Captain Steve Is Set for Gold Cup

Captain Steve, the top money-earning thoroughbred in the country this year, will start in Sunday’s $1 million Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood Park, trainer Bob Baffert confirmed Tuesday morning.

Owned by Mike Pegram, the 4-year-old son of Fly So Free completed his preparation for the Grade I race with a five-furlong workout at Santa Anita. With exercise rider Dana Barnes aboard, Captain Steve was timed in 1:00 1/5 while working in company with Danthebluegrassman, another Baffert trainee.

The winner of the $6 million Dubai World Cup on March 24, Captain Steve went the first quarter-mile in 23 2/5 seconds, three-eighths in 36 3/5 and the half in 48 2/5. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:12 4/5.

The three other Gold Cup principals had their final drills at Hollywood Park. Aptitude, who will be ridden for the first time by Laffit Pincay Jr. on Sunday, went five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 for trainer Bobby Frankel, a fifth of a second faster than stablemate Skimming. The two horses did not work together.

Futural, who won the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap on May 5 before finishing second to Skimming in the Californian five weeks later, worked six furlongs in 1:13 2/5 for trainer Craig Dollase.

Pincay, who will be riding in the Gold Cup for the first time since he finished fifth on Region in 1997, has won the race seven times , second to Bill Shoemaker’s eight victories. But the world’s winningest jockey hasn’t captured the Gold Cup since scoring with Super Diamond in 1986.

The only other horse considered probable for the Gold Cup is Power Wing, a $16,000 claim last year by trainer Ahmad Salih. The 7-year-old gelding has won only three of 34 in his career and will be the longest shot on the board in a race that will have only four betting interests. Aptitude and Skimming will be coupled in the wagering as the Juddmonte Farms-owned entry.

The Breeders’ Cup races have a new name.

The eight races, worth a total of $13 million, will be known as the Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships when they are contested Oct. 27 at Belmont Park.