Captain Cook Takes Withers in Stakes Debut

Perhaps in two months trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. will start focusing on the Kentucky Derby (G1). For now anyway, he's quite content to know he has an exciting 3-year-old in Captain Cook who can be pointed to another lucrative stakes. "It feels good that we can head him towards another big stakes for his next start. I'm not thinking about the Derby just yet," Dutrow said. "We're very happy with him, man, but we've been that way since he's run for us." As much as the April 5 Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) figures to be the acid test for Captain Cook, St. Elias Stable's son of Practical Joke surely looked the part of a Triple Crown contender as he posted a 2 1/4-length victory in the $250,000 Withers Stakes, a 1 1/8-mile affair for 3-year-olds Feb. 1 at Aqueduct Racetrack. Contested at the same two-turn, 1 1/8-mile distance at the Big A as the Wood, Captain Cook overcame a wide trip and repelled a stretch bid from 33-1 longshot Surfside Moon to capture his stakes debut. "He did get the job done the right way. He went three wide around both turns. He didn't break sharp but it was his first time around two turns and a mile and an eighth," Dutrow said. "It's all been good since he's run for us, so I hope that continues." The win provided Captain Cook with 20 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, and with Dutrow targeting the Wood (100-50-25-15-10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points) for the colt's next start, a first or second there will be enough to return Dutrow to Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May for the first time since 2010. "We're very excited about running him back in the Wood," said Dutrow, who won the 2008 Kentucky Derby with Big Brown. "That's what I think is the next reasonable spot. It's plenty of time, which he likes." Dutrow was also thrilled to be training Captain Cook for Vinnie Viola's St. Elias Stable. Dutrow said he has talked to Viola for about 15 years in regards to training for him. "He told me, 'Rick, why would I want to do something like that?'" Dutrow said in recounting his initial conversation with Viola. That opportunity finally presented itself last year after Viola bought Captain Cook through agent Steve Young for $410,000 from the Keeneland November Horses of Racing Age Sale. Bred by Marylou Whitney Stables, the colt was consigned by Gainesway as part of the dispersal of the estate of John Hendrickson. Captain Cook was sixth at Churchill Downs in his first start for owner/breeder Marylou Whitney Stables, but his debut for Dutrow was a 9 1/4-length score in a Dec. 28 maiden race over a sloppy Big A surface. In the Withers, Captain Cook was third early with Manny Franco as Uncle Jim posted early fractions of :24.11 and :49.13. They made a strong move to the lead turning for home with the only late bid coming from Surfside Moon who drew alongside him at the top of the stretch but could not keep pace in the final furlong. Captain Cook ($4.90), the 7-5 favorite, was timed in 1:51.83. Manor Stable and Mair Lee Stables' Surfside Moon, a son of Malibu Moon trained by James Lawrence II, was second and received 10 Kentucky Derby points. On Your Left Racing's Omaha Omaha, a son of Audible trained by Michael Gorham, was 6 1/2 lengths back in third after a slow start. He picked up six points and now has 11. Out of the Indian Charlie mare Pow Wow Wow, Captain Cook is the fifth of her six foals and the first stakes winner. Gainesway Farm purchased Pow Wow Wow for $7,000 at the 2025 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale.