DEL: Capuano looking for fourth First State Dash
Barn has major players in several other stakes
The Biz
September 10, 2026
Trainer Gary Capuano has been tough to beat in Delaware’s 2-year-old stakes, and he’ll get another chance to keep that run going Friday at Delaware Park.
Capuano will send out contenders in both the $125,000 Small Wonder Stakes for fillies and the $125,000 First State Dash for colts and geldings, both six-furlong tests on a card celebrating the Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program.
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Capuano will try to make it four straight First State Dash wins with John Hazard’s Westbound Cat, who faces nine rivals. Capuano won the last three renewals with Copper Tax (2023), It’s Hammertime (2024) and Probably Dreaming (2025).
Westbound Cat, a Kentucky-bred son of Aloha West, looks like a different horse from the one who finished unplaced in his June debut at Laurel. He returned August 27 and romped by 6 ¾ lengths going a mile at Delaware.
“Originally, I was not really considering him for the First State Dash because he ran so well in his second start stretching out and going two turns,” Capuano said. “He really woke up after that race and has been super sharp.”
Westbound Cat isn’t likely to win the early-speed battle, but Capuano believes he can make his presence felt late.
“He is not real fast early, but if he is somewhere in contention turning for home, he is going to have a real good chance,” he said.
Capuano’s Small Wonder duo includes London Reid Thoroughbreds and Non Stop Stable’s Whitten Way, who will seek her second straight stakes victory against five rivals.
The Maryland-bred daughter of Game Winner won the $75,000 Blue Hen Stakes August 8, overcoming a sloppy track and a seemingly hopeless position turning for home.
“I thought we were probably going to be fourth, but she kicked it in,” Capuano said. “She battled; she showed a lot of grit and was determined to get there.”
Whitten Way won her debut by 1 ¾ lengths at Delaware June 24. Capuano, who won the 2017 Small Wonder with Enchanted Star, is hoping she can keep improving.
He’ll also send out Martiniwithatwist, owned by London Reid Thoroughbreds and Kismet Thoroughbred Farms. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Golden Pal has made all three starts at Delaware, winning her most recent by 1 ¾ lengths July 31.
“Martini has gotten much better,” Capuano said. “She does not break really sharp, but she shows a lot of guts and courage.”
Capuano has won with six of his 12 2-year-old starters at the meet. Friday offers another chance to add to an already impressive Delaware streak.
In addition to those two races, the barn also has major players in:
- The Tax Free Shopping Distaff, a six-furlong sprint, in which Capuano will saddle morning line favorite Dwelling Legacy and second choice Onyx Ten;
- The Ogletown, a two-turn event for fillies in mares, where Intrepids Fantasy will get her toughest test yet as she tries to go 4-for-4 as the 8-5 morning line favorite. He also has 4-1 shot Intrepid Mo in this contest; and
- The New Castle, in which Haileysfirstnotion is the 9-5 morning line second choice.
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