THE IRISH FUTURITY – GRADE 2
This Saturday sees the inaugural running of $250,000 G2 – Irish Futurity for two-year-olds over 6 furlongs on dirt. The race has drawn a full field with all hoping the luck of the Irish will be with them, among the field are seven youngsters who are yet to taste defeat.
PP1 Stuck in the Tab (KY) – airbiscuit Rank N/A M.Robinson (2.7%) 20/1
Failed on debut over turf before quickly making amends when breaking maiden status when tried over dirt at second start. Followed that with 72 Speed Rating when finishing 3rd to today’s race rival Meg The Cat in the Owner Restricted Showcase Stakes over this distance and surface. First Graded runner of first-season sire Bandini; out of the five-time sprint winning mare Intidab Lass. Last two have been good over dirt but meeting much tougher competition in this and may be just below the top juveniles.
PP2 Distorted Wave (KY) – texasace02 Rank 11 Z.Kentucky (22.5%) 3/1
Has been impressive in both race starts to date, broke maiden status easily on debut and followed with a 82 Speed Rating when winning The Figaro Fighter at Stakes level last start. Sired by Distorted Humor, who from five seasons at stud is yet to produce a two-year-old grade winner; out of the Seattle Slew mare Wave on Waves whose four runners are all winners, including the Stakes winning two-year-old Breeding Empire. Comes into this as the highest ranked two-year-old and short priced favourite, with top jockey and ideal post position I can see no reasons why undefeated record will remain in tact.
PP3 Severance (ENG) – sdmf8 Rank N/A M.Fontain (6.5%) 10/1
Two races to date have resulted in a win in an Owner Restricted maiden and an Allowance win both over 4.5 furlongs. Sired by Sakhee who has the two- year-olds Grade 1 placed Sambeira and two-year-old Grade 2 winner Granhee to his credit, out of the three times Stakes winning Kingmambo mare Mississippi Court, who has five winners from as many runners including Stakes placed two-year-olds Vittorioso and Gold Coast. Is stepping up to 6 furlongs for the first time and all indications from first two indicate it should suit, nicely bred but is facing huge class rise.
PP4 Kepler Tokyo (JPN) – marianus Rank N/A M.Tippett (6.7%) 10/1
Won at nice odds on debut over turf before making it two from two when winning open allowance over dirt last start with a 78 Speed Rating. Sired by Charismatic who is yet to have a Grade winning two-year-old but has come close with six winning at that age at Stakes level; out of the Grade 1 place and Stakes winning two-year-old filly Kepler Carson. Another who is yet to taste defeat but is facing much tougher competition here.
PP5 Meg The Cat (KY) – zzz2912 Rank 49 S.Collins (10.4%) 8/1
Won maiden on debut before impressively winning the Owner Restricted Showcase Stakes with an 80 Speed Raing over this distance and surface. Sired by Hennessy whose five season at stud has produced the two-year-old Grade 2 winner Henianlauch and Grade 3 winners Vengeful Prayer and Miss Hennypenny; out of the A.P Indy stakes winning mare A.P Strawberry whose five runners are all winners including the Stakes winner Snakepit. Form coming into this to good and the race looks ideal in his preparation and is a very realistic danger to the favourite and win would not surprise.
PP6 Joxer The Mighty (JPN) – miltinho Rank N/A N.Holohan (8.2%) 14/1
Another runner who is two from two, won maiden on debut followed by a win at Stakes level in the Cat Bust Cap Stakes, both races have been against small fields and Speed Ratings is below most of his rivals here. Sired by War Emblem who is yet to produce a Grade winning two-year-old; out of the moderately performed mare Melbourne Airport who was a two-year-old winner. Has not done enough to suggest that he can win here, unfortunately for his connections Joxer the Mighty will not be retain his undefeated record after the race.
PP7 Garden Society (ENG) – darthmaul Rank N/A E.C.Doyle (12.3%) 11/1
Easily won maiden on debut followed with a 2nd in The Cold Redhead Memorial Stakes at second start with a 72 Speed Rating. Sired by Green Desert whose sole Grade winning two-year-old is Seeking Silence who won at Grade 2 level. First offspring out of the Woodman mare Socially Cyrrius who won twice over the route distance during her twenty-six race career. Was unlucky last start and the way he is finishing his races suggest that the distance will suit, may lack the class of some of his rivals here.
PP8 Play Time (KY) – museummile Rank N/A F.Durst (6.7%) 15/1
Winner of only start, lead the entire journey on debut over 4.5 furlongs when recording a lowly 68 Speed Rating. Sired by Thunder Gulch who among his offspring has the Grade 1 winning two-year-olds Tic Tic Toc to his credit; out of the Danehill mare The Black Gates who only managed one win in a 39 start career. Facing huge assignment here at second start and would prefer in something easier at the stage and a win would surprise.
PP9 De Fu (KY) – Minnesota Rank 23 M.Russell (10.6%) 9/1
Won maiden on debut and followed with a win in The Catapult Stakes when recording a 76 Speed Rating on both occasions; only two winning racetrack appearances have been over this distance and surface. Sired by Dehere who has the G1 Breeders Bowl Juvenile winner Degoldenstorm and two-year-old Grade 3 winners Dehere’s Gold and Dehere That to his credit. Homebred youngster though Fusaichi Pegasus who as at the dam sire has 11 Grade winners including Magnificent Hero and Forestal who both won Grade 1’s as two-year-olds. Has the bloodlines for early success and has scope for further improvement with being unchallenged at first two appearances.
PP10 The Bombs Away (DEN) – corza6 Rank N/A D.White (2.2%) 24/1
Debuted with an unlucky 2nd when flying home late to go down by ¾ length in maiden, followed with an easier 3 length win to break maiden status when stepped up to six furlongs at next start. Last start disappointed when 10th of 14 in the G3 Early Morning Special when ran poor 66 Speed Rating. Homebred youngster sire by Hot Run through Tsunami Slew who are both yet to get there first Stakes winner as the sire or dam-sire. On paper looks to be out of his class in this; but is returning to a more suitable distance after last starts’ failure and may be able to sneak into a minor placing at best.
PP11 A Massive Blast (KY) – cjt1 Rank N/A X.Bowden (9.1%) 19/1
Finished 4th on an off-track on debut before breaking maiden status at second start over 6 furlongs, stepped up to Stakes level and finished fairly for 3rd in the Cold Redhead Memorial last start. Sired by the Storm Cat sire Hold that Tiger who is yet to produce a Graded winner; out of the non-winning Mineshaft mare Satellite. Will need to improve on recent efforts to be in contention here, would prefer in something easier at this stage.
PP12 Nine Carat Gold (KY) – snappa07 Rank 13 A.Reed (15.2%) 6/1
Two career starts have resulted in a maiden win on debut followed by a win at Stakes level in The Tricky Trick Special with a 75 Speed Rating. Sired by Rock Hard Ten who from two years at stud has sired Kneel Before Zod and Schoolofhardknocks who both won at Grade 3 as two-year-olds. Out of the Seeking the Gold first time producing mare Simulcast This who was a two-year-old winner. Has come in shorter odds than expected and is facing tougher assignments against this field, chances are not helped by the bad post position.
PP13 Wild With Style (FL) – sharood Rank N/A Pu Jenkins (10.2%) 10/1
Won Owner Restricted Maiden over 5 furlongs on debut before failing at second start when tried to lead the entire journey to finish 31/4 lengths 4th in Owner Restricted Allowance. Sired by the first-season sire With Distinction out of the Wild Again mare Wild Prospect who was a five time sprint winner on dirt. Was disappointing last start over this distance and may be better suited to something shorter at this stage.
PP14 Darrentwilliamsrip (KY) – congaree3 Rank N/A C.Shull (12.6%) 16/1
Opened career with a promising 5th in the Owner Restricted Simsters Future Star Stakes on debut before impressively winning Maiden at second start. From the sire Borrego who from two seasons at stud has produced two-year-old Stakes winner Riverbender and Stakes placed Leggo My Borrego and Go Wild; out of the Empire Maker mare Steal Empires who was two time turf winner. Was impressive last start and the extra distance looks as if it will suit, is not the worst and must be given a chance at nice odds.