The Breeders’ Futurity
The Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity is one of the more interesting races of the Keeneland Fall meet. We get to see some potential Breeders’ Cup Juvenile horses and some possible contenders for the three-year-old classics next year. All eyes are on this one for sure.
A field of 9 is set to go to post. The morning line favorite and likely post time favorite is Locked from the Todd Pletcher barn. He comes off a big figure win going a mile at Saratoga where they run that distance out of that ridiculous chute. From the far outside even if he is good, which he appears to be, I think he’s no lock and will take a shot to beat him.
The Wine Steward breaking from the rail and stretching out as a lot of these are looks like a contender. He has three races under his best and he is bred to get better as the races get longer. Saez and the draw help his chances. He has yet to lose, and I think he will be in the think of this when it counts.
Timberlake is probably the one I like to upset the favorite best. His maiden win at Ellis was excellent and if he can get back to a race like that and or improve off it, I think he has a real chance in here. Cox takes the blinkers off, and I think they plan to let him settle and make a run. His last race was a regression off the maiden win so we will need a turnaround, but Cox can get them to do that when it matters most.
Awesome Road is another who looks dangerous but his not being at Saratoga in August I view as a negative. That may come back to bite me but this is a big ask to go from that maiden win on the lead fast as it may appear, to this route against these.
Baytown Chatterbox looks in deep waters. He will have to show me he belongs in here. I don’t think he does.
West Saratoga comes off a win in The Iroquois. This looks tougher. I see others faster and with more upside.
Generous Tipper is going the right way and looks like he will go forward again. Enough to win, that I doubt.
Just Steel looks like a pace player which is always dangerous at Keeneland. That said, I still must pass.
Northern Flame has a win at the distance, which is more than most in here can say, but these are tougher, and he would have to run significantly faster.
Locked has plenty going for him and obviously can win. I don’t love that Saratoga mile chute and it is hard to gauge how good that race really was. Wide draw, short run to first turn along with short price, I’ll take a shot at beating him.
The Wine Steward and Timberlake were the two I had to separate as upset possibilities. I landed on Timberlake, and I believe he will go forward.
Enjoy the races and win the photos.