Wilmington, Del., September 8, 2026 — Trainer Gary Capuano will look to capture his fourth consecutive First State Dash Stakes when John Hazard’s Westbound Cat faces nine rivals Friday at Delaware Park. The race is part of a special live racing card celebrating the Delaware Certified Thoroughbred Program (DCTP). The six-furlong stakes, restricted to DCTP-eligible 2-year-olds, is named for Delaware’s nickname as the first of the 13 original states to ratify the U.S. Constitution on December 7, 1787.

Westbound Cat enters off a 6 ¾-length maiden victory going a mile at Delaware Park on August 27. In his only other career start, the Kentucky-bred son of Aloha West was unplaced in a five-furlong maiden race at Laurel Park on June 14.

“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,” said Capuano, who has won with six of his 12 2-year-old starters at the meet. “He really woke up after that race and has been super sharp. I think he knows he did something. I thought he was better than his first race, which was kind of disappointing. 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. It is just going to be a matter of keeping him close enough early.”

Capuano has won the First State Dash in each of the last three years, taking the 2023 edition with Copper Tax, the 2024 running with It’s Hammertime and last year’s renewal with Probably Dreaming.

For more information about the Delaware bred or certified program, visit https://www.dtha.com/dctp/

$125,000 First State Dash
(Restricted to Delaware Bred or Certified)
For 2-year-olds
At six furlongs

PP HORSE OWNER TRAINER JOCKEY Wg OD
1 Midnight Ride Scott Peck Edward Allard Jaime Rodriguez 118 6-1
2 Mad Eye’s Honor Jason Smith Jason Smith Martin Chuan 118 8-1
3 Sound Check On Your Left Racing Michael Gorham Christopher Elliott 118 15-1
4 Westbound Cat John Hazard Gary Capuano Yedsit Hazlewood 118 3-1
5 Good Lookerness Jagger Jamie Ness Mychel Sanchez 118 6-1
6 Walt’s Notion Ulman, Vieser, Scheffres Phillip Capuano Emanual Rosario 118 6-1
7 Little Snuff Stevark Stable Bruce Kravets Ricardo Chiappe 118 15-1
8 Patty G’s Boy MOC 38 Racing Erin McClellan Inoel Beato 118 10-1
9 Strong Suspicion Curio Racing Group Lynn Ashby Jose Batista 118 15-1
10 Bearing Witness Day At The Races Michael Trombetta Paco Lopez 118 9/2