Two-track Capuano family double in 2yo stakes
Whitten Way, Walt’s Notion win for father and son
The Biz
October 4, 2026
The Capuano family doubled up Saturday as Whitten Way, traind by Gary Capuano, and Walt’s Notion, trained by his son Phil, won juvenile stakes at Delaware Park and Laurel Park, respectively. Full Access and Piggybunz also earned their first stakes victories while remaining unbeaten.
The Gary Capuano-trained Whitten Way ($15.20) bounced back from her first defeat to win Delaware’s $160,000 White Clay Creek Stakes by 1½ lengths over Life Changing. My Hometown Gal finished third, while 4-5 favorite Girvy Girl was sixth.
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Emanuel Rosario rode the Maryland-bred daughter of Game Winner for Eagle Up III, London Reid Thoroughbreds and Non Stop Stable. Previously the winner of Delaware’s Blue Hen Stakes, Whitten Way improved to 3-for-4 with $196,250 in earnings after finishing fourth in the Small Wonder September 11.
“Stretching out is the big thing,” Capuano said. “She trained really well coming into this race. She had a nice mile workout and I knew she was fit, so it was just a matter of getting the right kind of trip.”
At Laurel, adding blinkers helped Phil Capuano’s Walt’s Notion turn a narrow stakes defeat into a victory in the $100,000 James F. Lewis, III.
The Great Notion colt, beaten a head in Delaware’s First State Dash, led throughout under Mychel Sanchez and held Prince of Peace safe by 1¼ lengths. Harewood finished third. The even-money favorite covered six furlongs in 1:11.87.
Owned by Lou Ullman, Walter Vieser II and Michael Scheffres, Walt’s Notion has won two of three starts and earned $109,000. Gary Capuano purchased him for $48,000 as a yearling, and Phil credited sister Tori with overseeing his training at Delaware.
“I can’t take too much credit for this training job,” Phil said.
The Maryland Million Nursery October 24 could be next.
Laurel’s $100,000 Smart Halo produced the closest finish of the four stakes, with Piggybunz denying Welovemollynteddy by a nose.
Sheldon Russell guided Piggybunz to the early lead, and the Happy Saver filly dug in when Welovemollynteddy rallied outside to draw alongside at the wire. Talking Foolish finished third in the four-horse field. The winning time for six furlongs was 1:12.02.
Trained by Brittany Russell for Bowen Thoroughbred Racing and the estate of Brereton C. Jones, Piggybunz improved to 2-for-2 with $93,000 in earnings and became Happy Saver’s first stakes winner.
“This filly’s been awesome,” Russell said. “She’s been easy. She showed that she’s a racehorse from day one.”
At Delaware, Allied Racing Stable’s Full Access ($5.80) won the $150,000 Rocky Run by three lengths over Lithos, with Hammerin Henry third.
Jaime Torres rode the Riley Mott-trained son of By My Standards, who completed a mile over the muddy track in 1:42.48. Full Access has won both starts and earned $120,962.
“The more distance the better for this horse,” Torres said. “On the gallop out, I had a ton of horse. He finished strong and he is a talented horse.”
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