After defections, McGaughey enters First Captain in Dwyer

ELMONT, N.Y. – The field for Monday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Dwyer Stakes underwent some revision – and could still undergo more – before it was drawn on Friday with a field of five.

With the field losing a couple of players – most notably Following Sea and then his stablemate Mahaamel – trainer Shug McGaughey opted to alter course with First Captain. Rather than wait until the Curlin Stakes on July 30 at Saratoga, McGaughey will have First Captain make his stakes debut in the Dwyer, a one-turn mile.

First Captain, a son of Curlin, has gone 2 for 2 at this meet, including a one-length allowance victory here in the slop on May 29.

Mahaamel, who First Captain defeated on debut April 24, was going to run in the Dwyer, but got a temperature last week and missed a work, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. Following Sea, an impressive allowance winner for Pletcher here June 3, was also a candidate for the Dwyer, but his connections have opted to stretch him out in the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell on July 17, Pletcher confirmed.

The Dwyer attracted three horses cross-entered in other races. Snow House, entered in Friday’s Iowa Derby, has been rerouted to the Dwyer by Brad Cox. Gershwin, trained by Michael Stidham for Godolphin, is entered in Saturday’s Kent Stakes at Delaware. He would only run there if that race was rained off the turf. Ridin With Biden is entered in Sunday’s $100,000 Manila Stakes scheduled for the turf at Belmont.

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Civil War, second to Stage Raider in an allowance, completes the field.