Kentucky Derby prep: Captain Cook stalks, scores in Withers

New York

Captain Cook rallied from a stalking position to win the $250,000 Withers Stakes at Aqueduct on Saturday. The son of Practical Joke earned 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for Vinnie Viola’s St. Elias Stable and trainer Rick Dutrow.

Dutrow won the 2008 Kentucky Derby with Big Brown but had only one other starter in the run for the roses two years later with Homeboykris, who finished 16th. St. Elias Stable was part of the large ownership group that won the 2017 Derby with Always Dreaming.

Click here for Aqueduct entries and results.

Fifteen years later Dutrow finds himself back on the Derby trail after Captain Cook’s 2 1/4-length victory in the Withers. It came in his third career start following and impressive maiden, 9 1/4-length win on Dec. 28 going seven furlongs at the Big A.

“It feels good that we can head him towards another big race for his next start,” Dutrow said. “I love that. 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. First time around two turns, mile-and-an-eighth, he ran big.”

Captain Cook began his career racing for trainer Norm Casse as a Whitney Stables homebred and finished sixth in his six-furlong debut Oct. 27 at Churchill Downs. As part of the Whitney dispersal, Viola bought him for $410,000 at the Keeneland November sale and sent him to Dutrow.

“I called (Viola) 15 years ago, and I said, Vinnie, let’s get some horses. And he said, ‘Rick, why would I want to do something like that?’ So I’ve always loved him. Always wanted to be with him.”

Uncle Jim was the early leader in the 1 1/8-mile Derby prep race followed by Mo Quality. Captain Cook was third on the outside during the first six furlongs that had fractions of 24.11, 49.13, and 1:13.64.

As the field went around the final turn and hit the stretch, there were four horses across the track with Captain Cook and Surfside Moon catching the leaders. Captain Cook got control of the race and drew off to the clear victory with a final time of 1:51.83. Despite the slow pace, it wound up being the fastest running of the Withers since 2019.

“It was his first time around two turns,” jockey Manny Franco said. “I was a little bit worried about that, but at the same time confident, because I've been working him in the mornings, and I got to know him well. I knew he had stamina, but you never know. He proved he’s a runner.”

Captain Cook was the 7-5 morning-line favorite, and he paid $4.90, $3.00, and $2.40. Surfside Mood got 10 Derby points and at 33-1 completed a $52.50 exacta. Omaha Omaha rallied from last to get six points and finish the $134 trifecta. Mo Quality got four points for finishing fourth, and Uncle Jim picked up two points for fifth.

“We’re very excited about running him back in the Wood,” Dutrow said. “I think that’s the next reasonable spot, a mile-and-an-eighth, plenty of time, which he likes. We’ve got a target. We’re happy. We’re excited.”