Young Memorial Futurity- Fillies- $100.000 Purse
EVD- For Fillies Two Years Old Foaled in LA
Five and a Half Furlongs on the Dirt
July 11, 2015

The Young Memorial Futurity races at EVD this Saturday gave a great opportunity for the future of LA-bred racing to shine.   It also gave an opportunity for one particular sire to shine.  Chief Charley did sire the second place horse, Jolly Charley, in the Colts race; and in the Fillies race, he did one better, as Minda is also a Chief Charley foal.  In fact, Minda and Jolly Charley also possess the Jolly Be Great line on their dam side.  Royalty Racing added Minda to their stable in private sales in February as an unraced talent, and now this filly is 2-for-2.  Back in April, she took her debut race, and the trainer wisely did not rush her back to the track, and for that patience, there was great reward today.   Her winning race time of 1:03.55 is a record for the stake since it has been held at a 5.5 furlong distance, so you have the feeling that this is just the start of a great career for her.   It was the first pay track stake win for her trainer since October 3, 2009, or just five months after Mb Stables saddled his first horse.  So certainly there is a lot of celebrating in the Royalty Racing barn tonight.  Extra congratulations go out to them! Here is how it went down:

1st- 5- Minda (5/2)- Our eventual race winner from Royalty Racing wanted no part of the early quick pace.  Heading into the turn, she was seven lengths from the lead, and three lengths from the 4th place horse, Spititual Ghost.  Upon exit of the turn, Minda simply blew my mind away with her powerful run.  She was, by far, faster then any of these and may have moved by them so swiftly that she left the rivals heads spin in the process.  She even put daylight between her and Spititual Ghost, a horse also running well, in the stretch run.   Jockey G Melancon had to enjoy the ride which was done in very impressive fashion.  Minda was great today, and all two year old fillies out there, not just the LA-breds, better take notice.  She is, as mentioned previously a two year old filly by Chief Charley and out of Mindaugas, who is by Jolly Be Great.  She was bred in LA by Team 7 Illusions as a first quarter two year old.  Royalty Racing picked her up in private sales for what’s going to prove to be a steal at just $30.770.  It also G Melancon’s third win the stake, making him its winningest jockey.  He would also win the Colts race, so not a bad day for him.  Congratulations to all of the connections!

2nd- 3- Spititual Ghost (4/5)- The Drabfantasy entry appeared restrained in the early going, being fourth of five in the early going, about 4-5 lengths from the early going.  This would be a good strategy, if only the one that was behind her wasn’t thinking the same thing.  D Saenz made a push for the lead at the top of the stretch, choosing a lane along the rail.  He had to adjust his lane a little in order to complete the pass of Pachuca Rose, and on another other day we would be talking about a fantastic close on her part, so that should not get lost in the shuffle of Minda’s run today.

3rd- 4- Pachuca Rose (9/1)- C J Hernandez fired the Allinthegate entry out of the gate, and quickly opened up about a two length lead as they made their way into the turn, setting a quick opening quarter in :22.41.  Continued to lead the field around the turn, still running at a pretty quick clip with a :45.37 half mile and an approximate two length lead as they hit the top of the stretch.

4th- 1- Problem So (6/1)- The maiden from Running Farms got off to an average start, saving ground about 3-4 lengths from the lead early.  Inched closer over the course of the turn and into the stretch, but could not sustain any of this progress within the stretch run.  Not only could she not hold off the closers, she never would end up catching Pachuca Rose.

5th- 2- Ceeblee (5/1)- Initially quick out of the gate for Bmf Racing, but B C Patin restrained him a little bit off the quick pace set by Pachuca Rose up front.  Thought about making an outside move on exit of the turn, but the jockey did not have legs underneath him to make it work, and Ceeblee woulf have to settle for the last position.

Track: Fast
Time: :22²  :45¹  :57³  1:03²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 3 Paid 4.80
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 3 – 4 Paid 33.10

Scratched: None

Exacta and Trifecta (Box) picked by NS

— NS

Categories: Ungraded