Ray and Martha Parfet’s homebred HORSE GREELEY (Mr. Greeley) broke a step
slow while throwing his head in the air, but the two-year-old colt quickly
recovered and went on to post a 1 3/4-length victory in Wednesday’s $250,000
Del
Mar Futurity (G2). With the meet’s leading rider, Victor Espinoza, holding the
reins, the Richard Mandella-trained chestnut tracked Stormello (Stormy Atlantic)
in second through opening splits of :22 1/5 and :44 4/5 before moving to the
lead midway on the far turn. Horse Greeley faced a potential challenge from
Great Hunter (Aptitude) at the top of the stretch, but the winner had plenty in
reserve and was never seriously threatened while finishing strongly, earning
his first stakes win when finishing the seven-furlong test in 1:22 4/5.
A four-length maiden winner in his previous outing, Horse Greeley improved
his record to 3-2-1-0, with $192,400 in earnings. Sent off the 3-1 third choice
in Wednesday’s seven-horse field, he paid $8.40, $3.60 and $2.80 while keying
the $25.40 exacta with 2-1 favorite Great Hunter, who was good for $3 and $2.60.
It was 1 1/4 lengths back to Stormello, who returned $3.80 at 7-1 and capped the
$147.80 trifecta (5-7-4). Caped for Flight (Cape Town), Lucky Thirteen (Swiss
Yodeler), Divide and Conquer (Mr. Greeley) and 2-1 second choice Prime Ruler
(Orientate) rounded out the order of finish.
The Kentucky-bred Horse Greeley is out of the multiple Grade 1-placed Chile Chatte (Storm Cat), who is a daughter of multiple stakes heroine and Grade 1-placed Carita Tostada (Chi) (Gallantsky), dam of multiple Grade 3
victress Shaconage (El Prado [Ire]) and Grade 3 winner Jadada (Jade Hunter).
Horse Greeley has a yearling half-brother named Deacon’s Cat (Pulpit).
The Del Mar Futurity is the closing day feature at the seaside oval, and last
year’s event was captured by eventual champion and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1)
winner Stevie Wonderboy (Stephen Got Even). Horse Greeley’s connections probably
have similar aspirations following Wednesday’s smashing performance.