Air Force Blue's Il Capitano Wins Del Mar MSW

Second to American Pharoah’s new stakes winner MacKinnon last out, Il Capitano (2c Air Force Blue x Excelente, by Exceed and Excel) scored a win of his own at Del Mar on Monday in a Maiden Special Weight.

The Air Force Blue son owned by Eric Homme went straight to the lead in the one-mile turf race and never looked back. He had over a length on the field at every call and when he was given a small challenge with a quarter to go, shrugged it off.

Il Capitano built his margin to 1 ¾ lengths at the line to take his record to three top three finishes in three starts, all coming in Maiden Special Weights at Del Mar and Santa Anita.

Trained by Andrew Lerner, the 2-year-old was bred by Summerhill Stud in Kentucky out of the multiple stakes placed Excelente. The dam of four winners from four to race, Excelente is one of two stakes performers for her own stakes placed dam alongside stakes winner Anousa.

The family also includes Grade I winner Fraulein and Grade II winner Horseplay among others.

Excelente has a Mendelssohn yearling filly to come.