Belmont's Futurity Attracts Promising Field of Sprinters
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Sharing the spotlight with the Grade 3, $200,000 Athenia on Saturday at Belmont Park, the Grade 2, $200,000 Futurity attracted a field of promising juvenile sprinters going six furlongs on the main track.
Though winless in two career starts, trainer John Terranova's King Kranz figures to give a good account of himself on Saturday coming off an encouraging third-place finish in a maiden race on September 19 at Belmont. The son of Munnings lagged behind a soft early pace when facing highly regarded first-time starters Mohaymen and Seymourdini, but closed with a rush to coming within a length of victory.
"He was a little bit behind when we got him and was a bit green in his first race but ran on late. He came out really well, moved way forward, and [his second start] turned out to be a pretty fast race. He faced a couple good ones," said Terranova, who trains King Kranz for Zayat Stables. "He's trained really well, and given the field, we thought this was a logical spot for him."
King Kranz, 4-1 on the morning line, will break from the rail with Luis Saez aboard.
"He's shown he's an off-the-pace type of runner. We'll see how it sets up for him but he's got a little bit of experience now, so he should be OK," Terranova said of drawing the rail.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for Lets Go Stable, Ready Dancer will look to bounce back after finishing last of eight in the Grade 1 Champagne in his most recent race. Prior to the Champagne, contested over a sloppy track at Belmont on October 3, the More Than Ready colt captured a six-furlong maiden race by 2 ½ lengths onAugust 29 at Saratoga Race Course. He was installed as the 2-1 morning-line favorite and will leave from post 4 with Hall of Famer John Velazquez in the irons.
Stakes winner Full Salute, 5-2 on the morning line, will try graded stakes company for the first time, coming off a one-length triumph in the 6 ½-furlong Hall of Fame on September 26 at Parx Racing. Trained by Eddie Plesa for Morris Bailey, Full Salute also has runner-up finishes in the Sapling Stakes and Tyro Stakes, both at Monmouth Park, on his resume. The son of Speightstown will retain the services of jockey Paco Lopez, and the pair will break from post 6.
Rounding out the field are Annual Report, a 5 ¼-length debut winner for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and owner Godolphin Racing; Legend Keeper, who will make his first start for trainer David Jacobson following a 2 ¼-length maiden score; Manhattan Dan, switching to dirt and turning back in distance after finishing third in the Grade 2 Summer at Woodbine.
Source: NYRA Communications
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