First Captain Tries Classic Distance in Suburban

First Captain  has been the subject of racetrack chatter since he was named in the overnight for his April 24, 2021, debut at Belmont Park—something that is seemingly inevitable for a  $1.5 million Saratoga Sale-topping son of Curlin   with the physical appearance of a red titan and stride of a gazelle.

Despite only grazing the surface of grade 1 competition, the colt has continued to peak the imagination of the public as well as his connections as he takes to the starting gate in the July 9 $400,000 Suburban Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park.

While not a grade 1, the historic 1 1/4-mile Suburban, won by racing greats like Kelso, Forego, Skip Away, and even the Shug McGaughey-trained Easy Goer in 1990, could be the ideal spot to see if First Captain can handle the classic distance. A big performance could spell Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) dreams for the colt come November.

"Plans are that he'll go to the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), also at 1 1/4 miles, if all goes well," McGaughey said, assuming First Captain will stay the 1 1/4-mile trip on Saturday.

With his pedigree and running style, there should be no question of whether First Captain can handle the extra distance; a victory in the Suburban would send him back on the track that his connections first laid out for him at the beginning of his 2022 campaign.

The road to a grade 1 title hit a roadblock when the colt turned in an uncharacteristically poor performance, beaten nearly 20 lengths, in the April 9 Carter Handicap (G1) behind Speaker's Corner .

Stepping down in company and stretching out to 1 3/16 miles in his last start, proved to be successful in the May 20 Pimlico Special (G3). With Luis Saez replacing Jose Ortiz, First Captain unleashed a six-wide move around the bend to mow down Vindictive  late for a determined score, earning the highest Equibase Speed Figure of his career (107) in the process.

"He's a lightly raced colt with a world-class pedigree who is trained by one of the best to ever do it," said West Point Thoroughbreds spokesman Jason Blewitt. "It was nice to put the Carter in the rearview mirror and run down a couple of really nice Todd Pletcher horses. I know as the summer wears on he'll have to run better than he did at Pimlico, but I don't think we've seen his best race to date. I'd like to think there's significant improvement left in him."

"(First Captain is) doing really well (since the Pimlico Special)," McGaughey echoed.. "He's probably starting to really learn. He got a late start and racing has helped him. I'm looking forward to running him."

Owned in partnership by West Point Thoroughbreds, Siena Farm, Bobby Flay, and Woodford Racing, First Captain will meet Dynamic One , his vanquisher in last summer's Curlin Stakes, in the Suburban.

Repole Stable, Phipps Stable, and St. Elias Stable's Dynamic One, one of two entrants for Pletcher, had not seen the winner's circle since the Curlin before capturing the June 4 Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs in his most recent start. The Union Rags   colt's performance in the Blame also garnered him a lifetime best Equibase Speed Figure, and Pletcher feels the race was just the beginning of bigger things to come for Dynamic One.

"I think he ran very well last time and has taken a step forward in each of his starts this year," Pletcher said. "We're hopefully heading in the right direction. He's a horse that we always thought would improve with a little age and we have kind of seen that so far this season. Each race has been a gradual step forward, so hopefully he continues on that trend."

With First Captain and Dynamic One both being horses that tend to settle off the pace, it appears that Pletcher's other entry of Untreated  will likely be leading the early charge up front. The Team Valor International colorbearer was just beaten at the wire in the Excelsior Stakes two starts back by the opposing Forewarned  before giving way late to First Captain and Vindictive in the Pimlico Special.

The 2021 Suburban winner, Max Player , winless in two starts this year, completes the field.

Bob Ehalt contributed to this story.