10th-Gulfstream, $56,000, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($75,000), 2-27, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:22.19, ft, head.
FIRST CAPTAIN (c, 4, Curlin–America {GSW & MGISP, $580,532}, by A.P. Indy) faced a small but competitive field for his 4-year-old debut, including GSWs Trophy Chaser (Twirling Candy) and Dennis' Moment (Tiznow)–the latter also a 'TDN Rising Star'–as well as black-type winners Real Talk (Gemologist) and Hello Hot Rod (Mosler). A 'TDN Rising Star' himself, First Captain was slowest of all out of the stalls, yet kept in touch with the tightly packed field from the back. Nearly five lengths behind and well off the rail at the :22.71 quarter, he was still in the rear at the :45.24 half-mile mark but making progress. Still wide, the 4-5 favorite loomed menacingly on the turn on the outside, getting occasional right-handed encouragement from Jose Ortiz. Just when it looked like he had too much to do, First Captain kicked into another gear just strides from the wire, inhaling frontrunner Doc Amster (Midshipman)–the only non-stakes winner in the field–in the last possible second by a head.
With only four previous starts under his girth, First Captain won his first three. He broke his maiden at first asking last April at Belmont, getting a 94 Beyer Speed Figure. With a second consecutive win, taking a Belmont allowance in May and accorded both a 95 Beyer and 'Rising Star' status, the $1.5-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling went into the GIII Dwyer S. in July and prevailed as the favorite. He flattened to third in Saratoga's Curlin S. later that month and Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey gave him plenty of time to regroup before his 4-year-old campaign.
Chef Bobby Flay bred First Captain and stayed in for a piece of the Curlin colt. As Flay recently detailed in an edition of Mating Plans, he is breeding the chestnut's dam, America, back to Curlin this year for a full-sibling. America also produced full-sisters to First Captain in 2019 and 2021. Her lone other mate has been Uncle Mo, by whom America has a 2-year-old colt named Kid America (a $550,000 RNA at KEESEP), and by whom she is expecting a foal this year. Flay also has America's half-sister Street Strut (Street Cry {Ire}), who is going to Constitution. Another half-sister to America produced 2020 GISW Paris Lights (Curlin) and the family goes back to Blush With Pride (Blushing Groom {Fr}), First Captain's fourth dam. Blush With Pride-winner of the 1982 GI Kentucky Oaks–was out of Broodmare of the Year Best in Show (Traffic Judge) and produced Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister). Sales History: $1,500,000 Ylg '19 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-4-0-1, $285,600. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
O-West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm LLC, Bobby Flay, & Woodford Racing, LLC; B-B. Flay Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Claude R. McGaughey III.
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