Sky Captain Upsets Frac Daddy in Dominion Day
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In upsetting massive favorite Frac Daddy in the $155,100 Dominion Day Stakes (Can-III) July 1 at Woodbine, Sky Captain extended his perfect 4-year-old season to three races and secured the first stakes win of his career .
Confidently handled by jockey Patrick Husbands, John Oxley's Sky Captain rallied from fourth at the quarter-pole to register a one-length victory over grade II winner Frac Daddy, who was sent off as the 1-9 favorite in the field of five 3-year-olds and older.
Trained by Mark Casse, Sky Captain completed the 1 1/4-mile race in 2:03.32 on Polytrack. Oxley, Casse, and Husbands also teamed to win the Sweet Briar Stakes with favorite Northern Passion on Tuesday's Woodbine card.
After an injury last year, Sky Captain was rested during a layoff that saw just more than one year pass between starts. He returned to win an allowance race April 20 at Woodbine, followed by a score in an allowance-optional claiming race there May 18. The Dominion Day marked the Sky Mesa colt's first stakes start.
"We've had high hopes for this horse all along," assistant trainer Kathryn Sullivan said. "As a 2-year-old, we thought he could possibly be a (Kentucky) Derby horse. But unfortunately he was injured. All the kudos go to the Oxleys for giving him the time off that he needed to come back."
Bred in Kentucky by Three Chimneys Farm and Serengeti Stable, Sky Captain returned $14.70 to win. There was no place or show wagering offered.
Magic City Thoroughbred Partners' Frac Daddy, who entered off a five-length win in the Eclipse Stakes (Can-II) June 1 at Woodbine, settled for second, 2 3/4 lengths ahead of third-place finisher His Race to Win. Rounding out the field were Peyton and Patrioticandproud.