First Captain | Sarah Andrews
10-Gulfstream, $56,000, Alw (C) / Select. Clm ($75,000), 2-27, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:22.19, ft, head.
FIRST CAPTAIN (c, 4, Curlin–America {GSW & MGISP, $580,532}, by AP Indy) faces a small but controversial field for his 4-year-old debut, including GSWs Trophy Chaser (Spinning candy) and Dennis ‘Moment (Tiznow) – later also a ‘Rising star TDN’–As well as Real Talk (Gem House) and Hello Hot Rod (Mosler). ONE ‘Rising star TDN’ himself, the First Captain was the slowest of the stalls, but kept in touch with the tightly packed area from behind. Nearly five miles behind and off the rails at: 22.71 quarters, he is still behind at mark: 45.24 half a mile but making progress. Still wide, the 4-5 favorites appeared threatening in the first leg outside, receiving occasional right-handed encouragement from Jose Ortiz. Just when it looked like he had too much to do, the First Captain kicked into another device that simply strode off the rope, inhaling on the frontrunner Doc Amster (Shipman) – the only non-bet winner in this field – in the last second can be head.
With only four previous starts under his belt, First Captain won the first three. He first broke his maiden claim last April in Belmont, receiving a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. For a second straight win, claiming the Belmont allowance in May and winning both 95 Beyer and ‘Rising Star’, the $1.5 million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga award went to GIII Dwyer S. in July and became the most popular award. He is third in Saratoga’s Curlin S. later that month and Hall of Fame coach Shug McGaughey gave him plenty of time to regroup before his 4 year old campaign.
Chef Bobby Flay bred the First Captain and stayed for part of the Curlin pony. As Flay recently detailed in a edition of the Mating Planhe is breeding chestnut dam, USA, back Curlin this year for a full sibling. America also produced full sisters for the First Captain in 2019 and 2021. Her only other mate has been Uncle Mo, the American has a 2-year-old pony named Kid American ($550,000 RNA at KEESEP), and with whom she is expecting a pony this year. Flay also has an American half-sister, Street Strut (Street Cry {Ire}), who will Organization. An American half-sister produced GISW Paris Lights 2020 (Curlin) and the family return to Blush With Pride (Frequent Groom), First Captain’s fourth dam. Blush With Pride – winner of the GI Kentucky Oaks in 1982 – came out of Broodmare of the Year Best in Show (Traffic Judge) and produced Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honor (Vice Minister). Sales History: $1,500,000 Ylg ’19 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-4-0-1, $285,600. Click to view Equibase.com chart or VIDEO sponsored by TVG.
O-West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm LLC, Bobby Flay, & Woodford Racing, LLC; BB. Purebred Flay (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III.
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This story was posted in Top News and tagged subsidize, Bobby Flay, Curlin, First Captain, The ocean currents around the bay, Shug McGaughey, Rising star TDN.
