Multiple graded stakes winner First Captain , a 6-year-old son of Curlin and a seven-figure auction yearling, has been retired and sold to a coalition of Brazilian breeders, according to Turf Diario.
The stallion, who arrived in Brazil Feb. 9, is owned by Stud Eternamente Rio, Stud Red Rafa, and Stud H e R and will enter stud at Luis Felipe Brandão dos Santos’ Stud Eternamente Rio.
First Captain was bred in Kentucky by celebrity chef Bobby Flay out of the grade 1-placed, grade 3 winner America (A.P. Indy). Flay sold the colt for $1.5 million through Stone Farm’s consignment at Fasig-Tipton’s 2019 The Saratoga Sale, its boutique select yearling sale in New York. Partners West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, Siena Farm, Valdes, Singleton, Sandbrook, Freeman were listed as the buyers for the colt that Stone Farm owner Arthur Hancock III had nicknamed “Curlin Jr.” Flay also retained an ownership interest.
With trainer Shug McGaughey, First Captain won four of his first five starts, with those victories including the Dwyer Stakes (G3). At 4, he added a win in the Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) to his résumé along with a second in the Suburban Stakes (G2) and a third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1). First Captain retired with a 5-1-2 record from 11 starts and earned $662,100.
