Breeders Futurity – (Grade l) [BC]

Purse $650.00 – For Two Year Olds

1 1/16 Miles – Dirt

Keeneland – October 3, 2026

Eight Breeders Cup berths are up for grabs at Keeneland this weekend, setting the stage for a tremendous few days of racing. One of those races is the 23rd edition of the Breeders Futurity, which will highlight some of the top two-year-olds in HRP. Not only will the winner be an early favorite for the Kentucky Derby next year, but they will also receive a free entry into the Breeders Cup Juvenile here at Keeneland on October 30th. Mb Stables has been the most successful in this Grade One event with three victories since the inaugural running in 2006. He will be represented with two entries this year with many other owners who will be looking for their second win in the Breeders Futurity, including Alydar Stables, Serenity Stables, D J C Racing Stables, Royalty Stables, Barcelona Farms, & Williams9. The stakes record for the 1 1/16 miles was set last year by Hurts, who closed from eight lengths back as the favorite to stop the clock in 1:41.69. Surprisingly, just one horse in this field has a stakes win, while two are still maidens. There is also some bad weather in the forecast which is something to keep an eye on. That could make this a tricky race to handicap, so let’s take a closer look at each contender!

1. Knight State – (Our Athletes, J R. Velazquez) Knight State is the only horse in the field with a stakes victory, and he earned it at the graded level for Our Athletes. The two-year-old gelding won on debut going 4½ furlongs at Lone Star in April, then finished third in an allowance at Churchill before stepping into stakes company. He was fifth in the seven-furlong ELP Juvenile in August, but stretching out to a mile last time out brought out a much stronger performance. The son of Our Dark Knight raced nine lengths off the pace in the Iroquois (G3) and scored by a length in a nine-horse field. He has worked twice at Churchill since that victory, including a five-furlong bullet in 58.09 last weekend. Knight State has the strongest résumé in this field, and he now gets the chance to follow it up. My top pick.

2. My Boy Flynn – (Mb Stables, R. Santana Jr.) Mb Stables’ homebred contender who has plenty of early speed. This gray colt won his debut over 4½ furlongs at Aqueduct in April, holding on by a nose after leading throughout. A sixth-place finish in a Woodbine allowance followed, but he improved in his next two starts at SAR. My Boy Flynn was beaten a length when second in another allowance on a sloppy track on July 31, then stepped into the Funny Cide Stakes last time out. This New York-bred led much of that six-furlong race before getting third, again just a length behind the winner. He has now finished in the top three in three of his four starts, though he has yet to race beyond six furlongs. Two one-mile works since the Funny Cide suggest Mb Stables has him ready to fire for the two-turns.

3. A Gamblers Share – (Alydar Stables, K J. Asmussen) This son of Racket Runner is still a maiden, however his fourth-place finish in the Iroquois (G3) last time out gives him a useful leg up on the competition. A Gamblers Share finished second in his debut at Parx back in April, then was third in another MSW at Churchill the following month. He returned to the runner-up spot twice at Del Mar, first over six furlongs and then at a mile. Despite coming up short in those four maiden races, this Ontario-bred was entered in the Iroquois for his first try against winners. He raced as many as 11 lengths off the pace before closing to get fourth, only a length behind Knight State. That late run was encouraging, especially since it came in his first graded stakes appearance. A Gamblers Share will need to take another step forward in here.

4. Triglyceride – (Diablo Diablo, V. Espinoza) Triglyceride has been remarkably consistent for Diablo Diablo, finishing first or second in all five career starts. The son of Indian Summer began with three straight runner-up efforts in Maiden Special Weights at Parx, Keeneland, and Santa Anita, giving him some experience over the Keeneland surface. He broke through at Monmouth in early July, rallying from fifth to score by a quarter length going six furlongs. Triglyceride then stepped into allowance company as the favorite at Saratoga and finished second by two lengths over seven furlongs. That was his longest race to date, and this will be his first stakes appearance. Diablo Diablo’s homebred has worked a mile since his last start, but the added distance and tougher company will give him two new tests.

5. Varcolac – (Serenity Stables, T. Gaffalione) The other maiden entered this year and has made just one start in his career. Varcolac debuted for Delta Farms in a 5½-furlong MSW at Parx in June, finishing fifth after racing in midpack. Serenity Stables purchased this gelding privately for $275.00 on September 16, and he now returns from a layoff to make his first stakes appearance. His full brother is a graded stakes winner, though Varcolac’s conformation points more toward sprinting. That makes the added distance a question, especially with only one sprint race behind him. The son of Beast has been active in the mornings, including a mile work at Parx and five furlongs in 58.10 at Keeneland on September 29. The workouts are promising, but he has plenty to prove in both distance and class.

6. Litmus Test – (D J C Racing Stables, F. Pennington) Comes in here off a close third in the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga earlier this month. This D J C Racing Stables homebred was eighth early in that seven-furlong race, eventually working his way into contention and finishing just three-quarters of a length behind the winner. Litmus Test has won two of his four starts, breaking his maiden at TAM in May before rallying from sixth to take a seven-furlong optional claimer at ALB by a nose in August. His only finish outside the top three came in a five-furlong allowance at Churchill. The Hopeful showed this New York-bred can compete in graded company, and his recent races suggest he can make a late run. The added distance to two-turns is the obvious question as he seeks his first stakes win.

7. Bronze Wolf – (TwinTowersRacing, S X. Bridgmohan) Bronze Wolf has faced stakes company in four of his last five starts since winning his debut at Keeneland over 4½ furlongs in April. This TwinTowersRacing homebred missed by a neck in the Kentucky Juvenile later that month, then finished fifth in the Sanford (G3). He bounced back nicely in the SAR Special (G2), rallying from tenth to get second by half a length. In the Hopeful (G1) last time out, this son of Neon Wolf raced in last early and improved to sixth, finishing four lengths behind the winner. Those stakes placings give him the most experience in this field, and he returns to the track where he broke his maiden. Bronze Wolf has yet to race beyond seven furlongs, making the added distance his biggest question. It also looks like a fast pace would help him.

8. Von Richthofen – (Mb Stables, P. Lopez) The second entry for Mb Stables and has one win from three starts. Von Richthofen broke his maiden on debut at Turf Paradise in April, leading throughout and drawing off by four lengths over 4½ furlongs. Mb Stables was obviously impressed and purchased him from Barcelona Farms for $150.00 in early August. The son of Sapp made his first start for the new connections in the seven-furlong ELP Juvenile. He briefly took the lead late before getting third, beaten just three-quarters of a length. Von Richthofen ran in the DMR Futurity (G1) last time out and was less successful, as he finished ninth. He has since turned in two one-mile works and will need to rebound while proving he can handle a longer race. Maybe the stretch out will bring the best out of this California-bred?

9. Attention Span – (Royalty Stables, A. Fresu) Attention Span is one of the few entrants who have already won at a mile. He debuted in a six-furlong maiden at Monmouth on July 3, briefly taking the lead before yielding late, just a length behind the winner. Royalty Stables purchased this son of Penal Code from Jkk Racing Stables for $500.00 six days later. In his next start at Del Mar, he stretched out to a mile, led throughout, and broke his maiden by two lengths in 1:35.50. Attention Span has worked steadily since with two six-furlong drills in 1:11 at Churchill Downs this month. That mile victory going wire-to-wire is a point in this colt’s favor against several runners stretching out from sprints. Though this will be his first race against winners and his first stakes test. Step up will be needed.

10. By The Waterline – (Acber Farms, M. Franco) This New York-bred comes in off a strong finish in the KD Juvenile Sprint on August 29. Making his turf debut in that 6½-furlong stakes, the Acber Farms homebred raced tenth early before rallying to finish third, beaten just three-quarters of a length in a field of 13. By The Waterline began his career on dirt at Aqueduct, running fifth in his debut before breaking his maiden over 5½ furlongs in late June. He now returns to dirt after posting his best result on turf, and he has yet to race beyond 6½ furlongs. A mile work in 1:36.82 at Churchill Downs on September 25th was the fastest of nine that day. If the son of Take The South Fork can carry his late run over the longer distance and back onto dirt, he could be a contender. This might be one to keep an eye on.

11. Baker St – (Barcelona Farms, L. Salles) Took a clear step forward when stretched to a mile last time out at Del Mar against state-breds. This Barcelona Farms homebred settled off the early pace, moved into contention, and drew off by four lengths to break his maiden in 1:35.57. He had finished fifth in his five-furlong debut at Emerald Downs and second over 5½ furlongs at Finger Lakes. Making the improvement at a longer distance is especially encouraging. Baker St has worked regularly since that victory, most recently going five furlongs at Keeneland on September 29. A mile win gives him a useful credential in this field, but he now faces winners and stakes company for the first time. He will clearly need to repeat that Del Mar performance to be competitive in here. This is going to be my longshot pick.

12. Drink And Drive – (Serenity Stables, G. Corrales) Drink And Drive is Serenity Stables’ second entrant and has already made two graded stakes appearances. After finishing sixth in his debut at Lone Star, this bay gelding broke his maiden at Woodbine in June. He led throughout a five-furlong race to win by a length in a seven-horse field. The son of State Police showed early speed in the SAR Special (G2) before fading to seventh, beaten two lengths. His next effort in the DMR Futurity (G1) was more encouraging—he stayed close to the pace and finished fifth, only a length behind the winner in a field of 12. Drink And Drive has yet to race beyond seven furlongs, though he has turned in mile works at MTH and BEL. His speed should put him in contention early; carrying it over the longer trip is the test.

13. Byte Of War – (Williams9, L. Saez) Byte Of War has already won at 1 1/16 miles, and his conformation points toward longer distances. This gelding finished fifth on debut at Santa Anita, then improved to a narrow second at Lone Star before breaking his maiden over five furlongs in June. His first try at a mile produced a sixth-place finish on a sloppy track at PID, but he rebounded nicely on fast dirt at Belmont. Making his first start for Williams9 after a $25.00 purchase from Riggins Racing, this Kentucky-bred led throughout and won a 1 1/16-mile allowance by two lengths. That performance makes him the only one in this field with a victory beyond a mile. Byte Of War now steps into stakes company for the first time and will need to carry that form against tougher rivals. Definitely a contender.

– AJM

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES