NEW YORK — On Saturday at Aqueduct, Captain Cook secured a victory in the $250,000 Withers Stakes, winning by a margin of 2 1/4 lengths and positioning himself as a contender for the Kentucky Derby.

The 3-year-old colt, under the guidance of jockey Manny Franco, completed the nine furlongs in a time of 1:51.83. With this triumph, he received 20 qualifying points towards the Derby scheduled for May 3 at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Rick Dutrow, who previously celebrated a Kentucky Derby win with Big Brown in 2008, expressed satisfaction with Captain Cook’s performance. “I’m not thinking about the Derby right now, but he did get the job done the right way,” Dutrow stated. “He ran big.”

Surfside Moon, riding at odds of 33-1, finished in second place, while Omaha Omaha trailed significantly in third, finishing 6 1/2 lengths behind the leader.

Captain Cook, who was the favorite among bettors, returned $4.90 for those who placed winning bets on him.

Franco commended Captain Cook’s adaptability, noting, “He can do anything you want. He can stalk. He can be on the pace. He’s a versatile horse.”

Looking ahead, Dutrow mentioned that Captain Cook might target the upcoming $750,000 Wood Memorial set for April 5 as the next step in his racing journey.