Back to the states for Derby Prep race recaps with the Breeders’ Futurity. Ran on October 3rd at Keeneland. This race was 8.5 furlongs and went around both turns at Keeneland on dirt.
Table of Contents
The Start
Everyone, but Dixie Two Stents (6) had a good start. He was 9th by the first turn with 2 lengths separating him from 8th place and even more to get in with the rest of the pack. That might have been by design though since it was a short trip to the first turn.
Clubhouse Turn
Upstriker had the early lead on the rail and set the pace for the first half of the race which helped him keep out of some of the traffic at the beginning of the race.
Essential Quality was trying to get the lead on the clubhouse turn and that caused him to go 4 wide on that first turn. He ended up getting the lead and settling on the 2 path by the 1/4 pole.
Backstretch
The backstretch pace was controlled by both Upstriker and Essential Quality who were dueling for the pace for the entire back stretch. They had about a length lead against the chase pack up until the far turn.
Keepherinmind slowly edged up in order to get into striking position at the top of the turn. Other than him, the pack stayed about where they were at the end of the clubhouse turn.
Turn for Home
The turn for home was pretty exciting. Founder ended up going a little too wide on the turn for home, running in the 6 pack. That unfortunately kept him from becoming a threat for the win.
Super Stock stalked most of the race and attempted to give a go for the win with about 2 furlongs to go. He gave it a solid go and started to separate at the top of the stretch from the rest of the field (minus the 2 in front of him). There was about 4 – 5 lengths separating him from 4th.
What Stuck Out
Dixie’s Two Stents was a horse I’m interested for betting on. He didn’t have the best trip since it looks like he got banged up at the start. By the 1/4 pole he was behind by about 7 lengths. That did help him stay against the rail the rest of the race., but it wasn’t worth sacrificing 7 lengths in the first 2 furlongs. If it wasn’t for that bumpy start, he might have finished in the money.
Founder also had an impressive close. He was towards the back of the trailing pack and separated a good amount during the home stretch to a solid 5th place finish.
Essential Quality looks like one of the top horses to compete against in the Road to the Kentucky Derby. He was wide in the first turn, but ended up right off the leader on the back stretch and flew past him and everyone else on the final turn and stretch. Right now, he’s bound to be an early favorite for the Derby.