West Point Thoroughbreds is already enjoying a special summer, having scored its 1,000th victory in August. The partnership looks to keep working on its next 1,000 this weekend, with Grade 1 action from coast to coast with leading older horses it runs in partnership. First Captain contests the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Saturday evening at Saratoga. Less than three hours later, Flightline looks to remain unbeaten in the Pacific Classic at Del Mar. West Point, founded in 1991, has enjoyed a long run as one of the nation’s leading partnerships, amassing more than $63.6 million in purse earnings, according to its own statistics, and winning more than 100 stakes. The group gave its investors the dream of a lifetime when it hit the winner’s circle with 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, in partnership with Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Teresa Viola Racing, Siena Farm, MeB Racing, and St. Elias Stables. West Point also has been involved, solely or in partnership, with Grade 1 winners Awesome Gem, Decorated Invader, Dream Rush, Flashy Bull, Hard Not to Love, Irish Smoke, Lear’s Princess, Macho Again, Ring Weekend, and Twilight Eclipse. And, most recently, Flightline. :: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales On Aug. 21, Phantom Smoke reached the 1,000-win milestone for West Point in an allowance-level event at Saratoga. “This is a wonderful milestone for West Point and all the partners we’ve had along the way, thousands of people who have entrusted us with their aspirations and their investment in horse racing,” founder Terry Finley said. “I can’t thank them enough. What a game Thoroughbred racing is – take it from me. We started with a $5,000 claimer at Philadelphia Park, and that was an awesome experience. I’ll never forget the feeling when we won our first race. It never gets old. One thousand is a very nice, round number to look back and reflect and appreciate the partners, the horses, the riders, and the trainers and their staffs.” First Captain and Flightline, the current stars for the West Point investors – some of which own shares in both horses – were bought as yearlings during the same 48-hour period at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga selected sale. Finley signed for both. First Captain, by Curlin, brought $1.5 million to be the co-sale-topper, with West Point partnering with Siena, Woodford Racing, and breeder Bobby Flay. Flightline, by Tapit, cost a cool $1 million, bought by the partnership of West Point, Hronis Racing, Siena, Woodford, and breeder Summer Wind Farm. The two headed to separate coasts, for trainers Shug McGaughey and John Sadler, respectively, and neither started until age 3. First Captain has won 5 of 8 starts, only missing the board once. First Captain won the Grade 3 Dwyer in 2021, and this year he has won the Grade 3 Pimlico Special and was second by a nose in the Grade 2 Suburban in his most recent outing on July 9 at Belmont. Meanwhile, Flightline has won all four of his outings. Those include Grade 1 victories in December’s Malibu Stakes and June’s Metropolitan Handicap by a combined 17 1/2 lengths. While campaigning these two colts, West Point is continuing to stock up for the future, with its partners bolstering its buying power. “The power of the partnership,” Finley says. “We see it time and time again. I think it’s just going to get bigger and stronger. The key is that you have to have good partners, and I think we do. I know we do.” The outfit’s current 2-year-olds include Prosper and Weyhill Road, bought in partnership for $1.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively, to rank as the top two prices of the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale. Both may be late bloomers. Trained by Sadler, Prosper has not yet posted a work. Weyhill Road, trained by McGaughey, has recorded two breezes, both in August at Fair Hill. Meanwhile, West Point made a big splash at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale with multiple seven-figure purchases, including stretching to $2 million for a full sister to First Captain, in partnership with Woodford and 3C Racing. “Everybody is excited for First Captain in the Jockey Club Gold Cup in September, so I think that will be, on top of the rooting interest, I think we all are excited just to add to this filly’s pedigree,” Finley said. “That will be really, really good if we can get a Grade 1 on the résumé of First Captain.” On Saturday, First Captain and Flightline look to punch their tickets to the Breeders’ Cup and give West Point two rooting interests for the Classic.