A Shocking Saratoga Result  for Maury Povich

M

aury Povich had been known to deliver shocking results to his guests on his syndicated television show.

However, the retired long-time television personality had his own shocking results on Friday when My Flicker gave him, trainer Phillip Capuano, and jockey Carlos Lopez their first winner at Saratoga Race Course.

Coming from Laurel Park, My Flicker stalked the pace from the outside through the first quarter before jockey Lopez made his move going into the far turn, then cruised to a four-length victory in a $50,000 claiming race for fillies and mares.

“When I saw that race in the book at Saratoga, if there was a race that I could win for Maury, even as competitive as it is up there, then this would be it,” Capuano said. “It reaffirmed me when I saw the form and the perfect post position. She has good tactical speed to break sharp. From there, she can go on the front end or she can sit just off the pace. She ran a great race.”

“When he was a kid, his father used to bring him to Saratoga a lot,” Capuano added. “More than anything, we wanted a win at Saratoga. I’m happy for him.”

Povich and his wife Connie Chung, a journalist and news anchor, have been involved in Thoroughbred racing over the last six years on the Maryland circuit with their Mopo Racing Stable. Dale Capuano, who won 3,662 races during this 41-year career, had been their trainer before his retirement in 2022. During their time, they had the multiple stakes-winning gelding Alwaysinahurry and the undefeated Moquist.

At the latter part of Dale Capuano’s training career, his nephew Phillip Capuano helped him. Simultaneously, Phillip Capuano had been working for his father Gary Capuano, who trained Captain Bodgit to win the Florida Derby and Wood Memorial before finishing second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness in 1997. Phillip Capuano assisted his uncle for a couple of months before taking over his horses, which included Povich’s horses.

“I worked for my father for years,” Phillip Capuano said. “I learned a lot from him. He has been a fantastic trainer. He is continuing to have a lot of success in the mid-Atlantic region, especially with young horses and 2-year-olds. He’s fantastic in developing and keeping horses going. My only regret is not working long enough with Dale before he retired.”

“In this game, there are so many things that have to go your way.”

Over the last couple of years, Povich and Chung have raced just five horses that make up the Mopo Racing Stable. With the help of Phillip Capuano, they are hoping to build on that, especially with horses like My Flicker, who they claimed in April for $40,000, and a pair of 2-year-olds who were bought at this year’s Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sales at Timonium in May.

“We had talked back in December. His stable was dwindling down and he wanted to get a couple of horses,” Phillip Capuano said. “A mare like [My Flicker] who has proven to win or be right there and be ultra-competitive, those are the kind of horses that Maury is looking for. He doesn’t mind buying horses out of the sales or claiming.”

“Maury and Connie are such great people,” Phillip Capuano added. “Even when things are down, they are always optimistic. I couldn’t ask for better connections to work for. I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity after my uncle Dale retired. They had no problem bringing their horses to me. It means the world to me. I’ll do anything and everything that I can to provide them success and fun.”

Before the Saratoga meet comes to an end on Labor Day, Phillip Capauano is hoping he can continue that success in bringing two more of Povich’s horses for ideal races: Mopo and Miss Notion – both purchased as yearlings at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Sale.

Since her impressive debut in November, Miss Notion continues providing hope for Phillip Capuano and Povich, even with some setbacks and challenges that include losing her rider in the Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes.

Sold for $52,000, Ms. Notion had been consistently posting good workouts at Laurel Park since her return to Capuano’s barn in April, then she was given a break starting in early June.

“She’s very talented. I have been high on her when she was a 2-year-old,” Capuano said. “I gave her a little bit of time. I brought her back and had her ready to run, then she ran into another setback. The good thing about Maury and Connie is they are very patient people. The last thing they want to see is something happen to any of their horses. They are more than willing to give their horses time.”

Mopo, a Maryland-bred who Povich bought for $65,000, has been showing gradual improvement in her five career starts, including her maiden win in May followed by a close second-place finish in an allowance race last month – both on the turf.

“I am hoping that if I can get MoPo up here, I think she could be competitive,” Phillip Capuano said. “She can run all day on the turf.”

With My Flicker now returned to Maryland following her win, Phillip Capuano is satisfied with the way everything came into play, especially because he can still keep the mare since no one claimed her.

“I’m glad this worked out,” Phllip Capuano said. “In this game, there are so many things that have to go your way. I was happy with the way everything lined up. Hopefully, I can have a little more success up there this summer; pick the right spots and win a couple of more races and keep everyone happy.”