at Mohawk in the Dream Maker Stakes, Capt Midnight’s triumphs also included the Nassagaweya, Champlain, a Metro elimination and the International Stallion at The Red Mile. Trained by Tony Alagna, Capt Midnight was timed no slower than 1:53 in all of his two-year-old outings.
Trot Insider had a chance to catch up with Capt Midnight’s trainer, Tony Alagna.
Where did he winter?
“He stopped after the Breeders Crown and went to Olive Branch Farm.”
When did you start back with him?
“He came back in on the first of January and came back looking absolutely phenomenal.”
How fast have you been with him?
“He’s been a mile in 1:56 [as of April 12] and we are very happy with him.”
Any differences from two to three?
“He has matured a lot. He’s a little taller but his maturity has changed a lot. He’s a beautiful animal to look at.”
All things considered, when did you plan to qualify him?
“He’s ready to qualify at any time, we’re just in a holding pattern right now in Florida until things get sorted out. They’re having qualifiers right here at the farm, but normally these horses would already be in New Jersey getting ready to qualify at the Meadowlands but with the landscape of things right now we’re better off here in Florida than anywhere else right now.”
When did you plan to head north to New Jersey?
“My three-year-olds always leave for New Jersey on April 1 and qualify around the 1st of May.”
What are his biggest assets?
“He is a very versatile horse, he can do it anyway. He has great gate speed and has a great attitude.”
At what point in his two-year-old season did you think he was N.A. Cup caliber?
“Right off the bat when he was baby raced he showed a lot of promise, he baby raced in 1:53.”
Do you have any other three-year-olds in your stable that you think are ‘Cup’ caliber?
“We have a fair amount of horses that we are pointing towards the race, we are doing everything we can to make sure we are in the race. Off the top of my head we also have Captain Kirk, Chief Mate, Its Showtime, Esai Hanover, Put To Right, Captain Barbossa, Force N Fury...we have a very nice group of three-year-olds that could come back and be anything.
Are you planning on qualifying any three-year-olds at Sunshine Meadows?
“It depends on what happens, when we have a better idea of what is going to happen then we will have more options to work with. I can qualify here if I need to but it depends on what happens in the next couple of weeks.”
How is your team handling the situation at hand with COVID-19?
“We’re fairly isolated where we are on the farm at Sunshine Meadows, they’ve done a great job making sure everyone is safe and healthy. They’ve made sure that there are no visitors coming in to ensure everyone stays safe.”
Previous Spring Book Profiles:
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #6
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #7
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #8
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #9
► Trot N.A. Cup Spring Book: #10