ON TO NORWAY SCORES STAKES RECORD IN GRADUATE TROT; CAPTAIN OPTIMISTIC SCORCHES GRADUATE PACE
The sizzling heat on a steamy Saturday night (July 4) at The Meadowlands bubbled into electric miles in the pair of $230,000 Grade 2 Stan Bergstein Graduate Series Finals with On To Norway torching a stakes record in winning the Graduate Trot and Captain Optimistic barreling to equal the all-age North American season’s record in the Graduate Pace ...
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- July 4, 2026 -- The sizzling heat on a steamy Saturday night (July 4) at The Meadowlands bubbled into electric miles in the pair of $230,000 Grade 2 Stan Bergstein Graduate Series Finals with On To Norway torching a stakes record in winning the Graduate Trot and Captain Optimistic barreling to equal the all-age North American season’s record in the Graduate Pace.
On To Norway seized vindication from defeat with a 1:48.3 stake-record mile to make his first return to the winner’s circle since the end of his 27-race win streak.
Driver Yannick Gingras sent the Ron Burke pupil forward out of post 9 and found a seat in fourth as Walspea sped to the lead in a :26.3 first quarter. Gingras idled up the backstretch as Walspea maintained sharp speed to a :53.4 half until Mr Mouton edged off the pylons from third to take a shot in the last turn. Walspea remained on the muscle through the last turn as Mr Mouton stalled, prompting Gingras to duck to the pylons as the field straggled to three-quarters in 1:21.1. Despite the quick fractions, Walspea stayed game in the stretch as pocket-popping Meshuggah rolled off stride with favorite Super Chapter closing over the top from third over, but On To Norway emerged from his inside seam to split rivals late and strike the winning blow by a neck. Super Chapter settled for second with Walspea finishing third and Mr Mouton taking fourth.
“Tonight he was sharp,” Yannick Gingras said after the race. “I didn’t think he was quite as good last time, but the first time I drove him he was pretty aggressive in the post parade. Last time he raced him he was pretty nice and I was like ‘Maybe he’s not quite himself.’ Tonight he was definitely full of himself in the post parade and he delivered. I thought I had it like 50 yards to the wire. I felt pretty confident there.”
Winning his 32nd race from 39 starts, On To Norway has now earned $840,131. His 1:48.3 mile bests the track record for 4-year-old trotting geldings that he established on June 12 this year when winning a Graduate Series prelim in 1:49.3. The mark also lowers the all-age North American trotting record by Homicide Hunter of 1:48.4 set in 2018 and beats the previous stakes record of 1:49.1 set in 2019 when Atlanta won the Graduate Trot. Ron Burke trains the 4-year-old gelding by Muscle Massive-One Class Act for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC, Frank Baldachino, Black And White Stable and Michael Rosenthal. He paid $9.40 to win.
Captain Optimistic continued in his comeback season from the breeding shed with a front-stepping win in the Graduate Series Pace to equal the fastest mile paced in North America this season.
Leaving from post 5, driver Scott Zeron sent the Nancy Takter trainee to the top through a :26.2 first quarter and stayed on the motor for the rest of the mile. Go Go Grasshopper, parked from the start, tried to push up the rim to a :53.3 half but Captain Optimistic chugged along with speed that spun his rivals wheels as he opened his advantage to three-quarters in 1:19.4. Captain Optimistic charged through the lane under steady Zeron encouragement to post a 3-3/4-length win in a lifetime-best 1:46.3 mile, equaling the North American season’s mark set one race prior by Ervin Hanover in the Dave Brower Memorial. Prince Hal Hanover sat third at the pylons around the track and grabbed second from pocket-chaser Swingtown while Sugar Man stormed down the center of the track for fourth.
“He’s matured a lot, I think that’s mostly what’s been the difference this year,” Nancy Takter said after the race. “He obviously grew up, filled out and got stronger. He was always a big boy and I think just getting stronger and being able to carry his speed has helped him a lot. The horse has been super all year – he’s bred mares this spring – and he’s just shown up in top form. Hopefully a lot of mares got in foal and hopefully those owners that bred their mares to him are going to be real excited in the spring next year when they have a baby by him.”
A 4-year-old stallion by Captaintreacherous-Cinamony, Captain Optimistic won his third race from five starts this season and his 15th race from 36 starts in his career, earning $1,302,257. He’s owned by the Captain Optimistic Syndicate and paid $7.40 to win.
