Captain Steve Ready to Set Sail

Before the end of 2001, there could be a new leader on North America’s all-time earnings list for thoroughbreds.

Currently fourth behind Silver Charm, Skip Away and Cigar, Captain Steve could move ahead of all three if he finishes his 4-year-old season with a flourish.

A $70,000 yearling purchased by owner Mike Pegram in 1998, the son of Fly So Free can take a step toward the top with a victory today in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park.

If Captain Steve does succeed for the 10th time in 23 starts, he will move past Silver Charm into third. Captain Steve, who has banked $6,693,356, is $251,013 behind the 1997 Kentucky Derby winner. Skip Away, who won the 1998 Gold Cup, ranks second with $9,616,360 and Cigar, who captured the Cup six years ago, is the leader with $9,999,815.

Despite his hefty bankroll, which swelled considerably because of his victory in the $6 million Dubai World Cup on March 24, Captain Steve isn’t generally considered among the greats.

Besides the World Cup, he has Grade I victories in the Donn Handicap earlier this year at Gulfstream Park, the Swaps Stakes last summer at Hollywood Park and the 1999 Hollywood Futurity. He has finished second or third in nine other graded races. One of his third-place finishes came in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Classic when he checked in 3 1/2 lengths behind Tiznow.

Perhaps he is underappreciated because he failed to make any noise in last year’s Triple Crown. Before missing the Belmont Stakes, he finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby and was fourth in the Preakness.

“I think a lot of it is because he didn’t do anything in the Triple Crown,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He might not get a lot of respect from the media, but he does at the windows. The fans give him a whole lot of respect.”

In his last three races, Captain Steve has been favored--there was no betting in Dubai for the World Cup, but the colt was the choice in the wagering in the U.S.--and he has been higher than 3-1 only once in his last nine races.

He has lost twice as the favorite during that span, most recently when second to Guided Tour in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs on June 16.

Making his first start since Dubai, the chestnut, who was originally purchased as a weanling for $12,000 by C.J. Williams, was beaten a half-length while carrying 123 pounds, 10 more than the winner.

“I thought he ran awesome,” said Baffert, who is seeking his second Gold Cup victory, having won with the Pegram-owned Real Quiet two years ago. “He gave that other horse 10 pounds and Guided Tour won [the San Antonio Handicap at Santa Anita in February].”

Although he kept his thoughts to himself, Baffert said the Gold Cup was always on his mind, even though it comes only 15 days after the Foster. He had said publicly that a workout this past Tuesday--Captain Steve went five furlongs in 1:00 1/5--would be the deciding factor.

“The Gold Cup was my plan all along,” he said. “I just wanted to see how he came out of the other race and I didn’t want to get too many people too excited and then have something change at the last minute.”

The only other time the horse ran with so little time between races was last year’s Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but he is a better animal these days.

“I think he’s a very good horse,” said trainer Bobby Frankel, who will be represented by the Juddmonte Farms duo of Aptitude and Skimming in the Gold Cup. “He’s coming back a little quick, but I’m not training him. I’ve done that too. We’ll only know when he runs whether it has any effect on him.”

With Jerry Bailey, who had ridden Captain Steve in his last three races, freed to ride Include in today’s $500,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park, Gary Stevens will be aboard Captain Steve for the first time in the Gold Cup. Stevens is Captain Steve’s ninth different jockey, following Bailey, Shane Sellers, Victor Espinoza, Corey Nakatani, Robby Albarado, Garrett Gomez, Chris McCarron and the late Chris Antley.

Captain Steve figures to be second early to Skimming--unless outclassed longshot Power Wing is sent hard from the gate--and his best races have come when he has laid close to the pace.

After the Gold Cup, the schedule calls for Captain Steve to go to Del Mar for the Pacific Classic on Aug. 19, a race in which he would be joined by stablemate General Challenge, who has trained well preparing for his comeback in Saturday’s Bel Air Handicap at Hollywood Park.

Then, there would probably be one more start for Captain Steve before the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 27 at Belmont Park.

Gourmet Girl’s second experience in the $250,000 Vanity Handicap was a lot better than her first two years ago.

Last of six at 2-1 in the Grade I race in 1999, Gourmet Girl led from start to finish Saturday, beating 3-5 favorite Lazy Slusan by five lengths in 1:49 1/5 for the 1 1/8 miles.

The 6-year-old Cee’s Tizzy mare earned her second consecutive Grade I victory for owner Gary Tanaka, who listened to the race over the phone from London, and trainer Pico Perdomo. In her previous start on April 8, she won the Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park.

On a day when speed was dominant on the main track, Gourmet Girl, the 3-1 second choice in the field of five, was surprisingly able to make the lead over expected pacesetter Feverish. Jockey Gary Stevens slowed the pace down to a crawl (24, 48 and 1:12 for six furlongs) and drew away in the final furlong.

Fleet Renee, rebounding from a disappointing effort in the Kentucky Oaks, was a 5 1/2-length winner as the 2-1 favorite in the $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park.