Captain Amazing reloads Mr Anderson(G3) matrix
Tasmania– Holy Neo, Sim fans! This reporter should’ve taken the blue pill prior to previewing the Grade 3 $150,000 Mr Anderson Special. Heck, the turf sprint field’s 13 also-rans should’ve avoided following the white rabbit too.
Instead, we chose the red pill’s illumination, and, gosh did the curtain sure open before us. Out stepped our Morpheus in the form of Captain Amazing, a lean green-jean of a 4 year old colt who plain sucker-punched our race, our analysis, and our pride this past Saturday.
Hoopla surrounding the Mr Anderson fawned over quite a splendid group of up-and-coming 4yos. We were breathless over Williamette Valley, showed adoration for Paper Jesus and R Loyal Man. We flipped our lids over Satrus and Power Forward’s speed figures. Even the speedy filly Nothin’ To Lose won her share of “we are not worthy” accolades. And there was much to be said about the familiar old-timers in the race too.
But very little print went to Waremblem’s Captain Amazing at 15/1. Matter of fact, we left him out of the gallant post-sophomore group entirely, dismissing him to the “Supporting Cast” section because of his inexperience. The Rock Hard Ten youngster had yet to wrap up his allowance conditions with just a 4 for 15 lifetime record. He had been close of late though to bettering that mark, having hit the board at the listed stakes level in his past three efforts.
Captain Amazing played the role of a dark horse then and, boy, did prove us wrong and thensome. Jockey Donatello Manuel put forth a right-as-rain ride, piloting the colt from the rail-post. The “good” Tasmanian turf course was a bit on the cushy side along the inner rail, so Manuel made sure to drift Captain Amazing out a lane. The rider’s tactic proved invaluable since the speedsters had to really hoof it early on. R Loyal Man led the frontrunners as expected, but they all got plumb cooked.
With a quarter-mile left to run, Manuel asked the ‘Captain for his best stuff. The colt had already picked up the tempo and gobbled up ground even more when Manuel let him loose. The tiring pacesetters provided traffic fodder for the other downtown closers, but Captain Amazing and Manuel had a clear aim near the rail. The duo outran collared Paper Jesus with a furlong to go and won going away by 1 1/4 lengths. Manuel (decked out in Waremblem’s cherry-red and blue-star silks) jubilantly shook his fist in the air. Paper Jesus held on for second by a length or so over Williamette Valley’s rough trip for third. Old-timer General’s Chariot was best of the rest in 4th.
The final time of 1:21 2/5 was just a tick off the stakes record set by Fresh Honor in 2002. Captain Amazing recorded his lifetime best speed figure (110). The victory was also his first lifetime black type score. The ‘Captain has now pushed himself into the “One To Watch” category for this year’s Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint and championship. Mmhmm. Good luck Waremblem.
As for this reporter’s miscalculations, we need only to remember Morpheus’ axiom: “There’s a difference between knowing the path and walking the path.” Waremblem’s Captain Amazing was my Morpheus this time around. And for the chance to write about more Captain Amazings, I guess I’d select the red pill over and over again too. So, when your BTB handicapping time comes, which one will you pick? The sad Zion illumination or the happy Matrix ignorance? Will you choose the red or the blue?
Let’s go bugling!!!!!