AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
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BREEDERS’ FUTURITY (G1), 9TH-KEE, $400,000, 2YO, 1 1/16M, 5:13 P.M. EDT, 10-9 |
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| 1 |
CONSERVATIVE VALUE, 2, G, by Value PlusMargy’s Forest, by Forestry O-Deerfield Farm Racing; B-Stonewall Farm Stallions LLC (Ky) |
| 2 |
SANTIVA, 2, c, by Giant’s CausewaySlide, by Smarten O-Tom R. Walters; B-Paget Bloodstock (Ky) |
| 3 |
J. B.’S THUNDER, 2, c, by Thunder GulchRebridled Dreams, by Unbridled’s Song O-Columbine Stable; B-Coffeepot Stable (Ky) |
| 4 |
WILLCOX INN, 2, c, by Harlan’s HolidayDe Aar, by Gone West O-All in Stable; B-Dr. John A. Chandler (Ky) |
| 5 |
BRICKYARD FAST, 2, c, by Sharp HumorArboresque, by Cure the Blues O-Baccari Racing Stable LLC; B-Travis White (Ky) |
| 6 |
LOU BRISSIE, 2, c, by Limehouse—Fearless Wildcat, by Forest Wildcat O-Dogwood Stable; B-Gulf Coast Farms LLC (Ky) |
| 7 |
SILVER MEDALLION, 2, c, by Badge of SilverAnother Vegetarian, by Stalwart O-Tyb Stable; B-Brereton C. Jones (Ky) |
| 8 |
MAYBESOMAYBENOT, 2, G, by Sunday Break (Jpn)Majestic Mommy, by Olympio O-Carolyn and Karen Scisney; B-Arthellor & Carolyn Scisney (Ky) |
| 9 |
ROUGH SAILING, 2, c, by Mizzen MastMoussica, by Woodman O-Jack H Smith III Thoroughbreds; B-Palides Investments NV Inc. (Ky) |
| 10 |
MAJOR GAIN, 2, c, by More Than ReadyDream Lady, by Old Trieste O-Gary L. and Mary E. West; B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (Ky) |
| 11 |
TYPHOON SLEW, 2, c, by Stormy AtlanticHepatica, by Slewpy O-Joseph Lacombe Stable Inc.; B-Joseph Lacombe Stables Inc. (Ky) |
Eleven juveniles will try their luck over the Polytrack at Keeneland on
Saturday in the $400,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1), and the group appears to be
evenly matched. MAJOR GAIN (More Than Ready) is one of only four in the field
with experience running over Polytrack, though, and is our pick to make it two
in a row under regular rider Junior Alvarado in this spot.
The Wayne Catalano trainee finished a closing second in his career debut at
Arlington Park on August 14, then returned a month later to break his maiden in
the one-mile Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3) over that Polytrack surface. The dark bay
colt ran in between horses in the second flight on the backstretch before
dropping back rounding the turn. Alvarado swung him to the outside and the
juvenile colt closed down the middle of the track to score by a length on the
line. He earned a 96 BRIS Speed rating, one of the better numbers in this field,
and could relish the extra sixteenth of a mile here.
ROUGH SAILING (Mizzen Mast) is also exiting the Arlington-Washington
Futurity, running second following a ground-saving trip on the rail. The
chestnut colt ran to the inside of Major Gain and stayed on the rail as his
rival changed paths to the outside in the stretch. The Michael Stidham charge
didn’t appear capable of keeping pace late in the lane, but suddenly re-rallied
down on the inside to nose out Caleb’s Posse (Posse) for second on the wire.
Caleb’s Posse just came back to win Friday’s 3RD race at Keeneland. Rough Sailing showed plenty of heart in that instance and could use the extra
distance here to turn the tables on Major Gain under Michael Baze.
TYPHOON SLEW (Stormy Atlantic) dominated a turf maiden field of nine by 10
3/4 lengths at Ellis Park in mid-July, but didn’t show the same spark when
stepping up in class to face winners in the With Anticipation S. (G3) last out.
The Mike Maker-conditioned bay led in the early part of that 8 1/2-furlong test
despite veering out at the break, but was overtaken entering the stretch. He
managed to pull out third and garnered an 87 Speed rating for his stakes bow,
and might enjoy a switch to the synthetic surface here. Julien Leparoux was in
the saddle last out and retains the mount here.
MAYBESOMAYBENOT (Sunday Break [Jpn]) is one of the more experienced runners
in this field, breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs by six lengths prior to
taking Saratoga’s Sanford S. (G2). The well-traveled two-year-old was most
recently seen finishing fourth, only 1 3/4 lengths back of the winner, in the
Sapling S. (G3) at Monmouth Park, for which he earned a 95 Speed figure. He’s
one of many in this group who will be attempting Polytrack for the first time,
and could use his experience to find a spot in the top three for himself. Rajiv
Maragh will take the reins.
WILLCOX INN (Harlan’s Holiday) captured his career bow over Arlington’s Polytrack last month, circling four wide and drawing off to be 2 3/4 lengths
clear on the wire. He’s picked a tough spot to face winners, but his knowledge
of synthetic surfaces could hold him in good standing, especially with Garrett
Gomez in the irons. Consider for the exotics. SILVER MEDALLION (Badge of Silver)
will have blinkers added to help his chances following a fifth in the With
Anticipation, and the equipment change could be just what the Chad Brown trainee
needs to be competitive here. Ramon Dominguez has the call.
SANTIVA (Giant’s Causeway) will be making his first start here for new
trainer Todd Pletcher after placing in his initial two tries for Kenny McPeek.
The bay colt will be getting Lasix for the first time, a move that has paid
dividends in the past, so include in the top three at a price. BRICKYARD FAST
(Sharp Humor) has captured two of his four lifetime starts and placed in the
other pair, including a third in the Minstrel S. at Louisiana Downs. The
juvenile racked up some nice numbers for his races and might earn a share for
trainer Joe Petalino.
LOU BRISSIE (Limehouse) appeared ready to take command of the juvenile
division following his victory in the Kentucky Juvenile S. (G3) at Churchill
Downs in April, but has been unable to build upon that success in three
subsequent starts. The Neil Howard chestnut was a well-beaten second in the
Bashford Manor S. (G3) next out and hasn’t hit the board since. We’ll let him
beat us. Neither CONSERVATIVE VALUE (Value Plus) nor J. B.’S THUNDER (Thunder
Gulch) appear fast enough to make their presence felt in this one.