![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Weingartner-Ken.jpg\")
Ken Weingartner<\/p>\nKen Weingartner<\/p>\n
Hightstown, NJ<\/strong> \u2013 Captain Albano<\/a> and Nijinsky will renew acquaintances at The Meadowlands on Saturday (June 21) when they meet in a field of 12 pacers for the third round of the Graduate Series for 4-year-olds.<\/p>\n Captain Albano<\/a> and Nijinsky closed out their 3-year-old campaigns together this past November in the Progress Pace at Bally\u2019s Dover, where Captain Albano<\/a> posted a 2-1\/4 length victory over runner-up Nijinsky. Captain Albano<\/a> went on to be named the top sophomore male pacer in Dan Patch Awards voting while Nijinsky received the same honor at the O\u2019Brien Awards in Canada.<\/p>\n Both horses head to Saturday\u2019s $75,000 race with a win in the Graduate Series. Captain Albano<\/a> captured last week\u2019s round at The Big M in his seasonal debut while Nijinsky won a first-round division of the event on May 31 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Nijinsky remained home last week to compete in the Grade 3 Mohawk Gold Cup, where he finished second.<\/p>\n Captain Albano<\/a> won the second leg of the Graduate, which featured a field of 11, by three-quarters of a length over Calicojack Hanover in 1:49.2. Captain Luke, who was a Graduate division winner at Mohawk, finished third.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been really happy with the way he\u2019s come back,\u201d said Todd McCarthy, who has driven Captain Albano<\/a> for trainer Noel Daley in all but two of the horse\u2019s 28 career races. \u201cNoel kind of brought him back slowly, took his time with him, and he\u2019s sharpening right up for me. He was just awesome the other night. He\u2019s still, obviously, not all the way there yet, but he\u2019s getting pretty close.\u201d<\/p>\n Captain Albano<\/a>, who also was a Dan Patch Award winner at age 2, hit the board in 16 of 18 races last year, winning 12 and earning $1.12 million. In addition to the Progress Pace, his wins included the Little Brown Jug, Adios, Max C. Hempt Memorial, and Matron Stakes. He captured 10 of his final 12 races and brings a four-race win streak to Saturday\u2019s start.<\/p>\n For his career, Captain Albano<\/a> has won 20 of his 28 starts, missed the top three only twice, and banked $1.60 million. The son of Captaintreacherous<\/a>-Angelou is owned by Patricia Stable, LA Express & Sjoblom Inc., Sjoblom Racing, and Michael Dolan.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I heard he was coming back, I was pretty thrilled about it,\u201d McCarthy said. \u201cTo get to sit behind him again for another year or so is exciting. It\u2019s a pretty cool thing. I\u2019m looking forward to it.\u201d<\/p>\n McCarthy said he hasn\u2019t noticed many changes in Captain Albano<\/a> from ages 3 to 4.<\/p>\n \u201cHe seems to be the same horse,\u201d McCarthy said. \u201cHe\u2019s really well-mannered, and a really nice horse to drive. He can be pretty lazy, then once he switches on and he knows he\u2019s got to go to work, he picks the bit up and he wants to go. He\u2019s pretty much the same as the way he finished up last year. I couldn\u2019t be any happier with him.\u201d<\/p>\n On Saturday, McCarthy and Captain Albano<\/a> will leave from post 10 in the field of 12, which will require two horses (Chain Gang and McCrunch) to start from trailing positions. Captain Albano<\/a> is the 7-2 second choice on the morning line, behind only 3-1 Nijinsky from post five with Louis Roy driving for trainer Anthony Beaton.<\/p>\n \u201cI just wish we drew a little better,\u201d McCarthy said. \u201cThe 10-hole, that\u2019s a bit of a mission for him, but hopefully we can figure out a trip and end up in the mix somewhere.\u201d<\/p>\n Saturday\u2019s Meadowlands card also features the third round of the Graduate Series for 4-year-old trotters. A field of 10 will compete for the $75,000 purse, with Sir Pinocchio the 3-1 morning-line favorite from post one with Jason Bartlett driving for trainer Ed Hart. Sir Pinocchio won a second-round division last week at The Big M.<\/p>\n Private Access, who is 2-for-2 in the series, is the 7-2 second choice. He will leave from post four with Roy in the sulky for trainer Luc Blais.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Captain-Albano-Lisa-Photo.jpg\")
Captain Albano<\/a> won the second leg of the Graduate Series by three-quarters of a length over Calicojack Hanover in 1:49.2. Lisa Photo. <\/p>\n