Captain Webb joins New York Watch list

CAPTAIN WEBB's (English Channel) debut went swimmingly as the

two-year-old emulated his sire and posted a first-out victory at

Saratoga Race Course on Saturday in the

6TH race.

Bet down to 3-2 as the favorite, Captain Webb stalked the pace while

racing three wide in third, was given more rein on the upper turn, and

needed only hand urging to claim the lead at the top of the stretch and

go on to a 2 1/2-length victory, completing 1 1/16 miles over the good

turf in 1:45 1/5.

Like his sire, Captain Webb is trained by Todd Pletcher for owner

James Scatuorchio and won at first-asking at the Spa as a juvenile. That

said, the homebred has a long way to duplicate the feats achieved by his

champion sire, who won six Grade 1 races, including the 2007 Breeders'

Cup Turf by seven lengths and consecutive renewals of the Joe Hirsch

Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park.

"I trained English Channel, so I'm excited about Captain Webb

winning," Pletcher said. "He had been training very well. He breezes OK

on the dirt, but it was natural to put him on the grass. Obviously, the

grass provides the opportunity to run long as well."

Pletcher said the September 1 With Anticipation S. (G2) going 1 1/16

miles would be Captain Webb's next objective.