Twelve runners will take part in this seasons event, all hoping to join Spirited Stride ( Mb Stables ) and Brittle ( Aer Stables ) who have already punched their ticket for the BC Juvenile.Another will be the winner of the Gr. I The Champagne event taking place as well this weekend at Belmont, being covered by our very own talented Nynlstables. Should be a great read.
- Breeders Futurity- Grade I ( BC) Purse $400.000
- Keeneland- For Two Year olds
- One Mile and One sixteenth distance
- Saturday October 5th, 2019
Definitely a talented group of runners sent here for this seasons Gr. I Breeders Futurity. All from recent maiden winners in their most recent, to ones who have competed against Graded company runners who have just missed the mark at bringing home a victory. Going this longer distance will all depend upon placement at the midway point of the event, and whether speed will hold up, or will a closing effort steal the show.
Weight- 122 pounds
Changes- #10-Iron Return– Bute & Blinkers get added.
Note: Number following rider is win percentage with two year olds.
1 Midnight Lightning ( South Beach Racing ) Jaramillo E ( 21.3%)- Broke his maiden in second asking while competing in restricted Florida events at GP. Both those affairs were at six furlongs or under, so this will be his first effort going long. Does have a mile work back on Sept. 17th were he ran a 1:37 and four handily time. Inside rail position and no rain should benefit his efforts.
2 Tornado Force ( Waldo ) Espinoza V ( 9.3% ) – After earning his only win when he broke his maiden in first asking, this trainer has been placing this homebred in three straight stake races with less then favorable results. Attacked the Gr. II Best Pal two starts ago, was a 25-1 longshot and came up short by three lengths. Hit the mile distance in his last $100.000 Sapling Stakes affair, and while he was let go at 60-1, he managed a second place finish. Maybe another tough go.
3 Bound Bay ( Gdp Inc. ) Lanerie C ( 16.9%)- With his runner-up effort to Spirited Stride in the Gr. I DMR Futurity in early September, it is most likely this son of Bottom Bay will go as the post time favorite. Lanerie was aboard for that affair and for his maiden victory, so the horse and rider are starting to build a connection. Hopefully with this longer distance he wont attempt to set the pace, and use a more tactical effort to get the job done. Top player.
4 Magical Emperor ( La Canada Racehorses ) Desormeaux K. ( 13.7%)- Jockey ships here for this one day event and he has been a three time winner of this race. This two year old colt was struggling to get to the wire late in two previous sprint affairs, but when he stretched it out to today’s distance, he had a beautiful stretch run to win by a head in the photo, breaking his maiden. Only understandable why his connections brought him back here. Could be the dark horse of the race.
5 Nice Dip ( Rampage Stable) Rosario J ( 7.0%)- Another runner in this group who couldn’t manage the speed set out in his two earlier sprint races, then found victory when going a mile winning by two lengths. Keen to note is the fact it was in a field of ten runners, and was a restricted MdSpWt61. Would have been nice to have Prat back in the irons, but he decided on going to Belmont to compete in the higher paying Hirsch Turf Classic. Like this one, hopefully his rider will too.
6 Better Party ( Estero Farms ) Gaffalione T ( 12.9%)- After he took home a maiden victory at ALB as a 29-1 longshot, trainer decided to add Lasix and a shadow roll for his most recent mile affair where he stayed productive throughout that event, placing third one length shy after leading by three quarters at the six furlong distance. Was gelded on the sixteenth and worked a mile on that day in 1:37 and two. Hopefully there is something in the tank for the final sixteenth.
7 Sweet Sweat ( Mb Stables ) Bejarano R ( 25.2%)- Jockey seems to have a flair for two year olds with that number. This is the lone runner for this trainer here as he sent more of his two year olds over to Belmont. Earned three straight sprint victories with this chestnut colt to start, but has been off the mark in his last. He placed fifth some four lengths shy in the DMR Futurity last time out and will have to face the runner-up from that event once again. Trainer/rider have hooked up in the past to get the job done.
8 Sexy Back ( Night Rider Stables ) Castellano J ( 6.6%)- Rider has more of a preference with the ladies, but the trainer must feel he has the ability. Broke his maiden three starts ago going six furlongs, then in his most recent $150.000 Bongard affair also at Belmont, he would get clipped at the wire in the photo by a neck. If he can get some speed to run at here it should work well for him late, as long as the instructions suit that kind of running. May Factor?
9 Yankee Doodle Dandy ( John Henry ) Van Dyke D ( 19.0%)- Was a $200 purchase back in mid August, then was asked to compete in the Gr. III Iroquois Stakes three weeks ago where he placed fifth, just a length shy. That was the second event with the addition of Bute, so hopefully that medication is making a difference. Trainer has a keen eye at picking up a horse at the right time in his development, so could sway the outcome here.
10 Iron Return ( LionKing Stables ) Talamo J ( 13.5%)- After breaking his maiden two starts ago at DMR, trainer felt that staying home in California was the right thing to do, so he was entered into the Gr. I DMR Futurity, a bold move. The outcome was not what he would have liked, but he still performed well, sticking around to finish third, two out. Major changes come about for this event with the adds, and if his recent 1:10 and four bullet work was the result, he could have a say here.
11 Stark ( D J C Racing Stables ) Beschizza A ( 22.4%)– Broke his maiden in the mud at Belmont going five and a half furlongs, but has been struggling in his most recent two. Both were seventh place finishes, but they were within two lengths in both. The change to this rider should correct any issues as he will definitely keep him focused, and the talent the horse faced in those past two Graded company affairs will definitely help. Could be the sleeper in this group that some may over look at the betting windows.
12 Peachtree ( Smokey Stover ) Velazquez J ( 30.3%)- Trainer has definitely snatched one of the top riders, and with numbers like these with the juvies, it will help. Does grab the dreaded outside post for this affair, but if he is held back at the start as he was in the shorter KY Juvenile race back in May, he should work his way through the field nicely here. Just missed by a neck in his most recent ELP Juvenile race to a runner who was on a threepeat, so I think this package deal has merit, and some of my money.
Also Eligible
Patriot Return ( Nakamura Stables ) Has two back to back wins in just three starts. His most recent mile win came in a time of 1:36 and two over at GG ,and that would put him in the hunt here.
Broadway Broker ( Our Athletes )- A Finger Lakes regular this year. Had his opener back in April where he would finish third by two in a closing effort. Didn’t return till early September at the same MdSpWt23 level, but this time found the win at a mile and seventy. Has promise.
Duffer
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
