Captain Cook easily made the jump from the maiden ranks to stakes competition winning the $250,000 Withers Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths Saturday at Aqueduct and landing at least somewhere near the Kentucky Derby trail.
Confidently ridden by Manny Franco, who kept his mount three wide around both turns while sitting just off the pace, Captain Cook, who didn’t break well, had to fend off a quarter-pole challenge from 33-1 shot Surfside Moon. Stalking from fourth, Surfside Moon passed pacesetters Uncle Jim and Mo Quality and turned for home travelling better than Captain Cook, but Captain Cook hunkered down and by the eighth pole had reasserted command. Surfside Moon fading, Captain Cook stayed strong to the finish and crossed the line comfortably best.
While none but the top two did much running, and Surfside Moon came into the Withers with a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 63 finishing fifth in the Laurel Futurity, Captain Cook, off splits of 24.11, 49.13, and 1:13.64, stopped the timer in 1:51.83 for 1 1/8 miles over fast track. That made him the fastest Withers winner since Tax posted a 1:50.27 in 2019, and the Aqueduct surface by no means played quick during Saturday’s card.
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Captain Cook, the 7-5 favorite, paid $4.90 to win. Omaha Omaha, last as usual during the early and middle stages, ground home third, 6 1/2 lengths behind Surfside Moon, and was followed by Mo Quality and Uncle Jim. The Withers is part of Churchill Downs’ Road to the Kentucky Derby and the top five finishers earned 20, 10, 6, 4, and 2 Derby qualifying points, respectively.
Trained by Rick Dutrow, Captain Cook is a son of Practical Joke and the Indian Charlie mare Pow Wow Wow. A troubled sixth in his Churchill Downs debut last fall when trained by Norm Casse for his breeder, the Marylou Whitney Stables, Captain Cook was purchased by the St. Elias Stable for $410,000 at Keeneland’s November Horses of Racing Age Sale.
Making his first start for Dutrow, Captain Cook on Dec. 28 pressed the pace racing seven furlongs on a sloppy track before taking over and winning by 9 1/4 lengths with an 83 Beyer Speed Figure.
“I’m not thinking about the Derby right now, but he did get the job done the right way and he went three wide around both turns here, didn’t break so sharp,” Dutrow said to New York Racing Association publicity. “First time around two turns, mile and an eighth – he ran big.”
Dutrow might not be thinking Derby, but he is thinking Wood Memorial, which is not until April 5.
“We’re very excited about running him back in the Wood, and I think that’s the next reasonable spot; a mile and an eighth, plenty of time, which he likes. Any horse would like plenty of time. We’ve got a target, we’re happy, we’re excited,” Dutrow said.
Captain Cook handled stakes competition almost as easily as he had maidens. He’s run just three times, and he stays nine furlongs. Dutrow might be thinking Derby come April.
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