Breeders Futurity – Grade I [BC] [KYD]
KEE Race #3 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $650.000 For Two Year Olds.

1 Lucky Tactics Mb Stables Gutierrez Mario 122 —

Whilst the races themselves seem to get more and more unpredictable the one thing that remains constant is that when these big purses turn up so do the big players and there is no bigger than this stable. Three runners, of course, but no guarantee which of the three will come out on top so let’s look at this son of Tactical, drawn the ace. After two runs over shorter trips he stepped out over ground in a big ticket AQU allowance last time and made nice ground into a close fourth. His works are very good, in fact better than what he has shown so far so maybe this is the day he has been waiting for.

2 Cringey Aer Stables Franco M 122 —

A nice debut win back in April he then had to wait a long time for the race calendar to catch up and looked in need of the run when third in his second and last start. The trainer gets a great draw and has been riding a wave this year, but I am not sure this one is quite good enough to keep the run going.

3 Hurts Royalty Stables Velazquez J R 122 —

A great draw for one of the best of the season so far this home bred hails from a trainer that knows how to win juvenile BC races. A closing type he has always looked like he will get better the further he goes and that was never more evident than his win in the grade one Hopeful last time when swooping home for the win. A 1.10 and 2 6-furlong work would’ve been unthinkable for a two-year-old just a few years ago and with that sort of work time he would look competitive in a three-year-old stakes race so this should be his for the taking.

4 Poetico Acber Farms Lezcano J 122 —

Looked good over this trip last time when taking a big ticket AQU allowance he is a definite contender as long as the rains do not come. Another closing type it could get pretty congested late in this race and a lot of luck will be involved as the race engine moves the horses around for the blanket finish that usually occurs in these big fields. If the luck goes his way he is a good top three chance from this decent draw.

5 Never A Doubt D J C Racing Stables Husbands P 122 —

Stalked the leader but was run over by Poetico in that AQU allowance last time he gets his chance at revenge here but on the face of it has his work cut out. What has to happen for him to win? Well, he is an on-pace type which may work as a few of the top picks will be sweating on a late run. So, if the pace is average or slower and he gets s stalk or lead he may just beat Poetico this time but he would be hard pressed to beat them all.

6 The Hunter Hunterman Stable Geroux F 122 —

A consistent sort who always gives his best that is a good quality in these types of races where things can get pretty rough on the home turn. He seems to be able to run both ends of his races and goes in any conditions and whilst he is unproven at the trip he has worked the obligatory 1.37 for the mile which gives him a chance of seeing it out. I rather like him as a good each way prospect.

7 Single Barrel Angelos Stable Gallardo A A 122 —

Another consistent sort he is another closer so will need to pick his way through a closing field at the end to stand a chance of a win. His works don’t look as sharp as some but as I said before consistency and experience can count for a lot in these big fields so it would be no surprise to see him in the top four or five at the end.

8 Political Star Big Guns Stables Smith M E 122 —

He struggled a bit in his first two maiden runs but look much improved over the mile last time when taking a big-ticket maiden at DMR. He has a lot of improvement in him and could be the dark horse in this race.

9 Total Devastation Pan Farms Castillo I 122 —

Three runs at state bred level do not tell us much about his chances here but he finished well to be close up in third at stakes level last time and this is the first time he has gone further than five and a half furlongs so there may be some improvement to come.

10 Immersion Fractious Prat F 122 —

Well beaten in the Hopeful last time, it is hard to see how he can come back from that but he was a gutsy winner of an SAR maiden on debut in July, and it takes a good horse to do that so I would expect a much better effort today.

11 Bramble Sioux Greyfriars Stable Rispoli U 122 —

Looked much better when taking on the mile last time striding out a clear-cut winner in a big ticket DMR Maiden. That win came after a gelding operation so just maybe he has found some sharp improvement with the knife, and he could be competitive here.

12 Blooming Attack Mb Stables Curtis B 122 —

I seem to have been writing for a while before we come across the second Mb runner but like a bus, when there’s one there is always another close behind and we get the obligatory two stable companions drawn next to each other. I am sure the trainer would rather that was two and three but as it is they will have to navigate the wide draws here. The first of them is this recently claimed winner of two from three who’s last two races have been on the turf, so it is hard to weigh up his chances. I guess it would pay to send one of the stable horses forward and this looks the most likely, but I can’t really place him in the top four here whatever he does.

13 Chasing Magic Mb Stables Gaffalione T 122 —

This looks on paper at least as the best stable chance and the trainer has options as he has made all to win and flown home late to nearly win a grade one. Either way the outside gate can work depending on how this race pans out. His run to be beaten a neck in the grade one DMR Futurity had next up winner all over it and with this extra furlong and a bit he could well be a top two chance at the very least.

14 Haggis Glory The Sidley Stud Lopez P 122 —

The car park goes to the Iroquois winner, another deep closer and probably the other one to have a chance of beating the likely favorite if things go his way. His works aren’t overly impressive, but his track performance speaks for itself, and he will be loving this trip. I guess the biggest question mark is how far the race engine sends him back before he goes forward and the trainer may be tempted by some gaming buttons to try and arrest the early backward motion.

SUMMARY

It feels like the draw monster has handed this win to Hurts who looks superior in this race even without his two main rivals being drawn out wide. There is no pace in this race which may hurt some of the closers and whilst this one isn’t exactly a front runner, he has laid up a bit closer in his races so should be able to keep an eye on anything trying to get away with slow splits on the front.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES