Breeders Futurity (Grade 1) (BC) (KYD)- $500.000 Purse
KEE- For Two Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
October 8, 2016

It was a good day for Mb Stables on Saturday in the Grade 1 Breeders Futurity, as his two entries took home the top two spots!  The winner, Coin Flip, was able to defeat his stablemate as the proud trainer must have had a wide smile as the two of them were coming down to the wire.  Coin Flip will now advance to the BC Juvenile, where he will look to become the first ever winner of the Breeders Futurity to win.   The runner up, Perspective, also seems as though he will be in as well, but you can’t really assume anything since Mb Stables is going to have to make decisions on which horses he sends to the Juvenile based on the game’s (unfortunate) limitations on the number of entries a trainer can have in stake races.  Mb Stables currently has seven of the top 20 in the BC Juvenile standings now with these results.  Opinions of rules aside, its unfortunate that all who have earned their way in will not be able to run.   It is the first time that Mb Stables has ever won this stake.  Thought it was amazing when I typed that sentence in the SA Sprint Championship recap, but the star trainer has now crossed two more Grade 1’s off his to-do list.  Jockey J Talamo also wins for the first time.  Congratulations!  The time of the win was 1:41.94, making it the second quickest edition of the race in its history.  Let’s look more at it!

1st- 3- Coin Flip (9/2)- Our eventual winner from Mb Stables broke alertly out of the gate, and after some shuffling around at the front, he would be third at the top of the backstretch, a length behind the pacesetting Shen Valley and running right alongside his stablemate, Perspective.   He would take over the second position midway through the backstretch when Shen Valley moved up to be directly in front of Perspective.  That would clear the lane for Coin Flip, but he would not aggressively take it, and instead every so gradually progressed on Shen Valley as J Talamo patiently rode him around the final turn.  At the top of the stretch, he was only a quarter length from the leader, and was in better form.  The pass was inevitable, and while Shen Valley did not just pack it in here, the biggest question was going to be if someone else was going to come from behind, possibly Perspective, or someone else.  His stablemate kept him honest, and soon that charger would emerge in the form of Mr C.   Coin Flip ran as hard as he could, and prevails as a group of them hit the wire in very close proximity.  The time of this win was 1:41.94.  Coin Flips is a two year old by Take A Million, and out of Im Coming Home (Chai Latte/Charley Farley).  He was bred in California as a yearling by Mb Stables, the only trainer for which he was ever known! Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 4- Perspective (3/1)- The Islander Champion colt was quick out of the gate and actually is the one that gets credit for leading at a 1/4, setting that time in :23.88, before Shen Valley eventually took over early on.  He would settle into a stalking position behind that one for the backstretch trip and seemed content to stay there.  As they moved into the turn, his stablemate, Coin Flip would pass him for the second position and set his sights on the leader while Perspective stayed a length back.  As Coin Flip moved into the lead, Perspective continued to hold that position behind him and would follow him through for the second position.

3rd (dh)- 8- Mr C (5/1)- The D J C Racing Stables entry was unhurried out of the gate, and was one of four who were running side by side around the opening turn and into the backstretch.  He was in the third lane at this time.  About midway in the backstretch run, Mr C decided he had enough of running at the back, and moved two lengths closer to the frontrunners, pulling level with Duke King into the turn.  As the exit of the turn approached, a beautiful lane popped open for either him or Duke King, whoever would claim it first.  Mr C would take charge and had about a length and a half to make up in the stretch.  Once there, he did all he could.  The top two were still in full stride and not going to be caught.  He was able to reel in Shen Valley, but not able to completely make the pass, and they draw level for third.

3rd (dh)- 10- Shen Valley (14/1)- Started well for Keikowin Racing, and as they moved around the turn, he would do everything in his power to get up to the lead.  As they approached the backstretch, he had done that and would pull out to a length advantage.  Paced the field down the backstretch, keeping a length advantage on his two stalkers from Mb Stables.  Moving into the turn, he still seemed to be in good shape, and would run six furlongs in a time of 1:11.02.  Finally, in the stretch, Shen Valley dug down and showed the kind of heart that we were looking for in the last two races.  It didn’t get a win, but it showed in his ability to hold off the hard charging Mr C, almost all the way, to dead heat for 3rd.

5th- 5- Duke King (11/1)- Our entry from Bigking got off to an average start from the gate, not really contesting the early pace, but also not drifting right to the back.   He would be fifth as thee field moved into the backstretch, beginning a day of the 5 getting a lot 5’s on his race line.  Did not seem interested in making a move down the backstretch.  Kept a consistent pace around the turn, and at the top of the stretch, he was beaten to an open lane by Mr C that could have proven beneficial.  Made progress in the stretch, but that’s all it would be on this day.

6th- 9- Withdrawn (11/1)- Strong out of the gate for trainer John Henry, but Withdrawn would withdraw from contesting the early pace around the opening turn and would settle in fourth, about 2 ½ lengths back heading into the backstretch.  Hung around with the lead group at this time, staying four wide and half a length behind Perspective, with a little bit of daylight between him and the next closest pursuer.  That would be his story until the wire, hanging with the leaders, but never really making a push.

7th- 7- Solow (30/1)- The longest shot on the board from Blushing Meadows was one of those who did not get off to a strong start, and instead opted to trail the field early.  This led to him being four wide around the opening turn.  Did not look to make a move in the backstretch, and trailed the field into the final turn.  Moving into the top of the stretch, he would goto the outermost lane, but could not make a significant closing bid.

8th- 6- King Death Row (8/1)- Our pre-race selection from Aer Stables did not make us look good here today. His start was rather average, as he seemed to just want to hold a position in the middle of the field and keep himself within striking race early.  Seemed to just camp out in this outer lane without pressing the leaders, and did not really respond when Mr C went by to his inside.  Lacked response in the stretch.

9th- 2- Atletico (12/1)- The Our Athletes entry opted to run at the back of the field early, but was able to get a position on the rail, five lengths from the leaders.  Ran steady in the backstretch, but did not show an attempt to move up in the field.  Rode along in the back without doing much of anything.  Seemed outclassed.

10th- 1- Jacque Allot (7/1)- Starting from the rail, the End Run Farm entry did not make the most of that position, and soon conceded it to Atletico as they moved to the opening turn.  He was energetic in the backstretch, however, and seemed as though he wanted to pass Duke King and move forward, but it just never materialized at that point. Packed it in during the turn.

Track: Fast
Time: :23⁴  :47²  1:11   1:41⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 4 Paid 13.30
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 4 – 8 Paid 814.60, 3 – 4 – 10 Paid 34.90

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES