12/8 LA Futurity – Grade I [KYD]
 LA Race #3 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Two Year Olds.

1 Call Me Godd Sir Daniel Martin Beschizza A

Won a couple of overnights back in the summer before being launched on an Autumn campaign which has seen him rise to a real contender for this sort of race. He slogged through the mud to be fourth in the Breeders Futurity coming with his customary late run but was a little disappointing next up when tried with different tactics. Leading from the gate in the Street Sense he did what most front runners do at HRP and weakened late to be third so with that experiment out of the way he was back to the rear in his last start in the grade two KY Jockey Club. Flying late he ended up third beaten a length proving beyond doubt he is most effective as a deep closer which will be tough from this draw but he has plenty of ability.

2 King Niagra John Henry Desormeaux K J

Won on debut and was then bought for $250 by Team 7 Illusions. He ran well a couple of times but then came good in the Grey Stakes in his last start when taking advantage of a strong early pace to come with a late run to win by a neck. Bought by his current owner for $50 he looks like he will run about 3 miles so may need a strong pace again today to give himself a chance of getting past the speed.

3 Guest Book John Henry Espinoza V

Another one that was bought for big money and then bought by the new owner for a lot less he will go up against his old stable companion to find out which one is the best TC hope for the John Henry stable. The winner of his first two he then ran a nose second in the Best Pal and close sixth in the Hopeful. He changed tactics to try and make all in the FL Sire Stakes but just failed to do the almost impossible ending up a half length second. Drawn wide in the BC Juvenile last time out he was taken way back and though he made up ground couldnt do better than eleventh. I have no doubt he is better than that last run and this draw will help him lay up much closer today giving him a good chance.

4 Red Cup Our Athletes Van Dyke D

Beat Guest Book a nose in the Best pal and then again in the BC Juvenile when a very close third in that championship race. He has the beating of a good few on his form figures and finds a good draw here to run a big race. My only worry with him is that at only 15.1hh that BC race may have taken a lot out of him but if it hasnt he may be the top choice.

5 Residency Mb Stables Gallardo A A

An interesting entry from the champion trainer as he is a difficult read to try and place in this field. His only bad run came in the Breeders Futurity when beaten by the draw and the going but he ran much better last time when gamely winning the Golden State Juvenile. His works are certainly in the right ball park and with 3 wins so far it is clear he knows where the winning post is but it is hard to see him beating the best in this field.

6 Many Faces Gdp Inc Bejarano R

Comes from one of the emerging trainers in the game whose stable is really firing at the moment. He broke his maiden on his fifth start when taking no lesser race than the grade three Bourbon, a truly amazing training feat to be admired and then backed that up with a gutsy second in the BC Juvenile Turf. The big question with him is of course the surface as all of his best form is on turf but if this trainer thinks he can do it on the dirt then you have to take his chances very seriously.

7 Golden Boy D J C Racing Stables Velazquez J R

The trainers Juveniles have been in great form this year and this one certainly comes from his gaggle of good ones. Third, a snippet behind Red Cup and Guest Book in the Best Pal he went on to win at ungraded level before a brilliant third in the Breeders Futurity where he was only beaten a quarter length. Drawn well in the Bc Juvenile he was a little disappointing in finishing eighth and the question mark has to stay by his name until he can deliver a grade one performance on a dry track.

8 Chrystal Believer Maxmillion Farm Albarado R J

Yet another good chance for this hot looking race he was in that Best Pal and was only a length behind the winner putting him right up there with the favorites for this race. A late finishing third in the DMR Futurity next up was followed by an excellent second in the Pharoah making him the stables best chance in the BC Juvenile in his last start. Drawn wide he was put right on the speed and ran well for a long way before fading a little into seventh just two lengths off the winner. He gets a rotten draw for the fourth race in a row here but is good enough to overcome that if things go his way for once.

9 Salar de Uyuni Mb Stables Bravo J

Raced four times and sold four times and amazingly for sums between $1 and $275. The last stable to buy him paid the most and that came after a gutsy effort in the Juvenile Stallion Stakes where he tried to make all and just got run down into second. He is a strong worker but has something to live up to now in this his frst effort over a route trip.

10 Cherokee Reward Estero Farms Pennington F

The other stable who seems to have a good bunch of juveniles he is working up a storm at home but has something to prove against this grade and over this trip. He was the game winner of the NY Breeders Futurity last time but this is a lot stronger race and it may be time to see if he can produce the goods as the TC qualifiers start to dawn.

11 Clueless Joe Allinthegate Ortiz I Jr

Another who comes back to dirt after successfully tackling the grass he won the grade one Summer Stakes but was a big disappointment in the BC Juvenile Turf. The draw has been a little unfair to him in his attempt to recapture his best but if he can do what he did in the Summer on the dirt he would be a chance in an open race.

13 Hymnal Williams9 Colon L H

Make no bones this isnt a bad gelding but after three wins in overnight grade he has been found wanting at the top level. The draw is against him today but he gets in with a punchers chance.

SUMMARY

A really open looking race its hard to settle on just one choice. I think Chrystal Believer may be ready to win at this level so he would be my top choice but there are several such as Red Cup, Many Faces and Golden Boy who will make it a very close race.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES