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First Captain Seeks Rebound in Pimlico Special

The son of Curlin adds blinkers after running last in the Carter Handicap (G1).

First Captain May 18 at Pimlico Race Course

First Captain May 18 at Pimlico Race Course

Anne M. Eberhardt

Grade 3 winner First Captain, exiting the worst finish of his career, will get an opportunity to rebound as well as give Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey his first victory in the historic $300,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) May 20 at Pimlico Race Course.

McGaughey was mystified by First Captain's most recent effort in the April 9 seven-furlong Carter Handicap (G1), where he chased the pace and got within a length and a half of the leaders before giving way and finishing last of seven. The 4-year-old hasn't been around two turns since running third in last summer's Curlin Stakes at Saratoga Race Course and will wear blinkers for the first time.

"I am excited to get him around two turns and put blinkers on him to try to get him to focus a little more," said McGaughey. "I don't know what happened in the Carter, but all his other races have been fine. We will see what happens. I can draw a line through the Carter. He is doing good."

First Captain went unraced at two and reeled off three consecutive wins to open his 3-year-old year capped by a 1 3/4-length triumph in the Dwyer Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park. Following his effort in the Curlin, he was being pointed to the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) before getting the rest of the year off.

"The Curlin was a tough trip," said Tom Bellhouse, executive vice president of co-owner West Point Thoroughbreds. "On the far turn a horse kind of got out real bad and carried him out toward Union Avenue. He really had a tough trip there and he got roughed up a little bit and I think at that point Shug said, 'Let's just stop on him and let him grow and develop' and hopefully we have a real serious 4-year-old."

Owned in partnership by West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm, Woodford Racing, and Bobby Flay, the regally bred son of Curlin  launched his 4-year-old campaign with a come-from-behind head triumph in a seven-furlong allowance optional claiming Feb. 27 at Gulfstream Park.

Luis Saez is named to ride First Captain for the first time from post 8 in a field of 11.

Untreated<br>
Preakness coverage at Pimlico Racecourse on May 19, 2022.
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Untreated heads out for training May 19 at Pimlico Race Course

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher won the Pimlico Special in back-to-back years with Revolutionary (2014) and Commissioner (2015), and this year is well represented by Untreated and Vindictive . Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable, and LNJ Foxwoods' Vindictive enters off an allowance optional claiming victory March 25 at Aqueduct Racetrack. The Uncle Mo  colt was third in his only prior stakes appearance in last year's Discovery Stakes.

Team Valor International's Untreated was sixth behind Olympiad  in the Mineshaft Stakes (G3) in February, his 4-year-old debut, and last time worked his way to a short lead at the head of the stretch but wound up second by a short head to Forewarned in the April 2 Excelsior Stakes at Aqueduct. Forewarned also returns in the Pimlico Special.

Video

"We think this race is the right distance for him. When he works in the mornings, his gallop-outs are stronger than his breezes. And his last three or four works have been really good," Team Valor founder and CEO Barry Irwin said of Untreated. "We think this horse is one that will continue to get better. He's only had seven races, but he's coming into this race good."

Shooger Ray Too, Workin On a Dream, Capocostello, Excellorator, Treasure Trove, Mischief Afoot, and Mohaafeth complete the field.

Entries: Pimlico Special S. (G3)

Pimlico Race Course, Friday, May 20, 2022, Race 12

  • Grade III
  • 1 3/16m
  • Dirt
  • $300,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 5:10 PM (local)
PPHorseJockeyWgtTrainerM/L
11Vindictive (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateIrad Ortiz, Jr.120Todd A. Pletcher2/1
22Shooger Ray Too (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateTyler Gaffalione120J. Tyler Servis20/1
33Untreated (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJoel Rosario120Todd A. Pletcher7/2
44Workin On a Dream (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateHoracio Karamanos120Robin L. Graham12/1
55Forewarned (OH)Keeneland Sales GraduateDexter Haddock122Uriah St. Lewis12/1
66Capocostello (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateFlavien Prat120Fausto Gutierrez8/1
77Excellorator (MD)Keeneland Sales GraduateJean C. Alvelo120Hugh I. McMahon15/1
88First Captain (KY)Luis Saez120Claude R. McGaughey III5/1
99Treasure Trove (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJevian Toledo120Anthony Farrior12/1
1010Mischief Afoot (KY)Keeneland Sales GraduateJose L. Ortiz120James J. Toner12/1
1111Mohaafeth (KY)Ruben Silvera120Elvis Trujillo20/1