Bold Captain hasn't won a race in almost two years, but jockey Luis Gonzalez had the 31-1 shot rolling in the Thistledown stretch on Saturday to beat heavily-favored Catlaunch in the $50,000 George Lewis Memorial.
NORTH RANDALL, Ohio -- Bold Captain hasn't won a race in almost two years, but jockey Luis Gonzalez had the 31-1 shot rolling in the Thistledown stretch on Saturday to beat heavily-favored Catlaunch in the $50,000 George Lewis Memorial.
The veteran Catlaunch, an even-money pick of the rail birds, looked on top of his game for most of the 1 1/8-mile race. When rider Ivan Gonzalez turned Catlaunch for home, Bold Captain had made up a lot of ground and was coming after him. The 9-year-old couldn't hold off Bold Captain's big move along the rail, and Bold Captain posted a 1 1/2-length win in 1:53.
It was Bold Captain's first victory since Oct. 4, 2008.
"I'm proud of the way Catlaunch ran," said Vasquez. "He was pressured early and then again in the stretch and he fought back. He was beaten, but he was game."
Bold Captain paid $65.80, 21.80, 10.60. Catlaunch was second, $3, 2.20, a head in front of Allsarott, $4.20.
Bold Captain's last trip to the winner's circle was in the $75,000 Best of Ohio Juvenile at Thistledown. Owned by the Pyrite Stables, he is trained by Angel Feliciano.
"Where's he been?" said Feliciano. "I guess he's been on vacation, just like me. He can run, but he would act stupid. I just told Louis to ride him the way he wanted today."
It was a great game plan. Bold Captain was last at the quarter-mile, moving up to seventh at the 3/4-mile pole. He was still a couple of lengths behind Catlaunch going into the final turn as he made his late move.
The bay gelding is a son of Bold Truth and had just two wins in 21 starts with five seconds, including a place finish in the 2009 Cleveland Gold Cup.