Cocked and Loaded Ready for Arlington-Washington Futurity
Stakes-winning 2-year-old Cocked and Loaded will go after his second added-money win when he lines up as the favorite in the 81st running of the Grade III $100,000 Arlington-Washington Futurity on Saturday at Arlington International Racecourse. Trained locally by leading Arlington conditioner Larry Rivelli, the son of Colonel John was victorious earlier this year in the $250,000 Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park and a Keeneland maiden upon debut in the spring.
Last out, the 2-for-3 bay colt owned by Richard Ravin and Vince Foglia’s Patricia’s Hope was sixth after a tough trip in the Grade III $150,000 Sanford Stakes on July 25 as the 2-1 favorite. Jose Valdivia, Jr., picks up the mount in the seven-furlong main track event from post eight.
Highly regarded Shogood brings his speedy ways into the Futurity riding the wave of one of the most impressive maiden victories of the meet when romping in a July 16 five-furlong event. A son of Nobiz Like Shobiz, the William Stiritz-owned and Scott Becker-trained bay colt won for fun by just under eight lengths that day, one race after losing in a battle to subsequently stakes-placed The Zip Zip Man on debut. Chris Emigh retains the mount from post four.
Express Thoroughbreds’ Discreetness and Godolphin Racing’s Astrologist each enter the Futurity off sharp 1-2 finishes in an Aug. 6 maiden going 5½ furlongs. Each debuting with a visible degree of professionalism, they finished nearly 10 lengths clear of the third-place finisher that day, with Discreetness besting his rival by 1¾ lengths. Trained by William Fires, the son of Discreet Cat gets the return services of E. T. Baird from post two.
Astrologist, though a maiden, should receive plenty of respect off his willing finish last out. Out of champion Argentine juvenile filly Forty Greeta, he is also a son of the aforementioned Darley stallion. The Eoin Harty trainee breaks from post nine under Edgar Perez.
Trainer Mike Stidham has done exceedingly well with his juveniles this meet and enters the Futurity with D. Schifflett, a son of Valid Expectations who won at first asking last out over the Del Mar dirt on July 17. Owned by Haynes Stables et al., the Texas-bred has been impressive in the mornings, including a bullet work last out in 1:00 flat on Aug. 15. Leading jockey Mitchell Murrill picks up the mount form post 11.
The most intriguing entry is the regally bred Congrats Given, who will be making his career debut in the Futurity for trainer Mike Campbell and owner Mellon Patch, Inc. From the same connections who finished second last year with Private Prospect, the dark bay colt is by Congrats out of Turko’s Turn, making him a half-brother to champion Point Given. On the strength of two bullet works – including a six-furlong gate move in 1:12.80 on Aug. 9 – Congrats Given breaks from post 12 under Tim Thornton.
The remainder of the Arlington-Washington Futurity field is comprised of Van Damme (Carlos Montalvo, rail), Missle Bomb (Manny Esquivel, post three), Cortege (Jerome Lermyte, post five), Air America (Rosemary Homeister, Jr., post six), Richie the Bull (Santo Sanjur, post seven), O No Not U Again (Julio Felix, post 10) and Will Munnings (Jon Court, post 13).
Source: Arlington Park