
Stars of Yesterday: Looking Back at Best Rebel Stakes Winners
Captain Cook 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 test for 3-year-olds Feb. 1 at Aqueduct Racetrack. He overcame a wide trip and repelled a stretch bid from 33-1 longshot Surfside Moon to capture the Withers in 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," trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. said.
Perhaps in two months trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. will start focusing on the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, but for now he's quite content to know he has an exciting 3-year-old in Captain Cook who can be pointed to more lucrative stakes such as the Grade 2 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct on April 5.
"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."
The win provided Captain Cook with 20 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. 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 his first Kentucky Derby start 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."
Captain Cook finished sixth at Churchill Downs in his career debut for different connections. He joined the Dutrow barn for owners St. Elias Stable for his second lifetime start, which resulted in a 9 1/4-length score in a Dec. 28 maiden race over a sloppy surface at the Big A.
In the Withers, Captain Cook raced in third with Manny Franco aboard as Uncle Jim posted early fractions of :24.11 and :49.13. Captain Cook made a strong move to the lead turning for home with the only late bid coming from Surfside Moon, who drew alongside at the top of the stretch but could not keep pace in the final furlong.
Surfside Moon trained by James Lawrence II was second and received 10 Kentucky Derby points. Omaha Omaha trained by Michael Gorham rallied after a slow start to finish 6 1/2 lengths back in third. He picked up six points and now has 11.
Captain Cook ($4.90), the 7-5 favorite, won in a time of 1:51.83.