Captain Serious Wins Laugher in Mike Lee

The 7-5 odds on Captain Serious in the $125,000 Mike Lee Stakes turned out to be a gift on New York Showcase Day at Belmont Park May 31, when the undefeated son of Successful Appeal   trounced his rivals by a geared down three lengths .



Had graded stakes-placed Uncle Sigh, the 4-5 morning line favorite for the opening leg of the Big Apple Triple, not been scratched, this may have been a contest. Instead, Captain Serious shook loose of the field under Jose Ortiz and was never threatened as he completed the seven-furlong test for New York-bred 3-year-olds in 1:20.99 on a fast track.



Michael Hushion trains Captain Serious, now 3-for-3 in his career, for owner Barry K. Schwartz, whose Stonewall Farm bred the bay gelding out of the stakes-placed Mr. Greeley mare Madame Diva.

"I think he can go on a little bit, distance-wise," Hushion said afterward. "He seemed nice and relaxed on the lead. His mother was one of my favorite horses ever."



Breaking from the far outside in the field of eight, Captain Serious took the early advantage over Eye Luv Lulu, then settled into a quick tempo while pressed by Loki's Vengeance through swift quarter mile fractions of :23.22 and :45.73. Asked for his best near the three-sixteenths pole, Captain Serious left his pace rival behind at the top of the stretch and cruised clear under encouragement from Ortiz. They hit the furlong marker in 1:08.83 in front by four lengths en route to a dominating performance.

"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," Ortiz said. "I took the lead and after that I was just a passenger."



Empire Dreams used a nice inside trip under John Velazquez to get second, three-quarters of a length in front of the stalking Deceived and Rajiv Maragh. John's Island was fourth, followed by Eye Luv Lulu, Swell, Loki's Vengeance, and Freddie G.



Captain Serious graduated in his debut April 5 at Aqueduct Racetrack, taking a six-furlong maiden special weight for state-breds by 1 1/4 lengths. He returned to Aqueduct three weeks later to win another restricted race at six furlongs, defeating first-level allowance opponents by 1 1/4 lengths. The latest victory boosted his career earnings to  $142,200.



The winner carried 118 pounds and paid $4.80, $3.30, and $2.70 while keying a $23.40 exacta with 9-2 shot Empire Dreams, who returned $4.80 and $3.40. Deceived paid $4.50 to show.



In addition to Uncle Sigh, outsider Double Gold was also scratched.