Now with Pletcher, Captain Cook works
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Captain Cook, winner of the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct in February, has been transferred by owners Vinnie and Teresa Viola from Rick Dutrow to Todd Pletcher and will be considered for multiple upcoming stakes, including the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens on Aug. 23.
On Friday, Captain Cook worked a half-mile in 48.83 seconds in company with the Grade 1-winning filly Candied over Saratoga’s main track. It was Captain Cook’s first work for Pletcher and first since he ran third in the Maxfield Stakes on June 29 at Churchill Downs.
“I thought he breezed very well, willing, stayed focus to the wire, and galloped out nicely,” Pletcher said.
Pletcher said that, aside from the Travers, Captain Cook will be “nominated to everything and we’ll see how things go the next week.
Following his victory in the Withers, Captain Cook finished fourth as the favorite in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial and third as the favorite in the Grade 3 Peter Pan. Meanwhile, Candied, third in the Molly Pitcher Stakes last out, is being considered for the Grade 2, $400,000 Locust Grove on Sept. 13 at Churchill Downs.
Leslie’s Rose, the Grade 2 Shuvee Stakes winner, worked a half-mile in 50.38 in preparation for a start in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign on Aug. 23. Meanwhile, Tizzy in the Sky, a multiple stakes winner who was retired earlier this year after a slight injury, has been returned to training. On Friday, Tizzy in the Sky worked three furlongs in 38.68 over the main track.
According to owner Donnie Orenstein, Tizzy in the Sky was in foal to Not This Time but lost that foal. She has been in training for a month and, depending on how she fares, could return to racing later this year. Tizzy in the Sky has an affinity for Aqueduct, where she has won six races, including three stakes topped by the Grade 3 Go for Wand.
“She seems as enthusiastic as ever,” Pletcher said.
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