Dutrow's 2 Kentucky Derby hopefuls prep for Wood Memorial

Captain Cook breezed a half-mile in 49 seconds flat Wednesday over the Belmont Park dirt training track as he prepares for the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial, a nine-furlong test for sophomores at Aqueduct on April 5.

The Wood Memorial offers 100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top five finishers.

Trained by Rick Dutrow, the Practical Joke bay was completing his sixth work since capturing the nine-furlong Withers last out on Feb. 1 at Aqueduct under Manny Franco, earning 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

Blake Dutrow, Dutrow's nephew and Belmont Park-based assistant, said the solo work went smoothly.

“It was mostly maintenance. He’s ready so we are just trying to keep him happy and stay out of his way, because we feel like if the Wood were tomorrow, he’d be ready for it, if it’s next week, he’s ready,” Blake Dutrow said. “As long as he stays the way he is, we will feel like he has a good shot.”

Franco, the current meet-leading rider with 63 wins, was aboard for Wednesday’s work.

“Manny gets along with him well. He does a good job with him in the morning and the afternoons, so we are trying not to make too many changes there,” Dutrow said. “Since the Withers, Captain Cook has come out of the race good and done everything we’ve asked. We feel like he is definitely getting better and better each day.”

In the Withers, Captain Cook stalked in third position, ranged up to the lead in the turn and held off a late try from Surfside Moon to win by 2 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:51.83. He is 2-for-2 for Dutrow after a sixth on debut for trainer Norm Casse ahead of a dominant 9 1/4-length graduation sprinting seven furlongs over a sloppy and sealed track Dec. 28 at Aqueduct in his first start for new connections.

Captain Cook, stretching out around two turns for the first time in the Withers, earned a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure from Daily Racing Form.

“He’s nonchalant, all business when you ask him, and he knows it’s time. I’d say he’s getting more mature each day. He is a pleasant horse to be around,” Blake Dutrow said.

Captain Cook was purchased after his debut for $410,000 at the 2024 Keeneland November horses of racing age sale as part of the dispersal of the estate of the late John Hendrickson.

Bred by Marylou Whitney Stables, Captain Cook is out of the Grade 2-placed Indian Charlie mare Pow Wow Wow. His third dam is 2003 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner and champion 3-year-old filly Bird Town, a half-sister of 2004 Belmont Stakes and Travers (G1) victor Birdstone, both out of the reine-de-course mare Dear Birdie.

Dutrow also has McAfee nominated to the Wood Memorial. The Cloud Computing dark bay was fifth last out in the one-turn mile Gotham (G3) on March 1 at Aqueduct, picking up five Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

McAfee breezed a half-mile in 49.65 seconds Thursday morning over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

“We had a good work with him. Rick is going to talk it over with the connections and come up with the best plan moving forward. Eric Cancel breezed him and really liked him,” Blake Dutrow said. “Again, he is another horse doing everything we ask. He’s lightly raced, and we feel he has a lot of good races ahead of him in his 3-year-old year.”

McAfee, a $40,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September yearling sale, is out of the Uncle Mo mare Sataves, making him a half-brother to 2024 horse of the year Thorpedo Anna.